Arizona silver belt., 1888-09-29
TWO INTERNATIONAL EPISODES.

It appears from the Tucson Star that Thomas F. Wilson, the Repue en- can nominee for delegate to Congress, has history, The Star.ays, In 1861 President Lincoln appointed Wil- son United Sta.ea Consul at Bahia, Brazil, which post he held until 1861, While at bahia, he ordered and parti- clpat.d in the capture of the Confed- crate war steamer "Flerida, in a neu- tral port, at nlght, while she lay at anchor, Gns-half her crew on shere and major part of ths residue asleep below decks Captain Collins of the Federal steamer Wachusett, had charge of the enterprise and had elected to sink the Florida at her mooringS, and approached the Florida under a full head of steam. The Floiida's officer on deck saw the Wachusett approach ing and being ignorant of her charac- ter hallea her to avoid, as he supposed, an accidental collision. The blow, however, was not well directed, strik- ing the Florida in the stern, and net amidship as intended. As the Wachu- sett drew of, she demanded the sur render of the Florida, which was in capable of resistance, and in few moments boarded her, attached a hauser, and moving at the top of her speed, lowed the Florida out to sea. The outrage upon Brazil was not dis covered by her feat until the Wachu- sett and her prize had got out to sea, and then some harmless shots were firod at the American vessel, which passed over her pennant. This out rage upon the sovereignty of the Bra gillian empire was at once resented, and an apology demanded of the Uni ted States and gwen, a: in the case of tue Trent affair which involved the honor of the British nation. As the San Jacinte and Trent affair has be- come historic, through the unguarded acts of men whose knowledge of in- tsrnational law and the comity of na- tions was, to say the least, limited And having spoken of the Florida case we will briefly allude to Captain Wilkes connection with the affair Tn winch Mason and Slidell were forci. ply taken from the English passenger steamer Trent. The news of this re markable outrage was received with 3 storm of popular indignation. Meet ings were everywhere held in En gland and provinces, calling upon the government to assert the dignity o the British flag, and demanding the re lease of Mason and Sndell. The Ear of Derby, who had baen consulted by the government, approved the resent ful demand which 1t proposed and dit make upon the United States, and sug gsstsd that ship-owners should in str6ct their captains of outward bound vessels to signal any English vessel that war with the United States wa imminent. The British Governmsn made actual preparations for war Achievements were sent by Englant to Canada. Fortifcations were pu in a state of defense. These wonder fui exploits Of Captain Wilkes of tn United States Sloop of war San Jaer. to and the subsequent act of Captail Collins of the Wachusett were herald ed as herole acts Of heroic men, bu the enthusiasm of the North suddsnl
 collapsed when it became apparen that they were likely to encounter tw
 additional Powers other than the Con federacy, and felt relieved when it wa announced that the United States apology had bssn mada and accepted The Florida was held as prize 5y tn Federals and subsequently, sunk i
 Hampton Roads.