, 1861-01-17

:. Statement OF Capt. Whiting,

Capt. Whiting, Commander Of the Marion at
the time she was transferred By her Charleston
owners to the Government Of South Carolina, :
arrived In the city on Saturday, He gives the
following account Of tho transaction and events
TIC Marion ist s1rived oil Charleston barabout
O'clock Inst 1taesday morning. A thick fog
prevented anything being seen until day
broke, when the lighthouse came In view
ahead ut its proper bearing for the boat to run
spoke the Captain Of the ship Emily st. Pierre,
who informed him that he lad seen no lights.
At sunrise the General Cunch. annimed steam
er, was seen comlng dpwn tic channel; she
hoyc to II the place where the outer buoy had
be been stationed, for the purPoae, as Capt VIII
bar. On nearing, the Gen Clinch ran along
side, and asked what steamer was In the ofIlng.
Capt. Whiting replied TINT lie had seen none;
and inquired what had become Of the buoyss
He was answered that they had Ill been re-
moved, the beacons destroyed, and the lights
the buoy ahead; tie rc71y was, the inner buoy;
but nothing wns said about its having been
displaced in order to deceive vessels. The
Marion wus ut this time about ten miles from
Charleston, and the. colloquy between the
captains Tas cut shoTt By her striking on the
north breaker shore. Capt Whiting tmme-
liately turned his attention to the safely Of the
ship. H1ying done what he Thought was nec-
essary, be asked the General Clnch to take d
hawser and tow him of the shoal But with.
out replying the captain Of that boat turned
her TO the oMng and steamed nway, leaving
the Marion hard and fast aground, with rap.
Idly falling tide. In about an hour afterwards
the General Clinch returned; and In reply to
the question why he had not warned the Ma
rion Of her danger, the captain said that the pi.
lot bad been put on board his boat by the State
authorities, and that it was none Of his busi-
ness.
The Marion remained hard aground in most
dangerous position, until the high tide in the
afternoon, at o'clock, when the steamer Cor
don came up, md, with her assistance, under
the supervision Of her noble commander, Capt
Lockwood, she was released from her peril,
md proceeded to the wharf, Which She reached
at ?. r., uninIurcd. The next morning
(1Yedncsday> at o'clock, the steamer star Of
the West was visible, ond firing commenced
from the batteries at Morris Island. Seventeen
shots were fired.
About noon of that day the stockholders and
agents Of the Marion residing in Charleston
Informed Capt. Whiting that reqaisition had
been made for tho Mnrfon to 70 into the State
service Of South Carolina, to be "rmed and
equipped and sent in pursuit Of the Star Of the
West, with the avowcd determination Of sink
inE her if she remained: It WIS lett optional
with the Captain to retain command OF her as
sailing-mastcr, or to resign. Capt. Whiting
chose the latter alternative. The following Is
thcletter addressed to him on the subject:
CHARLESTON, Jan. 9th, 1861.
CAPT. SAMUEL WHIrNa-Dear Sir:-Thc
Government of the State Of South Carolina
having demanded the service Of the steamship
Marion, you will please use dispatch in getting
her freight discharged, as she is required I'M.
mcdlately. You are ut liberty to remain In
c. mmanl as sailing master. or resign, US you
may desire, and return to New York by rail-
road. Yours, respectfully,
HENRY MEssRooS, Agent.
2. S.-Thc Government appoints officers to
command troops abroad
It has been stated that the New York own
ers do not look upon the transaction In the
light Of seizure; but the phraseology Of the
opening portion Of the letter above" the
Government Of the State OF South Carolina
having demanded the service of tho steamship
Marion" &c.-would suggest IN opposite con.
clueion.