Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-04-28
CONSUL AND Ex-rIRA1E
Thomas J. Tunstan to Represent the
the Government at San Salvador.

Thos. j. Tun stall of Mobile, Ala, who by
the Presidents nomination and the confirma-
ton of the L. 5. Senate. has been appointed
United States consul to San Salvador. has an
interesting history. He came near being ex-
ecufed during the war as pirate, and for
many months Ianguisbed in prison for having
assisted the pirate Semmes. of the Alabama.
Hon. Jesse H. MacMath, Of this city. who
was. during the war, consul at Morocco,
knew Tunstall we'll He has written the fol-
lowing interesting letter in regard to Tun-
stalls history:
..Twen,r-seyen years have passed since
Mr. Tunstall was United States Consul at
| Cadiz, Spain. and an oufspoken. defiant rebel
OF extreme Southern type. President LIN
coin removed him. and appointed one whose
| opinions and sympathy were in harmony with
| the Government Tunstail. thus suddenly
| deprived of governmental employment. with
no safe chance of reaching his home IN Ala
| bama Micaw ber-like, was waiting for some
thing to turn up
AT this time the rebel priyateer Sumter,
commanded by Semmes or Alabama VINO
vas afterward captain of the priyateer Ala
bama. was cruising in the Mediterranean and
on the East Atlantic Ocean, committing dep
relations on unofending American merchant
men, with her rendezvous in the Bay of Glib
ralter In February. 1852. the Sumter put
into the bay in need of coal To continue her
work OF destruction. The day preceding
and in full view of Gibralter. the Sumter had
destroyed the American brig Neapolitan
within the maritime zone of the dominions OF
the Moorish Sultan. Capt. Semmes request
ed permission of the governor of the fortress
to take on sufficient coal to continue the cruise
This was refused in view of v hat had taker
place the day before. Thereupon Semme'
sent Paymaster Myers, an ex-otficer OF oul
navy, and Mr.. Tunstall to Cadiz, Spain, Il
procure coal. Tunstall ever ready to assis
the rebels and being well acquainted with tbs
Spanish officers, was necessary ald Il
Myers. They went on board French
. steamer which touched at Tangier, Morocco
. en- route to Cadiz. They landed at Tangie
to see the curious old city and our consu
general, learning of their presence, immed
lately arrested and put them in the American
consular prison and in irons. They wer'
/ transferred to an American vessel and LANDED
at Fort Warren, off Boston. After SOM
months Myers was exchanged for an office
of equal rank, and ,.ecretary Stanton CAV
| / unstaii tHt DptlOn OF remaining Ill pIlso
: during the war OF leaving the country ii
chose the latter and until the fall of tn
Confederacy remained in Europe. Mr.. Tun
stall is an accomplished and scholarly man
JESSIE II. Mac MArH.
p, While Tunstall and Myers were chained i
the consular prison, British sympathize
sent them meal and concealed in a loaf O
bread small saw. With this saw the tw
-. rebels cut their chains and escaped from tn
t prison. In dropping down from the windo
of the prison to the ground Tunstall I'M ure
his leg, but not so badly that he could n,
hobble along. They were Immediately col
fronted with another difficulty, howeye
The prison was surrounded by a high stor
wall. They finally succeeded in clamberin
to the top of this wall and from there the
: reached the top of a Moorish widows hous
i The widow, believing they were bent on pc
sonal violence ON herself, and they bei
unable to speak word of the Moorish la
guage, raised a great cutlery, alarmed Il
: guard, and they were taken back.
Is not this man, appointed TO represent Il
United States in foreign countries, fir
illustration of the civil service reform tactic
u of Cleyeland's administration.