Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-08-21
Prize Burnt.

On Monday last our town became greatly
excited by receiving the intelligence that two
vessels we're in sight of our bar, one of them
being pursued by the other. Every place Of
sufficient height to enable person to see the
ocean and the two vessels, was crowded with
persons, anxiously looking to see what would
be the final result of the chase. About 10
o'clock, messenger arrived in town from the
Beach bringing the intelligence that one of
the vessels, a large bark, was beachcd and
that her crew lad come ashore. Soon the
drum was beating TO arms and in short time.
the Fcrnandina Volunteers, Island City
Guards, and also the private citizens, We're
armed on their way TO the scene of action.
I'VE fell in the ranks of the F. VS., and found
out that it was no fun to march through the.
sand to the Beach, After arriving at the
Beach we learned that the vessel ashore was:
the bark Alvarado, prize captured by the,
privatccr Jeff. Davis about 400 miles 10
the Southeast Of our port, a prize crew put
aboard and she was by order making for our
town. The prize crew consisted of eightmen;
the Captain Of which was aSavannah Pilot;
they came ashore and brought their private
property.
" on learned that the Yankee Captain:
his wife and negro were aboard, who re-
fused to come ashore, and who raised the
American flag, Union down, as soon as the
prize crew left. A detachment of our citizens
subsequently, went aboard and brought them
on shore, and they are now in our town. AT
this time the U. S. ship Vincennes, which had
been pursuing the prize, came in range, and
soon anchored and fired a few guns at the
bark, which, however, did not take effect:
After impatently waiting for some time, the
bark Carried by the rising tide) got ailoat
and came nearer to the shore, so near, in
fact, that the six Founders on the beach could
throw ball some distance beyond. A com.
pany of our men manned the yawl boat
brought ashore from the bark, and started
to board her, when it was announced that
three launches had started from the ship Tor
the same purpose; our men pcrceiving this;
and not being prepared to resist so large
number. returned to the shore. The men
from the Yincennes proceeded to the bark,
amid shower of six-pounders, which fell
thick and fast all around them, and alter
raising United States flag set fire to her
and left.
Ali praise is due to our citizens who were.
on thc spot as speedily as possible and ready
TO render any assistance in their power, bus.
not }:aving guns sufficient they could do no
good. The vessel continued burning all night,
and yesterday morning numbers of Our clti-
IONS and others from Old Town were around
the wreck trying TO save what they could
The Yankee Captain lost all of his clothes,
and everything else which he and his wife
had aboard. 1t is estimated that tic prize
was worth 1,,e Hundred thousand dollars, be-
inr the most valuable one yet captured by
our bold privalccr. The prize vessel was
loaded with medicines, wool, copper and iurs
The Gun SLIP was Only protecting the pro-
per,v cf the citizens Of the United States.
We are sorry Captain Cu&etter lost the prize
hut we are glad tic Yankees did not get it.
-Ecrnandiln Foridian, Aug. I.
The Prize crew Of the above vessel, mum.
boring eight men, together with the Captain
of tic bark, arrived in this city on Monday,
ON board the steamer Wm. Scabrook, Capt.
Grantham.
One Of the scamen, Geo. Simmons, gives
us the following additional particulars:
The prize crew under the command oi.
Captain Hays were transferred from the Jetl
Davis to the bark on or about the 23d nlt.
When about II days out they espied the
Vincennes, and Immediately tackled for the
nearest point of land. The Tinccnnes at the
time had no canvas spread, but ut once I'M
furlcd and gave chase. The bark then stood
oil to sout beast, the Einccnnes doing the
same and standing in towards Shore At this
time Capt. Hays deserted the light house oil
St. Johns on the southern coast. The Vim
cenncs, however, gained upon them rapidly,
making almost three feet headway to one Of
the bark. The bark drew nearly Is feet water.
Finding they could not gain an entrance
into the port, and fearing capture, tue prize
captain and crew determined to run the boat
ashore on the st. Marks shoals.
The jeff Davis at the time the capture was
made was about $50 miles out at sea.
The seamcn speak in the highest terms Of
the officers of the "bold privateer," and their
determination to resist to the last any at
tempt at capture.
1t is thought that large portion of the
cargo of the Alvarado may yet be saved
Charleston Courier, 18th.
a Ricu PuFr.-A manufacturer and ven
der Of quack medicines recently wrote to
friend Of his living, out West, for "a good
strong" recommendation Of his (thc manu-