Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-02-28
The Mysterious Hand.

tween the North and South, that | found
myself a passenger from Gibralter to
Southampton on one of the Peninsu-
lar and Oriental company's steamships.
With the exception of a young English
attache, personal friend Of mine, the
passengers were composed of British
officers, ordered home to join their regi-
ments, in anticipation of war between
Great Britain and the United States,
growing out of what is called the
''Trent" affair, two southern ENJOYS
namely, Messrs. Sidell and Mason-en
route for England and France, having
been forcibly taken from the British
steamer "Trent" by the commanding
| officer of an American man-of-war.
am invariably sea-sick when on the
ocean. On this occasion | was, as
usual, confined to my stateroom, where
l was visited by the young Englishman
referred to, who. after sympathizing
with my Affections, very kindly said to
me, "Be careful, my dear fellow, when
you come out to the cabin. With the
exception of ourselves, all the passen-
gers are British officers, ordered home
to join their regiments. War between
the United States and Great Britain,
although not declared, is imminent, and
our fellows have get their fighting blood
up, and you being the only American
on board, they will naturally want to
pitch into you, and will do so on the
slightest provocation.. So be careful for
heavens sake.
was too sea-slck to pay much atten-
tion to my friends warning, feeling per-
fectly will convinced that no human
pitching i'm could be much worse than
| the terrible pitching up and down of
the ship. then laboring in the trough of
a heavy sea. In fact. very soon for
got all about it.
In couple of days, however, | found
myself seated at the dinner table. i'm
mediately opposite the Hon. Col. An
nestle, of the SCOTS Fusiliers, his regi-
ment being portion of the household
troops, then in London. After formal
introduction the subject of the antici-
pated difficulty between the two nations
was introduced by Col Anneslie, by his
asking me what l thought about the
great insult Great Britain had received.
| replied that saw nothing that diplo-
macy between two kindred nations could
not remedy. The colonel expressed sur
prise at my remark, adding that no ma
tion like Great Britain could submit to
such slap in the face without drawing
the sword. [ smiled and said that a
military man would naturally feel that
the arbitrament of the sword was the
proper method of disposing of such a
difficulty, but that men of peace prefer
red to resort to every other remedy be.
fore that of blood-letting. By this time
many of the officers had left their seats
and were eagerly listening to the con.
versation. Much to the horror of my
young English friend, who III the kind.
ness of his heart had taken a seat al
my side, In order to shield me as much
as possible from what might prove to bs
an outburst of indignation on the par
of his countrymen. then | said:
with all due respect for your senti
ments, colonel. permit me to add tina
the views which have expressed art
sustained by the highest living English
authority on International law, namely
your own Mr.. Phillimore, who in com
munication to the London Times of
recent date, which | perused at Gibral
tar just before coming on board, says
if my memory is not at fault, that tn
American naval commander was moi
only justified in taking from the Trent
Mcssrs. Sidell and Mason, but woult
have been justified in carrying tht
Trent into the port of New York"
) Several officers Immediately jumpe,
to their feet, exelaiming to Col. Annesli
in tones which indicated their excite,
: feelings:
present me i! Present me !" Afte
which captain, whose name [ hav
forgotten, but who must have stood owe
six feet in his stockings, said to me il
tone of sarcasm which he evidentl
4 took no pains to suppress
81 beg your pardon, but is it not pos
sible that you have made mistake il
the paper to which you have referred
Instead of the London Times, which W
5 certainly had an equal opportunity wit
' yourself to peruse before sailing, hav
, you not been giving US the benefit G
some article you have been reading i
L the New York Times 2"
. told him ] thought not. | pei
ceiyed, however. that, without an ez
e ception, these gentlemen evidentl
thought had been making a fool {
myself, and so bewildered Is perso
: from the effects of sea-sickness that
= began to fear | had, when Col. Anncsl
g as if to set the matter at rest. directe
!. one of the junior officers to the captain
] ! ]