Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-03-08

and was transformed into a man with
TWO revolvers in his pockets. Captain
Thomas who had been thus cleverly
disguised, had no sooner appeared on
deck than there was another transfer
nation scene" The twenty-five me-
chanics Invested themselves of their
soiled garments and appeared as
oody of well-armed men, who immedi7
ately surrounded their leader The
later told Captain Kirwan that the
BOAT was now the property Of the
Southern Confederacy, but that If he
and his passengers peaceably submitted
they would be put ashore without
molestation. Before all this force there
was nothing to do but submit Cap
tain Thomas took possession of the
steamboat, an engineer and fireman
were furnished from his party, and
the Saint Nicholas was run to the Vir-
ginia shore. A landing was made at
place called 1.-The Cove where the
boat captain and his passengers were
put off, and allowed to make their way
to Baltimore, Washington or Annapolis
as best they could. And here's a large
detachment Of Confederate troops came
aboard and took possession Of the
steamboat which proved that the plan
for it's capture had been carefully and
Systematically laid.
The incident caused great excitement
about Chesapeake Bay, and sharp
lookout was kept for the daring
French lady" 1t shows the desperate
character of the man, that after such
an exploit as this he should attempt to
return to Baltimore by a public con-
vcyance, to plot and execute more mis-
chief. He was one of those restless
natures that the war brought to the
surface who love the atmosphere Of
danger for it's own sake. 1t was but
few weeks later that Captain Kirwan
and two of his officers were passengers
on the steamboat Mary Washington,
from Fair Haven, on the shore, to
Baltimore. There were also aboard
two police officers who had been down
the bay trying to catch a criminal, and
several Union officers and soldiers,
some Of whom were armed. Some of
the faces Of the passengers looked very
familiar to Captain Kirwan, and he
was not long in satisfying himself that
at least eight of the party who had
taken the Saint Nicholas from him
were aboard. A closer scrutiny discov
cred that Thomas himself was one of
the number.
A plan was quietly agreed upon be-
tween the two boat captains and the
police officers for the capture of these
desperadoes They took possession of
all the exits from the boat, with the
aid of the few soldiers aboard, and
stopped the boat at Fort McHenry.
Thomas at once saw that he was de-
tected. He drew Is pistol, called on
his men to draw theirs, and demanded
of the captain of the Mary Washing
ton that he go on to Baltimore. But
the positions were firmly held, and the
commanding officer of McHenry having
been informed of the situation, a strong
guard now appeared on the boat.
Thomas men were taken; but he had
disappeared 1t was known that he
must be somewhere on the boat, and
thorough search was made. 1t took an
hour to find him. He had actually shut
himself up in a bureau drawer in the
ladies' cabin, his small size enabling
him to do it.
He was long confined at Fort Lafay
cite, whence he continually tried to
escape The Confederacy was deprived
OF a willing "dare-devil' by his i'm
prisonment.