The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-09-12
MASON AND SLIDELL.

[R M. Hunter, in Philadelphia Weekly Timesl
On the LIST day of November Lieut.
J. A. Greer, navigating officer, brought
word to the ship that Mason and Slidell
with their secretaries and families, were
booked for England by the steamer
Trent to st. Thomas and thence by the
regular West India packet to Southamp.
ton. The next day we went to sea,
touching at Key West on the Sd. On
the 4th we returned to the Cuban coast,
and cruising along the northern shore
awaited further information as to the
movements of the Confederate repre-.
sentatives from Consul General Schu-
feldt. It was not received, and orders
were given to bear away to the narrow
channel of old Bahama, through which
the Trent must necessarily pass on her
way to st. Thomas. The point selected
could not have been chosen to better
advantage. Between the coral keys the
distance across the channel was but fiji
teen miles, and no ship could pass with
out being seen by our topsail- yar2 look
out. Early on the morning of the 9th
the ship was cleared for action. ~
Ii UL0 1IcuU uthlk 1ClU llhydud Ou UlC
7th she was due at the point where we
were waiting Oh the 8th. The distance
was but 240 miles, and the wind blowing
full sail breeze from the southwest
should place the Trent under our guns
at noon. The calculations were made
with exactness, for at IL 40 o'clock the
lookout aloft sung out "Sail ho! Lieut.
X. Randolph Breese, who had the deck,
hailed the lookout and asked for her di-
rection. "Off the port bow, sir, came
back the reply. The San Jacinto was
then heading north, and presently the
black smoke of steamer was deserted
from our decks. When the crew was
piped to dinner the mess cloths were de-
serted and nearly everybody remained
on deck watching the smoke until out of
the base of the ascending blackness came
the spars, presently the hull and full
shape of the steamship Trent. Until
that moment probably no one on board
the snip knew what the object of our
waiting was, but as soon as the Trent
hove in sight and her identity was de-
cided there was no doubt of our mission.
Then Capt. Wilkes called Lieut.. Fairfax
into the cabin and gave him his instruc-
tions.
AS if by common consent, the officers
had repaired to their staterooms and
presently appeared in full uniform, with
side-arms. The officers detailed to go
in the boats with Lieut. Fairfax received
their instructions, and Capt. Wilkes
walked forward to the mainmast and
gave the order, "Beat to quarters. A
few minutes later the officers reported
their divisions, and the guns were run
out, the half-ports triced up and all
preparations made. 1t was l 10 o'clock
when the boats were called away-Mr.
Fairfax in the second cutter. and Lieut..
Greer commanding the third cutter.
Before the boats were showed off the
Trent had steamed we'll up toward the
San Jacinto, and was in midchannel
when the gun on the topgallant fore
castle, loaded with a round shot, was
fred in line across her bows. Imme-
diately the red cross of st. George went
huttering to her peak, but she kept her
course. "Put shell in that gun, !"
called cut Capt. Wilkes, Sand let it go
across her bows so she may not mistake
our intention this time" The shell ex-
ploded about 100 fathoms ahead of the
steamer, and Immediately her engines
stopped and she rounded to within 200
feet of the man of-war, and under the
muzzles of our broadside, that would
have sunk her at the word fire. y
There was much confusion on the mail
steamer, and the passengers could be
seen running about the decks in the
greatest state of excitement. AS our
men were going into their boats, Capt.
Moir, of the Trent, hailed us. "What
do you mean, shouted he, Shy stopping
my ship, and why do you do it with
shotted guns, contrary to usage?"
Lieut.. .Breese sung out in reply: "We
are going to send boat on board OF
you. Lay to-"
At this instant the order to shove off
was given to our boats, and the second
and third cutters went dancing over the
blue waves toward the Trent Lieut..
Greer pulledup to the port gangway, and
Mr.. Fairfax went to the. starboard side
and boarded the ship alone. The first
officer met him as he came up the side
and asked what he. wanted 20 Are you
the master Of of this ship, sirs'
"No, sir-frst officer. IA ~
ct would like to see the Captain. -
and Capt. Moir at this instant walked
out of his cabin, and, coming forward,
said, in angry tones, elbow dare you
come on board of my ship. What right
have you here? This is an outrage the
flag there (pointing to the red cross
alofD will make you pay for"
Lieut.. Fairfax bowed and said: 81
have. instructions to effect the arrest Of
Messrs. Mason and Slidell, and thei1
secretaries, Messrs. Eustis and McFar
land. I have information that they are
on board, and [ would like to see your
passenger list. " ml .a5. w..
3" For Impairment, out
rageous puppy, give me, or don't give
me, a Yankee. You go back to you
ship, young man, and tell her skippe.
that you couldn't accomplish your mis-
sion because we wouldn't let you.
deny your right Of search. Dye under
stand that ?p Ill. . &sAt6&3