The Departure of Messrs. Mason the Slidell — their arrival in Havana — how they reached Cuba, etc.
[From the Charleston Mercury Oct. 31.]
For some time past the papers of the interior have been indulging in sly hints as to the whereabouts of
Messrs. Mason and
Slidell.--We have hitherto made allusion to their movements; but, the causes which induced our reticence being removed, we may now, without indiscretion, narrate the facts of their embarkation.
The Commissioners having resolved to make the venture of running the blockade of
Charleston, after mature deliberation selected the staunch and swift little steamer
Theodora, which was, therefore, got ready for sea with all dispatch.
The preparations having been completed, they embarked a little before midnight, on Friday, Oct. 11th. The party of passengers who were starting on this very unusual and somewhat hazardous trip, consisted of the following persons:
Hon. J. M. Mason, of
Virginia;
Mr. MacFarlane,
Secretary to
Mr. Mason;
Hon. John Slidell of
Louisiana,
Mrs. Slidell,
Miss Mathilde Slidell,
Miss Rosine Slidell;
Mr. Eustis, (
Secretary to
Mr. Slidell,)
Mrs. Eustis, who is a daughter of
Mr. Corcoran, the
Washington banker, now in Fort Lafayette;
Col. Le Mat, of
Louisiana, the inventor of the grape-shot revolver, and two 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 falling, which rendered the chances of being detected by the blockaders exceedingly slim.
At one o'clock on Saturday morning, the hasty good-byes, and God-speed-you's having been said, the cables of the
Theodora were loosened, and she glided down the harbor on her important mission.
As the steamer passed
Fort Sumter, every light on board was extinguished, and away she went, right through the fingers of the blockaders, far out at sea.
On the evening of the 11th she reached
Nassau in safety, where, had the opportunity been a favorable one, the
Commissioners would have disembarked; but, on enquiring, they ascertained that the English steamer connecting with that point touched at New York.
However gratifying a sight of New York might have been under other circumstances, the
Commissioners determined in this instance to forego the pleasure.
The
Theodora left
Nassau and steamed away towards
Cuba.
On the 16th inst. she arrived at
Cardenas, where the
Commissioners landed.
The news that a Southern steamer had arrived with
Messrs. Mason and
Slidell on board, which was telegraphed from
Cardenas to
Havana, was scarcely credited at the latter place.
But when on the 17th inst., the
Theodora came up the harbor of
Havana, displayed the
Confederate flag, the quays were immediately thronged with thousands of wondering spectators, and a most cordial and enthusiastic reception was given to the adventurous little craft.
The
Yankees in
Havana were, as a matter of course, much disgruntled at the welcome given the
Theodora.
But, on the other hand, the ladies of
Havana prepared a splendid Confederate flag for the steamer, which was presented to the
Captain, with appropriate ceremonies.
The ladies of Matanz is, also, took advantage of the chance to send hither a splendid flag for the
Hampton Legion.
The steamship
Columbia, which was formerly a Charleston vessel, but now in the armed service of the
Yankees, was, at the time, in the harbor of
Havana.
Luckily, however, she was not ready to put to sea.--Her consort, the
Keystone State, had gone to New 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, Fla.
So the
Theodora left the friendly port of
Havana unmolested, and with a freight of coffee, sugar, saltpetre, sulphur, acids, lead, iron, shot,
block tin, etc., ran quietly in — we won't say where — bringing a number of Charlestonians, who had reached
Havana from
Southampton about the same time the
Theodora ma- her appearance.
It is ascertained that the
Yankees keep a fast yacht constantly plying between
Key West and
Havana, simply for the purpose of gaining intelligence of our naval movements.
The
Theodora is a private vessel, and is unarmed.
