Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-03-26
The HarIx Aaraaf,..

The Bark Adriafic.
SAVANNAH March 18-The famous bark Adriat;o
winch eluded tne French authorities SO successfully ar
rived at this port this morning. a.
The Barquc Adriafic--Her Escape from the Ersn:
BY reference to shipping record it will he coo
that the barque Adriatic which has caused SO much M
element in this country and France during the last
twelve months, is at our port We had long CONVEX
saton yesterday with Captain Durham her Commando
from whom we elected some facts which NAV inferest
our readers. -
twill be recolected that the Adriatc ran into tbo
French steamer Lyonnaise the I'd of November l8S
and that the steamer sunk two days afterwards The
Adratc put into Gloucester, Mass, to repair damages
She then sailed for this port where she took in cargo
for La Ciotat France which port she at once proceeded
to and discharged her cargo She then took in cargo
for Sicily and regularly cleared at the Custom Hons
but when about to sail, her papers were taken away
from her, and action commenced against her owners
for damages The case was tried in April before the
Tribunal of Commerce, at Marseilles, and decided in
favor of the barque An appeal was taken to the I'm
perial Court at AK, where it remained until late in the
succeeding December.
In June the Court at AK being unable to decide this
matter, appointed committee consisting of three SEQ
captains to investigate and report it. They decided
that the steamer had violated well known nautical
rule in attempting to pass the barque to the left in
stead of to the right They also decided that the Adr
atlcs light was in proper position of sufficient size and
In spite of this decision of seamen the Court decided
that the Adratics owners were liable for onehalf the
value of the steamer-alegng that her light was too
small or in bad position or set too late
While the case was in the court of AK, Capt. Dur
ham requested permission to remove his ship and in
July last she was towed from La Cotat to Marseies in
charge OF four men, appointed for the purpose by the
prosecuting party. The case was decided the oath
of December and on the 18th of January COPY of the
decision was served on Capt Durham with notice that
the barque would be seized the next day for court char
amounting to about $50O-unless they were SET
tied prior to that time. As the Captain had no idea of
settling the BILL he thought the next best thing for him
to do, was to get away in the shortest possible time
AS he heard the decision of the court-on the
24th December-he set about putting his ship in sailing
order--he was closely watched and had to work at
night and at such other times as he could evade their
notice. Provisions were obtained from other ships
friendly to him. and was shipped in the name of
another vesseHnot one of them being aware of the
name of the barque, until they were out at sea.
AT o'clock on the morning of the 9th of January,
the Adriatic set sail and left her wharf Coming up to
the guardboat which was stationed at point necessary
to be passed. she hailed and her portpass asked for
The captain expected this ard was prepared for it.
Having no such document in his possession, he folded
two sous piece in paper and having given the
tionary word Prenez guarde, threw it over in such
manner that it accidentally fell into the water The
officer in the boat supposng it to be all right let her
pass and the long imprisoned Adratc went on her way
rejoicing.
She shaped her course for Spezza, port in Sardi-
na where she expected to find her papers and Amer
can man-ofwar from whom she might obtain an anchor
and such other things needed She found Meth
papers manofwar, and the French had telegraph
ed to all points, instructions to seize the barque where
ever she might be- and the authorities actually sent
gun-boat out to watch her the first night after her ar
val in port, with instructions to fire on her if she at
tempted to saorders to seize her having been recev
Il N,,r1,, lo,o
modest her. but to allow no communication with the
shorenot even for the purpose of procuring provisions
or water. In a day or two afterwards, however the
captain allowed to buy whatever he could pay for
Having procured what he wanted, and favorable wind
springng up, he left Spezza unmolested and after stop
ping at the Madeira Islands, and one or two other
places, reached our port yesterday morning.
Capt Durham is fine specimen of the American
sailor-inteligent, bold and daring-and our French
friends will have to resort to more substantial
diet than frogs and rise little earlier in the morning
before they can hope to get ahead of such men.
The of the Adriatc is remarkable one, without
parallel in maratme history and is likely to be-
come question of grave Importance between the Unit
ed States and the French Government The matter has
already been brought before Congress
,,,.. Go,5esRondsnoe C the PstersRurg Express
six-The Groom Twenty-Five.
STONY CREEK, Sussex Va, March 49, 1858.
Messrs. Editors AS your ever welcome paper con-
tanned an account OF extraordinary marriage in its
last ISSUE allow the liberty of laying before its read
ers an account OF one extraordinary which
occurred as follows
MARRIED.-On the 18th instant in the county of
Dinwiddie, by the Rev. John Willroy Mallory Kirby,
Mr. John W. Sturdivant in the 22d year of his age to
the amiable and well to do Miss Martha Oliver, aged
sc years.
1t is thought that an enterprsng widower at Stony
Creek might have supplanted the youthful Adonis but
for his extreme didence hence the old adage- faint
heart fair lady, understand that this young
hero has been the object of her ANTICIPATED but endead
affection for more than six months and has at last real
lied the consummaton of his cOnuga bliss 1t was kept
secret by the parties until within few hours OF their
marriage but at the appointed hour some thirty persons
were present to witness this highly interesting scene
When the question asked by the honored clergyman
-" Wilt thou have this woman for thy welded wife
love her." &C., the Adons paused, but the honest par
son waited his reply with becoming gravity which
answered after due deliberation will" After the
solemn and impressive ceremony performed, he
ceved his Anticipated Venus with becoming reverence to
enter upon the various duties of married life May
they live long, and be happy and when death shall
move from his loved embrace the cherished companion
of his BOSOM may her name be landmark to guide him
through the perous voyage of his extended existence
Yours respectfully
SAPPoNEY GROVE.
ALL1GAToRs NEsTs.-They resemble haycocks, four
feet HIGH and five in diameter at their bases being
structed with grass and heritage First they deposit
one layer of eggs floor of mortar and having Gov
cred this with second stratum Of mud and heritage
eight inches thick lay another set of eggs upon that
and to the top, there being commonly from one to
two hundred eggs in nest With their tails they then
beat down round the nest the dense grass and reeds five
feet HIGH to prevent the approach Of unseen enemies
The female watches her eggs until they all Matched
by the heat of the sum- and then takes her brood under
her care defending them and providing for their sub
ssence Dr. Lutzenburg, of New Orleans says that he