Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-18
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After being paroled he ret red to private
life, and now lies in Elmwood, the beautiful
cemetery at Norfolk by the side nf his wife,
who survived him only few months james
Barron Hope is buried in the same lot the
gentle poet by the man OF war
Charleston had been hlockaled for some
time pr vious, but notwithstanding this fact
James JASON aud John Sldell, Confederate
ENJOYS "a Great Britain and France sue
cerdcd in evadn. the vigilance Of the block
m. fleet N the steamship Theodore and pro
ceeded Ia Havana Cuba.
A correspondent Of The New York World,
who was at Cardenas, sent the following in
teiligence to that paper;
Maj French reported the arrival OF
Messrs Mason sni Siidell. Confederate States
commissioners, at Cardeuas, they from there
taking the land route to Havana The com
missiorers were received with the highest
consideration from the captain general
down
Consul General Schufeldt telegrsphed the
commander Of the steam frigate San Jacinto
at Trinidad, on the 24th. to proceed at ono.
TO Havana
On Nov Is 1861, the United States steamer
San Jacinto. Capt Wilkes. arrived at Fort
ress Monroe about midday. having on board
Mason and Slidell and their secretaries, Eustis
and Mcfarland. The vessel was on the way
from Africa, via the West Indies to the United
States. and on stopping at Cienfuegos learned
Of tho escape Of the Confederate ministers
Capt Wilkes at once proceeded to Havana,
aud there found that the commissioners and
their families had embarked on the British
mail steamer Trent on the It'll instant, which
vessel was running between Vera Cruz and
The pursuit then began. the San Jacinto
soming mp with the Trent in the narrowest
part Of the Bahama channel A shot was
ared across her bows, which caused her to
lay To- Capt. Wilkes then dispatched two
boats. with five officers and thirty Owe men,
under command Of Lieut. Fairfax, who was
well fitted for that post by being personally
acquainted With the ministers On arriving
N board they found the ministers somew hat
disposed to resist arrest, being ahetted by
the English captain, and at first they de-
Jared that they could only be taken by
forcs However. they concluded to submit
quietly TO arrest Great excitement reigned
on board the Trent at this forcible seizure,
and this was increased considerably by the
protestations of the wives Of Messrs Mason
aud Slidell Mr. Sidel had four children as
we'll AS his wife on board The two commits
sioners were dressed in white duck suits and
Panama hats when arrested, which they wore
up to the time OF their incarceration in Fort
Warren.
One Of the secretaries, Georg~ Erstis,
threatened resistance to the death, but ulti-
mately calred himself and went on board
quietly with the others
The distress Of the wives of the i'll fated
ministers was very affecting, Lieut. Fairfax
extended TO them an offer Of safe pass .-e to
New York. but this they declined On the
return Of the boats Capt Wilkes stood
At the side of his vessel to receive the pris-
oners, and, although known to both gentle
men, did SO in silence IL is said that Eustis
again got in hot water on board the San
lacinto hy expressing his opsuion too freely,
ard Capt, Wilkes is quoted as saying; Sir, |
am the captain Of this Snip when Eustis
bowed an apology. Dasirt< the voyage the
commissioners were very silent and sad,
deeply feeling the disappointment that their
arrest would occasion the Coufederates. On
notifying Gen, Wool at Fortress Monroe Of
tlse capture he had effecte,l, { pit Wilkes ex-
pressed the opinion That the end justified the
means Capt Taylor wss dispatched to
Washington with an official account Of the
capture. By order OF the government the Con-
federate officials were then conveyed to Fort
Warren, Mass Great excitement was &C
casioned throughout the civilized world by
this act 1t was said that the seizure was
justified by the practices of England, and
particularly as the queen's proclamation Of
neutrality between the United States and the
Coufeieracy Of May Is. 1861. which forbade
the carrying OF officers or dispatches for
either party, had been violated However
that may be. peremptory demand was
made by the British government for the IN
conditional surrender Of the Confederate en-
voys with their secretaries. France also had
some correspondence with the United States
government IN relation to the matter Mr.
Seward, secretary Of state, eventually re-
leased them, bas-ng his compliance upon the
principles Of international law
J. T. Mcfarland was the valued secretary
u James NJ Mason, aud belonged in Rich
mend- Va. where he il. well rsmember~d-
ne rs.n.aned . prisoner in Fort Warren 10
~ % January lals2 when b and III