Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-23

WAHD REAR ADMiHALl. I'm
WHO SEIZED MASON AND Sill
DELL THE CONFEDERATE COM
MISSIONERS.
English colors, whereupon our ensign
was hoisted and shot was fired across
her bow. AS she maintained her speed
and showed no disposition to heave to, a
she'll was fired across her bow which
brought her to. Capt. Wilkes hailed
that he intended 10 send a boat on
board. and 1 then left with the second
cutter.
The manner Of heaving the Trent to
evidently was CALLING to Capt Moir.
When he Gid stop his steamer he
showed how provoked he was by i'm
patiently singing out through his trum-
pet What do you mean by heaving my
vessel to In this manner" l felt that
! must in every way conciliate him when
l should get on board Two boats had
been equipped ready to lower and the
officers and crews detailed to jump into
them. These were not employed until
later.
The boat l took was third one, and
as the was smooth. but a few min
utes elapsed before we reached the
Trent / instructed the boats crew to
remain alongside for orders. and. board
ing the vessel, ] was escorted by one OF
her officers to the upper or promenade
deck and was introduced to Capt NOR,
who, though very eentlemanly In his way
of receiving me, was also very diSn.fled
and manifested no little indignation as
he spoke of the unusual treatment re-
ceiVed at our hands.
| Immediately asked if I might see his
passenger list, saying that had infor-
nation that Messrs. MasSo and Slidel
were on board The mention OF Mr.
Slidells name caused that gentleman te
YOU want to see me?" Mr. Mason, whom
l knew very well, also came up at the
same time. thus relieving me from Capt
Moir's refusal, which was very polite
but very positive. that I could not under
such circumstances be shown any ha
OF passengers. 1 asked where their sec
retar!es Mr.. Mcfarland and Mr.. Eus
It's. were, for ! wanted to see then
also. and Mr. Mason pointed them on
20 me standing near. In the briefest time
had the four gentlemen before me. anc
ihen ] informed Capt. NOR that l hac
been sent by my commander to arres
Mr.. Mason and Mr.. Slidell and their sec
retaries. and send them prisoners or
by.
AS may readily be understood. when i,
was known why 1 had boarded the Tren,
there was an outburst of rage and IN
dignation from the passengers, who num-
bered nearly one hundred. many Of them
southerners. The captain and the four
gentlemen bore themselves with grea,
composure, but the irresponsible lockers
on sang out, Throw the fellow over
board I called on Cant. Moir to pre-
serve order. but for the benefit OF the
excited passengers / reminded them that
our every move was closely observed
from the San Jacinto by spy glasses (she
was within hailing distance) that a
heavy battery was bearing upon them
and that any indignity to any OF her Of
ticers or crew then on board might lead
to dreadful consequences. This. together
with Capt. Moir's excellent commanding
manner. had quieting effect
Du.in this uproar among the passen.
gers the officer in charge of the San
Jacinto's boat, not knowing what |,
meant. and fearing some Ill treatment OF
me. hurried up with six or eight OF the
crew. Capt. Moir WAS the first to see
this body OF armed men. and demonstrate
with me at their appea rance on the
promenade deck among his passengers
there being many ladies and children
among them. l Immediately directed the
officer to return to his boat and await
my orders. ] assured him. amid the
noise of his passengers, that the men had
come contrary to my instructions. was
really pleased to and the captain %
tenacious of hts command. for my mind
Mason or Mr.. Slidell. or both, would urge
Capt. Moir to relinQuish his command
making II necessary for me to assume It.
as in such event my Instructions left nc
opening for me to decline 1t.
After order had been restored We dis