Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-06-21
A BRUSH WITH JEFF. DAYIs's
PIRATES.
A Rebel Privateer Captured.

The schooner Savannah, Midshipmen Nc
Cook commanding, from Charleston, 4 days,
has Just arrived. having the Stars aud Stripes
flying over the Secession flag. The schooner
was captured by the United States brig Perry,
about go miles outside Charleston Harbor
She was formerly pilot boat ct that port, is
schooner rugged, Of 81 tuns burden, and has an
Is FOUNDER pivot gun amidsbips. She had
been out from Charleston about 36 hours pre-.
vious TO her capture. During her cruise she
had captured the brig Joseph of RockIand, who
was sebtinto Georgetown, s. Q. The Savannah
was brought to this port by Midshipmen Me-
Cook and prize crew Of United States ship
Minnesota. Her crew, about 80 10 number,
were put in irons on board the Minnesota
The Savannah will anchor off the Battery.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Our reporter boarded the Savannah last even
ing, and from Isaac Seeds, acting mate, aud
one of the crew put on boord from the Min
nesota, learns some additional particulars. He
was 10 Charleston at the time she was fitting
out, and saw her lying at anchoI off Fort Sum-
ter on the 31st May. She went to sea on
Sunday, Sd June, aud the next day fell 10
with the brig Josepho of Rockland, Maine, from
Cardenas, Cuba, with cargo of sugar consign-
ed to Welch & Co., Philadelphia. The Sayan-
nah set beF colors so as to deceive The joseph,
aud The latter hove to and her clptain went
aboard The p;ratlcal craft under the impression
that she was in distress. No sooner had he
done so then the captain of the Savannah said,
,"Your vessel is taken as prize under the au-
thority of the Confederate States" Right
men we're put aboard the Joseph, and they
we're directed to take her and the crew to the
nearest port, which was that Of Georgetown,
s. q. This occurred about the uiddle Of the
afternoon. Soon after the Savannah aud 10.
seLh parted company, in the brig Perry, q
man of war, hove in sight, little north OF the
Hoe In the Wall;Fbut as her gus were run
back, her port holes closed, aud the vessel
otherwise purposely disguised, she was misiae
ken for a merchantmen, and tue pirates, push
ed with their recent success, and with So inyi-
ting prospect of plnader before them, full Of
great expectations, made all sail for the sup
posed prize. They had got within "a mile OF
the brig before they discovered their plunder
when they put about, more anxious to escape
than they had been before to make the seizure
The Perry al once gave chase, ami fired several
shots, four of which were returned by the l8-
pouuder of the Savannah. Two of the shots
from The Perry went through the foresail of
the pilot boat; the shots of the Savannah did
not take effect. The next occurrence was the
surrender of the pirates, who were taken on
board the Perry, and were subsequently, trals-
ferred to the Minnesota, lying off Charleston;
where they were put IL irons. The Mlnnespta
put pre- crew of seven upon the Savannah
Midshipman AlcCook commanding, aud they
brought her 10 New York, anehoring, off The
Battery about 5 o'clock yesterday aftersoon
The number that originally shipped on the
Savannah was thirtgsGwO but eight deserted be
fore, twenty.foar aboard when The JOSEPH was
captured, aud eight having been transferrs. TO
sea. There we're, therefore, tweaiyefoar
aboard when the Joseph was captured. and
eight having been transferred To her, leaves
sixteen in irons on the Miunesots. One, how
ever, is on the Savannah. He says that lie be-
longs to this city, aud Was impressed iuio the
service; which is not improbable. The Is.
pound swiye anidsbips looks quite formidable.
There is large quantity of shot aud she'll,
grape and canister aboard. Tue pirates were
beside armed with eatlasses, knives, pistols,
muskets, rifles, &c. The catin, in fact, is the
very picture OF piratieai den, with these
death-doihg instruments hanging mp about the
walls. They had also quantity OF handouts
for prisoners. Her owner is said to be Me-
Donald, formerly one of the pilots of the
Spoff6Id Is Tileston Iine Of Charleston steamers,
and we'll known in New York Capt Baker
was the leaders of the pirates.
Mr. Seeds was in Charleston for some time
previous TO the lifting out of the Savannah,
aud found it very difficult to get away. lie
finally got aboard vessel bound for Nassau,
New Providence. Bat the blockadiug vessel,
MInnesotc, made her bu: back and discharge
cargo. Mr.. Seeds, however, being an expert
euced seamen, got himself transferred to the
Minnesota. Mr.. s. states that the people ol
Charleston bogu to talk in quito subdued
tone ia regard to the war. Business is stag
aaut. Butter Was worth S7A cents pound,
and lard GA cents. Beef was only Is cents.
The main excitement was in regard to priva-
.eesiug, and the old SLAYER, the brig Echo, was
fitting out for this purpose. She was mounted
with several guns. Citizens 90 into this bu-
siness and make joint stock operation of it
Mr. Il. w. Williams had taken > 900 worth
stock 10 the Echo
1t was reported that the Perry had recap,
tured the Joseph, but this lacks confirmation
GEN. ScoTr.- Did it ever occur to ou