y veiled, alighted, assisted by two
gentlemen. The gentlemen stated that she was a French lady, and in
ill-health. Accordingly she was at once assigned a stateroom, to which
she retired. Soon after, the vessel cast off and headed down the bay.
When fairly out of the harbor, the stateroom door opened, and instead
of the frail, heavily veiled widow who went in, out strode a
black-whiskered man, armed to the teeth. He had no trouble now in
speaking English, and at once demanded the surrender of the ship. The
honest mechanics dropped their tools, and, drawing concealed weapons,
rallied around their leader. They had found the work they started out
to seek. The ship was captured, and a new privateer was ready to prey
on Northern merchant-ships. Once in the hands of the conspirators, the
vessel was run into a little port where the passengers were landed,
and a hundred and fifty more Confederates taken aboard. Under the
command of Capt. Thomas (the "French lady"), the vessel proceeded to
Fredericksburg, where she, and three brigs captured on the way, were
delivered to the Confederate leaders. This adventure so favorably
terminated, Thomas, with his officers, started back to Baltimore,
to lay plans for the capture of some other unsuspecting craft. But
fortune, which had thus far favored him, deserted him at last. On the
vessel upon which the conspirators took passage were two
police-officers of Baltimore. One of these officers recognized Thomas,
and quietly laid plans for his capture. In the harbor at Baltimore
stands Fort McHenry. Under its frowning casemates the ships of the
United States could lie without fear of attack from the thousands of
discontented men who made of Baltimore a secession city. The captain
of the "Mary Washington" was ordered by Lieut. Carmichael, the officer
of police, to bring the ship into the anchorage, under the guns of the
fort. This soon came to the ears of Thomas, who with his men rallied
on the deck, and, with revolvers drawn, seemed prepared to make a
desperate resistance. They were soon convinced that the officers had
ample power behind them, and therefore submitted. On arriving at the
fort, a company of soldiers was sent aboard the boat, and the
prisoners were marched ashore. But Thomas was not to be found. Search
was made in all parts of the boat, without avail; and the officers had
decided that he had jumped overboard, with the desperate intention of
swimming ashore. Just as they were about to