Evening star., 1895-06-15

the north apd south.
Today MIR. Macfarinnd is the only survivor
Of that little band. hence the only man
who can adequately tell the tale to this
generation.
In his Washington homo on Capitol Hill,
with his three daughters all of whom were
horn under her majestys flag. and have
brought over with them a bewitchlng
little Scotch accent, strongly suggestive Of
the plaids and clans Of their ancestors, he
enjoys the quiet of private life. His south
ern blood and European breeding combine
to make SIr. Macfarland an ideal host. AS
a story teller he is as inmitable as his fund
of arecdote, gathered from his intercourse
with the great men OF a generation that is
gone, from his own thrilling experience in
period never to be forgotten, and from
his residence at various foreign courts, for
which his linguistic and scholarly attain
ments eminently fitted him, is inexhaus-
tible.
In the fall of 1861 he embarked literally
on the most perilous expedition of his life.
The confederate government, with the hope
of obtaining the recognition of England and
France, had selected Mason and Slidell for
this delicate negotiation, on account of
II cir political prominence well their
recognized ability" Mason, accompanied
by his private secretary, James Macfar-
laid, was commissioned to the court of
st. James, and Sidell. with George Eustis
as his secretary, to the court of Louis Ma
poleon.
The party was further augmented by the
faHiiy of Mr.. Slidell and the wife of Mr..
Eustis. who was 4 daughter of the late w.
W. Corcoran.
With all her ports blockaded there was
imminent risk ii any attempt the confed-
eracy might make to put her emssaries
beyond the reach of federal nterposition.
The fact that a runlor of her intentions
had penetrated the lines. and the watch on
Ter capital and ports had been doubled,
multiplied her difficulties. At a cost of SiO-
$50 she chartered the Gordon, small
steam yacht, capable OF unusual speed, to
convey her commissioners to Havana.
Running the blockade.
Under cover of a stormy night, October
II. 1861. the little party put out from
Charleston harbor. A tarpaulin was drawn
bafore the fires of the small steamer, and
the total darkness that prevailed on board
together with the torrent of rain that pelted
deafeninsly on the decks of the double line
Of biockades as she passed Fort Sumter,
ssIH ed to conceal her movements. That
gauntlet run, the greatest danger was over.
Two days of fair weather, the storm hav-
ing ceased suddenly as it had begun,
brought the Gordon to Havana, a day late,
unfortunately, for the British steamer on
which the commissioners were to have
taken pass age.
They found themselves, however, in
warmly sympathetic atmosphere the con-
federate cause being popular with the
CubanS The captain general of the island
Marshal Serrano, while refraining from
official intercourse with them. received and
entertained them as distinguished gentle
men,"
During the three weeks delay which their
failure to connect with the steamer neces-
STATED a federal man-o'-war returning
from cruise on the African coast put into
Havana, and as neither the presence nor
the intentions of the commissioners were
nj n in
quired a knowledge of both.
Having formulated his own plan for the
Illustration of those of the commissioners
capt. Wilkes set sail for Key West, there
to hold pow-wow with Judge Marvin of
the United States court to the legality
of his proposed measure.
. During his absence, and on November T.
the commissioners left Havana on .he
British mail steamer Trent. At noon On
the following day an apparently motion
less vessel was sighted, lying some dis
tance ahead. AS the Trent approached she
ran up the British flag, but receiving no
response Capt. Moir ordered it down. When
within furlOng of each other the stranger
fired shot across the bows of the Trent
and displayed the United States flag The
Trent again ran up the English colors and
was proceeding on her way when second
shot was fired from the American vessel and
1t became evident that these unpleasant at
tentions were intended for her. Carrying
but n small gun, used exclusively for sig
mailing. resistance was out of the question,
and she stopped instantly.
Completely at the mercy of the American
man-o'-war she awaited developments in
anxious suspense. She saw two boats low
cred from the San Jacinto filed with arm
ed men and headed in her direction. The
entire personnel of the English steamer
watched their approach from her deck.
An officer, unattended. came aboard. pre-
serted himself to Capt Mor and requested
the privilege of inspecting the ships reg
ister which was promptly refused. He
then named the commissioners and their
secretaries and asked If they were aboard
the Trent.
Amid a breathless suspense each man at
sound of bis name stepped forward and
Announced himself.
The Capture Effected.
Turning to them Lieut.. Fairfax explained
that he had been sent by Capt. Wilkes to
request their presence on the San Jacinto.
The courteous invitation was declined with
equal courtesy. Fairfax then disspated
the drawing air that had crept into
the situation by intimating that he hoped
he should not be put to the necessity of
using force, whereupon Slidell rejoined
that II would require considerable force to
remove him 10 the San Jacinto
We claim the protection of the British
nag. he added. turning to Moir
Noir was equal to the appeal and no
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