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DEPASTURE OF MESSRS MASON AND SLIDELL.Bovs Oiey reached Cuba, dec.From the Charleston Mercarj of Oct. 31st.For some time past, the papers of the interior have been indulging in »ly hints as to the whereabouts of Messrs. Mason and Slidell, the Southern Commissioners to England and France. We have hitherto made no allusion to their movements; but the causes which induced our reticence being removed, we may now, without indiscretion, narrate a the facts of their embarkation. j tThe Commissioners having resolved to make L the venture of running the blockade of Charleston, j t after mature deliberation, selected for the expert- | rnent the staunch and swift little steamer Theodora, (. which was therefore pot ready for sea with all dia- i t patch. The preparations having been completed, o they embarked a little before midnight on Friday, c October 11th. The party of passengers who were (. starting on this very unusual and somewhat e hazardous trip, consisted of the following persons: I e Hon. J. M. Mason, oi'Va., Mr Macfurland (Sec- , t rctary to Mr Mason.) Hon John Slidell, of La., 1. Mrs Slidell, Miss Marhilde Slidell, Miss Itosine ' Slidell, Mr Euslia, (Secretary to Mi Slidell,) Mrs v Eustis, who is a daughter of Mr Corcoran, the t Washington banker, now in Fort Fafayette, Col.Le Mat, of La , the inventor of the grape-shut revolver, and to or three other gentlemen, whom it will be best, for the present, not to name.The night was pitch dark, and about midnight a light rain began fulling, which rendered the chances of being detected by the blockadera exceedingly slim.At one o'clock on Saturday morning, the hasty good-byes and God-spced-you's having been said, the cables of the Theodora were loosened, and she 1 a glided down the harbor on her important mission. 't! As the steamer p»as®ed Fort Sumter, every light on h board was extinguished, and away she went, right! a through the fingers of the blockaders, tar out at sea.On the evening of the 13th, she reached Nassau in safety, where, had the opportunity been a favorable one, the Commissioners would have dis- | si embarked; but, on enquiring, they ascertained I that the English steamer connecting with that I point touched at New York. However gratify- \ ing a sight of New York might have been under J fi other circumstances, the Commissioners determin-1 tl fd in this instance to forego the pleasure ! aSo the Theodora left Nassau and steamed away , 7 towards (Juba. On the 16th ult., she arrived at k Cardennv, where the Commissioner* landed. The | tl news that a Southern steamer had arrived, with 1 b Messrs. Mason and Slidell on hoard, which was tclegrstpiu-d from Cardenas to Havana, was scarcely credited at the latter place. But when on the 17th. the Theodora cstno up to the harLor of Havana, displaying the Confederate fag, the quays were immediately thronged with thousands of wondering spectators, and a moit ccrdial ar d enthusiastic reception was given to the adventurous little craft. T he Yankees in Havana were, as a matter of course, much disgruntled at rhe welcome given to the Theodora. But, on the other hand, the ladies of Havana prepared a splendid Confederate firg for the steamer, wh ch was presented to the Captain with appropriate ceremonies The Indies of Matnnzus, also, took ad- ! tl vantage of the chance to send hither splendid ! flag for the Hampton Legion. I «aThe steamship Columbia, formerly a Charleston j at vessel now in the armed service of the Yankees, 1 B wn6, at tbc lime, in the harborof Havana. Lurki- ! 11 !y, however, slto was not ready to put to tea. Her | A consort, the Keyst ne State, had gone to Nevr York with a Southern steamer, loaded with a valuable freight of arms and munitions, and which, unfortunately, had been captured while endeavoring to make the run to Tampa. Florida.So the Theodora left the friendly port of Havana unmolested, and with a freight of coffee, sugar, saltpetre, sulphur, r.cids. leud, iron, shot, block tin,c., ran quietly in ,we won’t say where—bringing a number of Charlestonians, who hadreached Havana from Southampton about thefHnie time the Therdcra made her appearance.It is ascertained that the Yankees keep a fast , seyacht constantly plying between Key West and 1 IHavana, simply for the purpose of gaiuing intcl- ar lipence of our naval movements.The Theodora is a private vessel, and is unarmed, tliin
Newspaper Details
Charlotte Western Democrat
Charlotte, North Carolina, US
Tue, Nov 05, 1861
Page 2
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USA 21 Apr 2025
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