Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-10-15
THE FLORIDA.
HOW THE CONFEDERATE CRU,SEp
WAS CAPTURED AND SUNK.
Her Escape from Nobile-The U. s. Steam
ship Wachusett In the Chase-At
Bahia, Eraxil-A viola
ti0n of Law"


was built at Birkenhead, England, and the
American minister, Hon. T.. r. Adams,
tried, but in vain, to have her seized. Es-
Gaping under the name Of Oret1. she was
twice seized at Nassau, but to no purpose
Released, she soon appeared as a British
man-of-war off Mobile, then blockadei by
Commander q. II. Preble, VINO wa, afraid
to fire on her, thinking that she really was
one Of her majesty's vessels. She shortly
ran past him and then showed what she
really was, "a "rebsl pirats.'
The Oreto soon ran out of Mobile under
the cover of darkness, and changed her
name to the Florida and commenced her
career as a pirate. Early in May, 1865. the
Florida, while i'm the West Indies, captured
number of barks and brigs, burning them
to the waters etge. or bonding them. pay
able six months after the recognition of
(by the United States the independence of
the Southern Confederacy"
The United States steamship Wachusett,
commanded by Capt Napoleon Collins, wa.
detailed in the summer of 1864 to find and
capture the Florida. Capt Collins proceeded
to the South Atlantic aud cruisei along the
squa tor, between the coast of South Amer
lea and Africa, hoping 10 have the good
uck To meet the Florida outside the marine
limit of either coast.
After cruising back and forth until every
one was sick AM tirei of the m1notony of
such work, he put into the port OF Bahia.
Brazil, TO coal and refit his vessel Every
effort was made while at sea by speaking
all vessels sighted to find out the where
abouts of the Florida. but TO no purpose
Arriving at Bahia short stay was made
and the vessel got ready for another cruise
| at sea.
The Florida had, Oct s. 1864. Just cap
tured and burned the bark Mondamori, on
the Brazilian coast, and ran into Bahia as
the Wachusett was steaming out Some
ioubt existing as to the identity of the
Florida, the Wachusett ran short
distance out to sea and returned with
nightfall, when "a boat and crew, COM
manded by Ensign l. Ludlow, was sent
| into the harbor with instructions to find
put whether it was really the Florida. Lud-
low pulled into the harbor after nightfall
and pulled around the steamer, hailng her:
AShip ahoyl Helloi What ship is thatP
Confederate steamer Florida, Capt Morris
commanding" Then the return hail:
HBoat ahoyl Helloi What boat is thatf'
Her maJesty's steamer Curlews" This
was done To put the Florida's people Off
their guard. Ludlow then returned To the
Wachusett and to an anxious commander
and crew and reported that il was a sure
enough Florida Then the excitement COM
menced Are we going in to-nighti VIII we
over get a chance at herr Every body
seemed excitei except the cool and calcu-
lating Capt Collins
The next day the American consul, VIII
son. was pressed into the service and made
the bearer of a challenge from Capt Collins
to the commander of the Florida to come
put and fight, but after several futile
attempts to provoke her to a fight, a council
Of war was held in the cabin OF the Wachu-
sett, and il was determined by all with one
axception) to 90 into the harbor and sink
the Florida. Bearings were made of her
position, sides were calculated upon and
the night of Oct. Z, 1864, was to be athe
night" Every one was ready FOR the oc-
casion; the intention was to run in strike
the Florida amdships. sink her and steam
put "But the best laid plans of mice and
men gang aft aglse" Some time in the
afternoon a schooner shifted her position
and anchored alongside the Florida.
At o'clock the cable was slipped and the
Wachusett started for the harbor Full
speed was given and the Florida was
doomed, but the blow that was intended for
her death struck her forward Of her main
mast and only damaged, but did not Grip
pie her. Capt. Collins now demanded her
surrender, which was complied with by tbs
lieutenant in charge Capt. Morris and haE
his crew being ON shore).
In a moments time the Florida was
aboarded' by the Wachusett, and by
hawser made fast and crowding ON all
steam the Wachusett put out to sea, making
no reply TO the Brazilian feet. and the shots
from the forts doing no damage. She was
soon outside the harbor with her prize. The
Brazilian naval commander followed. but
not fast enough, and soon returned to his
harbor. A prize crew was put ON board
the Florida, and the crew and officers of
that vessel sent TO the Wachusett as prison.
ers of war.
The Florida was ordered to keep in sight
of the Wachusett AMI we were bound to the
United States. In conversation with some
OF the captured officers. they stated that
they were glad to have been captured; they
knew the war nearly over, and they
had got tired OF burning and destroying de-
fenseless vessels, and they seemed to think
shat it was a god send" to them to get out
Of the Florida.
Steam and sail were made on both vessels.
and in few days the harbor Of St Thomas,
w. l., was reached, and as we came from
an infected port we were put in quarantine
in the outer harbor. Way in among the
other vessels could be seen an United States
man-of-war. Signals were exchanged and
we fouad that it was the Kearsarge. After
nightfall boat from her pulled around our
stern.
"Hello, Collins. what is that vessel You
have got theresp
"The Confederate vessel Florida, captured
in Bahia"
'Good; have whipped and sunk the Ala
bama off Cherbourg."
IL was Capt Winslow, of the Kearsarge.
To come ON board was impossible, and the
crew Of the Wachusett gave him three rous-
ing cheers as he pulled away.
The Wachuset. proceeded with her prizes
TO Hampton roads, and thence turned over
the vessel to the government and sent the
prisoners to Fort Lafayette, the Wachusett
going to Boston for repairs. On represen-
sation of the case by the Brazilian minister,
Secretary Of State Seward disavowed the
acts Of Collins and ordered him b appear
before a court-martial The Florida was
ordered to he returned to Bahia, but an
army transport very conveniently ran into
her while she was at anchor in Hampton
roads and sunk her, and her wreck still re-
mains thera