The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-05
THE TRENT AFFAIR
An Incident of the Late War
Between the States.
INVOLVING GREAT BRITAIN
It Came Near Causing War Be-
tween the Two Countries.
CONFEDERATE COMMISSIONERS
They Were on Board the British Mail
Steamer Trent on Their Way to
Europe When Captured by
the San Jaclnto.

the San JacInto.
Washington, Jan. Especial Corr -
1t is now thirtyfour years since the
capture of the Confederate commits
sioners to Great Britain on board the
British mail steamer Trent. Few in
cidents of the war awakened a more
profound interest, on both sides of the
Atlantic, and no one seemed to be
fraught with graver consequences at
the time. The South INDUCED the
hope it would lead to war between the
United States and Great Britain, which
would have insured the independence
of the Confederacy; and these conse-
quences would inevitably have follow
ed, if the administration here in
Washington, had not been wiser than
the people of the North. For the al
most universal sentiment among them
was that the capture was justifiable
i'm the purview of international law,
and that the commissioners should be
held as prisoners of war.
A whole generation has passed Off
the stage since the occurrence of this
important event, and a new one has
come forward, who may have heard of
it's vaguely, but without an account
of the particulars; and even those who
are old enough to remember il will
doubtless be pleased to have their
memories refreshed by n brief recital.
The San Jacinto was on the African
coast. under command of Lieutenant
ID. NJ. Fairfax. He left st. Paul de
Ioando. with orders to wait at Fer
nando, Pa. for Capt. Wilkes, who took
command there. On reaching Glen
fuegoes, on the south coast Of Cuba, he
learned that the steamer Theodore,
from Charleston. South Carolina, with
Messrs. Slidell and Mason on board,
had run the blockade, and he deter
mined to intercept them. lie learned
at Havana that the Confederate Com
missioners were there, waiting TO take
passage for Europe on an English yes
sci. Captain Wilkes decided to inter
cept the British mail steamer and
make the commissioners prisoners, if
he found them on board. I'VE were
all ready for her." says the official ac-
as she was in reach of our guns, every
gun of our starboard battery was
trained upon her. And shot from our
pivot gun was fired across her bow.
She hoisted English colors, but show
ed no disposition to slacken her speed
or heaye to. We hoisted the Star Span
gled banner. and as soon as she was
close upon ms, fired shell across her
bow, which brought her to" Captain
Wilkes hailed her and said he would
send a boat. He ordered Lieutenant
Fairfax to board her; and at 30 p.
m, as he states, he repaired alongside
the Trent, in an armed cutter, accom-
panied by the second assistant en-
gineer, Mr.. Houston. and Mr.. Grace,
the boatman. He went aboard the
Trent alone, leaving the two officers
in the boat, with orders to wait until
it became necessary to show some
force. He was shown up by the first
officer to the quarter deck, where he
met the captain and informed him
who he was, and asked to see his pas
senger list. lie declined. The Lieu
tenant then informed the captain oil
the Trent that he was Informed that
Messrs Mason, Slidell, Eustis and Me-
Farland were on board, and that he
would know the fact before allowing
the Trent to proceed on its voyage
Mr.. SlidelI, hearing his name mention
ed, came forward, and the other gen
tlemen soon joined him. The captain
of the Trent opposed search of his
vessel, and refused To show passen-
gers and passenger list. The gentle
men also protested against arrest, and
being sent to the American steamer
There was considerable noise and ex-
citement about this time: and MIR
Houston. the fficer of the San Jacinto
hearing it, came aboard with Mr.
Grace, the boatman, and six or eight
men, all armed Messrs. Mason and
Slideil refused TO leave the Trent
peaceably-when Mr.. Houston was
directed by the lieutenant 10 return
to the San Jacinto, and inform Cap
tain Wilkes that the Confederate Com
missioners would not leave the Eng
lish vessel without an application o.
force. The lieutenant states that ne
thought the presence of armed men
unnecessary, and only calculated te
alarm the ladies. He therefore direc'
ted Mr.. Grace and the armed men tc
return to the lower deck.
After parleying for half an hour an
other cutter came alongside, with
eight marines and four machinists, ~
addition to a crew Of some twelve
men. The gentlemen still refusing u
go, without an application Of force
Lieutenant Fairfax placed his hand on
the shoulder of Mr.. Mason, who theT
accompanied him to the gangway
where he was turned over to Lleuten
ant Green, who conducted him to the
boat. Mr.. Slidell insisted that ne
would not go voluntarily, ana tha'
considerable force must be applled IL
him, TO get him to go. The lieu
tenant then called in three other Of
ficers, who had no difficulty in per
suading the recalcitrant commissioning
to accompany them. Messrs. Eusti'
and Mcfarland, the Secretaries Of
Messrs. Mason and Slidell, moved or
quietly, but under protest. They hae
been permitted to collect their bag
gage. and Messrs. Mason and Slldeli
in packing up, managed TO transfer
their Official papers to the trunks o.