Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-25
Escape Of the A driaIic.

Her V0yage across the .Anantc-L INTERESTING Mar
ratiUe-Lier Safe 4rTiUat at Savannah.
From the Savannah Republican we cOndense
the following account of the escape of the
Adriatie, and her adventures up to the time of
her arrival in Savannah:
The American bark Adriatic, which became
famous from her disastrous collision with the
French steamer Lyonnais, in November. 1856
and still more an object OF interest from her
recent seizure by the French authorities at
Marscilles, her cOnfscatiOn by the Court of
Admiralty, and her subsequent escape, ar
rived safely at this port at an early hour yes
terday.
The circumstances attending the collision
with the steamer LyOnnais are already famil-
lar to the public. Capt. Durham is very posi-
tive that it grew out of no fault on the part
of his own vessel, but resulted, as he alleges
from culpable ANNOUNCEMENT by the officers
of the steamer. The Judgment of cOnfisca-
ton was rendered by the Imperial Court of
AK in December last and as soon as a copy
was served on Capt. Durham, believing that
ii was impossible, i'll the excited state of the
public mind in France, to obtain justice, he
resolved to make his escape if possible. and
place the whole matter in the hands of his
Government. OF course he had to resort to
strategcm to accomplish his purpose.
He had her caulked all round for about five
feet above the waters edge, under the preteXt
that she was so open she would sink right
there in the harbor. What provisions they
got, were put on board another vessel and
from thence transferred to the Adriatic during
the night. The crew was also shipped for an
other vessel. and subsequently taken on board
the Adriatic, when they were so much intoxi-
Gated as not to he conscious of what was go
ing on.
Capt. ID. commenced preparations to leave
on the evening of the Sth his force consisting
of Capt. -, two mates and boy. The
vessel lay in the middle tier, with both anchors
ahead, and mOored with hawser astern. The
vessel ahead was made fast to the chain, and
when the Adriatc slipped they let go the
other vessel, and when the Captain awoke and
found himself adrift, he cursed the ID Yam
KEGS bitterly.
The crew were got on board by four o.
clock on the morning of the 9th. When the
Adriatc got abreast of the guard ship. her
boat came off and demanded the fOrt-pass of
the former. Capt. ID. when asked for his pass,
replied ''prencz garde Ia" and threw the of
ticers bit of paper with two sous wrapped
up in it. The paper and money however,
went over the boat and into the water. The
officer then inquired for the name of the yes
sci, when Capt. ID. replied that she was the
American ship Luna. that had cleared the day
before. The Adriotic then proceeded on her
way.
She arrived at Spezzia on the morning of
the 18th of January, and anchored with the
kedge, having cut loose both anchors and left
them at the wharf in Marseilles. Having no
bill of health, the Sandman au thorties would
not permit her to land Capt. ID. then went
ashore himself. to the partrique office, where
he met the American Consul, who informed
him that intelligence of his escape had reach
ed there and that the French Gov eminent had
telegraphed to all the ports in the Mediterra-
mean to stop the vessel in whatever port she
might be found. Soon after her arrival or
ders came from Turin to seize the vessel, and
the officers actually placed gun boat under
her stern. with two guns mounted having re-
ceived orders TO fire should any attempt be
made by the Captain of the Adriatic to move
from the spot.
Col. Long, the U. s. Storekeeper at Spezza,
kindly furnished the vessel with all she want
ed. Just as she got her provisions and water
on board, there came on fresh blow from the
north-ward. and the vessel was riding by the
kedge and fOrty-iive fathoms OF chain, with
one of the chain boxes filled with stones to
back it, and hawser bent to the other chain
box.
The vessel kept drifting until Capt d. was
compelled TO run hauser ashore 10 the laza-
rettO, where he made out to her, until he went
to town aud got his papers. Returning to the
bark, he put to sea.
The day following the Adriatic boarded the
ship Elizabeth Dennison, from whom she got
more provisions and an anchor.
The voyage from MADEIRA to the United
States was a long and tedious one, she having
encountered, alternately, claims and head
winds, nearly throughout the passage. The
crew finally exhausted all their provisions
except small quantity of beef, and it be-
came necessary for the ship to make the near
est American port (Savannah) which she
reached in safety, as before stated.