Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-23
BATTLES md EADER o the CYL WAR; !! -
s& HOW SEIZED MASON AND su1EL FOR CAPT. WILKES sn ~e~

cussed the affair more generally Capt
Moir. however. scarcely joining in the
conversation-always dignitied and pune
tiious. The mail agent. Commander
Williams. an officer of the royal navy, on
the retired list. was more oft1cious, for he
scarcely left me. and more than once re-
minded me that he represented her mai
esty's service. and that l must refer
things to him. OF course. / knew what
was due to him, but ] also knew that
Capt. Moir was the only person with
whom I could have any official relations.
I carefully avoided giving any offense.
and confined myself strictly to the duty
which had taken me on board l was
anxious that Mr. SHdel and Mr.. Mason
should not leave any of their luggage be-
hind.
Mrs Slidell having asked me who COM
manded the San Jacinto. l replied. Your
old acquaintance. Capt. Wilkes where
upon she expressed surprise that he
should do the very thing the Confederates
were hoping fOr-something to arouse
England; and she also spoke of our hav-
Ing run down French brig, short
time before, saying that two French men
of-War were at Havana when the brig
came in with Jury masts. almost wreck.
as the captain of the brig reported to
them, and adding that their commanders
had expressed great Indignation, and
would make the most of our treatment of
one of their merchantmen. Really. she
added, Capt. Wilkes is playing into our
hands, Mr. Mason here suggested that
it would be just well not to discuss
these matters at such time capt
Wilkes offer of his cabin was conveyed
by me to Mrs. Slidell and Mrs Eustis,
and declined by both ladies.
X j.
After the first uproar had subsidized |
sent the boat TO Capt. Wilkes to say
that these gentlemen We're all on board,
and had objected to being sent to the San
Jacinto, and that l must use force to
accomplish my orders. | asked FOR a BOAT
to carry them comfortably on board. an
other for their baggage. and third to
carry stores. which the pay masters clerk,
at Capt. Wilkes order, had already pur-
chased from the steward of the Trent, to
add to the comfort OF the new guests.
When all was ready and the boats were
in waiting, ] notified both Mr.. Mason ana
Mr.. Slidell that the time had come 10
send them to the San Jacinto. lheE
came quietly down to the main deck, ana
there repeated that they would not go
unless force was used: Whereupoh IVY
officers. previously instructed. escorted
each commissioner to the side, and assist
cd theu into the comfortable cutter sent
especiallv for them. The two secretaries
followed them into the boat without max
ing opposition.
cutlery was raised by the passengers
noise enough to cause Lieut.. Greer, VINO
was waiting for these gentlemen to &C
company them on board, TO send cor
porars guard inside of the mann uech
cabin. This produced considerable CON
sternation among the ladies nearby, but
il was soon allayed by Capt. NOR, ana
he marines were sent back OUTSIDE. lhe9
had been sent IN one OF the poats pS
Cant Wilkes order. under the IMPRESSION
that they might be required. Some ma
chinsts also came, in the event OF the
Trent being taken as prize they were
not needed, and were sent back TO tnf!f
ship a little while DeIoTe re'u' heo W
make my report.
Commander Williams was reported as
saving when he went to England that
had caused marines to charge upon de-
fenseless women and children tn flxed
bayonets. The men. of course, had thelr
muskets at carry or shoulder, ana
moved Into the cabin with quick step-but
there was no other foundation for the
statement Again he represented. and II
was pictured in one OF the London illus
trated papers, that Miss Slidel) for some
reason or other had struck me in the
face This was based on the fact that
she accidentally touched my shoulder
while / was talking to Mrs. Slidell at the
door of Mr.. SlidelIs stateroom. While |
was standing there Miss Slidell, then Il
girl of fifteen seventeen years. was
protesting against my taking her father
from her, when little roll of the steamer
caused her to lose her balance, and thus
she touched me slightly. Mrs. Slidell.
writing afterward from Paris to her near
relative and a friend of m ne, expressed
her modification that such a story
should have been circulated But Com
mander Williams babe me goodbye pleas
antly when | left the Trent. saying that
he was very much pleased at my IN der
ate and gentlemanly manner throughout
this very embarrassing and perpleXing
duty, and that he would report the same
to his government, for which I thanked
him, mentioning h language afterward
to Capt Wilkes. The truth is that much
was made of Williams in England, and he
evidently lost his head,
Once while the transfer Of luggage and
stores delayed US Capt. Moir, seeing his
sight of shoal water. said to me- "If
you do not hurry and get out of my
vessel l will not be responsible for her
safety" l Immediately hailed the San
Jacnto and requested that she be kept
more to windward and in midchannel.
and then said to Capt. Moir: Now
you can move up nearer to the san
Jacinto," which he did l speak of this
to show how watchful / was to keep
him in an amiable frame of mind, and
so to lessen the chance of his throwing
the Trent on my hands.
X
When ali was finished ] went on board
the San Jacinto and reported to Capt
ss