Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-04-23
From the Savannah News.
The Barque Adria tic--Her Escape from
fbe French.

The 5RarQue sAdEIat 1c--tAtIA< Ssttte -
the French.
By reference to our shipping record, ~
will be seen that the barque Adriatic'
which has caused SO much EXCITEMENT m
this country aud France during the las.
ts elye months, is at our port. We had
a long conversation yesterday with Capt.
Durham, her commander, from whom We
ELECTED some facts which may interest
our readers.
+ IL will be recollected that the Adriaticl
ran into the French steamer Lyonnaise
on the Cd November, 1856 and that the
steamer sunk two days afterwards. The
l.Adriatic put into Gloucester, Mass, to
repair damages. She then sailed for this
port, where she took in cargo for La
Ciota., France, which port she at once
proceeded TO and discharged her cargo.
She then took in q cargo for Sicily, and
was regularly cleared at the Custom
House, but when about to sail, her papers
were taken away from her, and an action
commenced against her owners for dama>
ges. The case was tried in April before
the Tribunal Of Commerce. az Marseilles,
and decided in favor of the barque. An
appeal was taken to the Imperial Court
aL AK W nCE6 IL
succeeding December. "a o} ss{ e
In June the Court at AK being unable
to decide this matter, appointed com
mittee consisting of three sea captains,
to investigate and report on it. They de-
cided that that steamer had violated well
know nautical rule. in attempting to pass
the barque to the left, instead of to the
right. They also decided that the Adrl'
atic's light was in proper position, OF suth'
cient size, and set at least ten minutes
before the collision occurred.
In spite of this decision of seamen, the
Court decided that the Adriatio's owners
were liable for one half the value of the
acknowledging that her light was too
small or in bad position. or set too late.
| While the case was in the court of AK,
Capt. Durham requested permission to
remove his ship, and in July last she was
towed from La Ciotat to Marseilles in
charge of four men, appointed for the
purpose by the prosecuting party. The
case was decided on the Gath Of Decem-
Der, 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
charges-amounting to about $500
unless they. were settled prior to that
time. As the 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. tats.a.
AS soon as he heard the decision Of the
court-on the Gath December he set
about putting bis ship in sailing order
he was closely watched, and had to work
at night, and at such other times as he
could eyade their notice. Provisions
were obtained from other ships friendly
to him, crew was shipped in the name
of another vessel-noL 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 Adriatio set sail and left
her wharf. Coming up TO the guards
boat which was stationed at point ne.
cessary to be passed, she was hailed, and
her pass port asked for. The captain ex.
pected this, and was prepared for it,
Having no such document in his posses
sion, he folded two sous piece in apa>
per, and having given the cautionary
word: "Prenze guarde," threw it over in
such manner that it accidentally fell into
the water. The officer in the boat sup
posing it 10 be all right. let her pass, and
way rejoicing.
She shapedher cours for Spezzia. a post
in Sardinia, where she expected 20 find
her papers and an American man-of-war,
from whom she might obtain an anchor,
and such other things as were needed
She found neither papers nor man. of-war
and the French had telegraphed to all
points instructions to seize the barque
wherever she might be; aud the authori.
ties actually sent gun-boat out to watch
her the first night after her arrival il
port, with instructions to FIRE on her il
she attempted to sail-orders to seize bel
having been received from Turin. The
next day orders were given not TO moles
her, but to allow no communication witt
the shore-not even for the purpose o
procuring provisions or water. In day
or two afterwards, however, the captain
was allowed to buy whatever he could
pay for. Having procured what he wan
ted. and favorable wind springing up
he left Spezzia unmoested, and after
stopping at the Modeira Islands. and one
or two other places, reached our port yes
terday morning.
Captain Durham is fiue specimen Of
the American saiIor-intelligent, bold and
daring-and our French friends will have
to resort to more substantial diet than
frogs. and rise little earlier in the morn.
ing. before they can hope to get ahead oil
such men.
The case Of the Adriatic's, remarka.
BILE one without a naraIlel in our mari.
time history. and it is likely 10. become a