The schooner Tropic Wind.
--The British schooner
Tropic Wind was seized by the blockading squadron of Old Abe, near
Old Point, and carried to
Washington, where, after an examination, she was released, and given in custody of her captain.
At the latter place the captain shipped a crew of four negroes, it being impossible to get other hands.
At the mouth of the
Rappahannock the vessel stopped and engaged the services of a white man as mate, and then sailed for
Halifax, N. S., whither she was bound when stopped by
Lincoln's pirates.
As she was going to sea, she was again seized, and the negro sailors being called in as witnesses, testified to
Capt Layton's strong secession proclivities.
The mate was taken ashore and confined in the fortress, and the schooner being anchored under one of the guns of the men-of-war, a guard of three soldiers was set over the captain.
This was on Monday night, during which two of
Lincoln's soldiers went to sleep.
The other one the captain contrived to amuse by giving him something to read.
While engaged in this pleasant amusement, the captain pulled off his shoes and silently went on deck, and from thence got into the schooner's boat, which was towing astern.
Quickly cutting the painter, he floated a short distance and then commenced sculling for
Sewell's Point, seven miles distant, which place he reached just after the storm on Monday morning. He has since arrived in
Richmond, and will, no doubt, make such representations to the
British Consul here as will induce a protest from that official that will be respected by the minions of
Lincoln.
Their object in disregarding the order for her release given by their own officers and seizing the vessel the second time, must have proceeded from an invincible determination to steal her at any and all hazards.
The captain of the
Tropic Wind is a native of
Fredericksburg.
Va.
