New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-08
CONFEDERATE PIRATES.
DESCENT UPON OUR COAST OF JEfP. DAyiss
ppIvaTCPRc.

.,.a,;n,, Nv, ur T. Deafeh Smith, the newly-ap-
no;n,od ystric Attorney that a written statement,
containing the substance of the story, printed 10
IN co,r;er bad been submitted TO him. with the re-
orss, ,ba, he shonld investigate H. Steps mme-
dateIv taken by that officer 20 learn whether or mol
there was any foundation for it, but as yet he has been
unabe 10 elicit any corroborave testimony The fol-
lowing is The story:
I'VE have come into possession OF piece OF inteli-
gence Of 80 startling character that u may AT 10.
first glance appear incredibe but we have sufficient
reasons 20 believe that il il essentially true, and
whether or not it will receive the immediate action OF
the Government, detailed statement OF the facts
has been furnished 10 DelI6eh Smith, esq, our
newly-apposnied United States Dstrict-At0rneY ana
the President is undoubtedly, informed OF them
Rereited limitations have been given out in the
newspapers of the Confederate States that comnls-
sons were 10 be furnished TO private armed ships or
priya,eers and that the first thing we would KNOW
hon them nj the North would be the capture of some
of our packet ships Aspnwa steamers with cargo
of cold dusr Ii the following should prove true we
nav shortly hear OF the threat OF the Secesonists be-
Ing put into execution
q nur informant in this case is young EnelishTan,
named Wyatt who was formerly in the British Navy,
and served in the Crimea. He has no conceivable
motive Tor making misrepresentation, nor have We
any reason 10 question the truth OF his statement:
"Capt. Wyatt had applied for employment TO
Messrs III. b. C a. Co.., highly respectable
firm of this city. During one of his wits to Their
office corner of Albany and West streets, be met
man who represented himself as Capt. Marshall, who
nrotFered him tho command Of the bark Emperor OF
Boston bOund 10 Para, on tie River Amazon to col.
lect dye-woods. He accepted the oiier and declared
his Willingness TO hold himself subject TO orders. Capt
Marsha stated that he intended 20 send the schooner
EXPRESS as tender the bark and that inasnuch az
the Indians ~ Para might prove troublesome II wond
be necessary for each vessel TO be we'll armed. The
bark was 20 carry thiryye, and the schooner twenty
five nen--the latter vessel being under the command
Of Capt. Harrington.
" Snbseouent 10 this interview, Capt. Harrington
brought a note from Marshall TO Wyatt informing lin
that the bark would not enter the port on account o
port dnea and other expenses and that he was to meet
her outside of Sandy Hook and take her in charge and
Mr. c. desired i'm another occasion TO telegraph to
Marhall that he had freight OF 200 tuns for the LIN
| peror, and he did So.
{" A teeglaphio dispatch was received by him from
Marshall TO the effect that he 20 procnre sctoon-
err and taking board party Of friends meet nm
and tho bark uede OF the Horseshoe at the Hook, and
they could have frolic coming mp; aso, to select and
send down by steamug crew for The bark, ana IN,
form Mr.. &. Of his rders all Of which he complied
with. Mr.. c. volunteered TO accompany lin down
the bay with some of bis friends and named the
schooner Mary A. Burgess &c his choice for this pur'
pose
Arcola 10 charter her bnt wac told sLe engaged.
Lewis took him, however, to Israel Merritt, an en-
ployee Of the Board OF Underwriters who 10 ms eA
pressed wish, inquired what be wanted schooner LOT
a.
for the owner of the bsrks name, which he aso fur,
nished Merritt expressed himself satisfied, and said
that he could take tho Rnggod, lying at the foot OF
Riyngton street East River; and that the crew. would
obey him, and he was at liberty 10 keep her ou'soe a
long ar he desired.
"The captain of the Ringgold proved 10 be Merritt
brother, who. following the directions given him by
Wyatt took her 20 the Atlantic dock, Brooklyn, early
on Monday morning last. About noon they got under
weigh the PARTY on board consisting Of four adiee
three gentlemen, six young green bands, for the
bark a crew # four men belonging TO tho schooner
and boy about fourteen year, II age They proceeded
down the bay and 20 under the lee Of the Hone
shoe. There no bark IN sight, but her absence
was accounted for by terrible gale Of wind, which
| was blowing right ON the shore. The Ringgod lay
| there until p. M the following day. A bark ran
| in from the outside stood toward the Ringgold and
| fired gun, and then ran over to Red Bank and
| 10 in man-of-war style. c., man selected by
Capt. Wyatt to act Of his mates, came INTO the
cabin and said, the newly -arrryed vessel was Wyatt
bark, and he wasn't going to be kidnapped off in "a
| piratical expedition The captain Thought he was
testing. He went on deck followed by C, who
declared in presence Of all bis belief that Wyatt had
kidnapped them occasoning considerable uneasiness
| among the passengers both male and female, which
the positive assertion Of the captain IN denial failed TO
| remove.
In the evening large bnganiine Ia from
eea anchored between the bark and the schooner and
boisted the signal by which Capt. Wyatt was to
cognze the bark If che IN during the night. The
captain thought this looked suspicious, but took no
notice Of the signal on account OF liz being brig The
bark then showed a large revolving light, which was
treated with rimiar indifference by Wyatt. Toward
midnight one Of the sailors who was keeping anchor
watch said TO him that he thought the brig had some
thing to communicate on account OF the bark, ~ they
both had the signals eXposed The captain went
below put pair Of pistols in his belt and with the
sailor took the yaw and boarded the brig. lie found
her to be armed, carrying fourteen guns and was told
| that she had one hundred and eighty men on board
| and that her name was the Argo Her captain said
| the Emperor had sprung her mhnmast In the blow Of
Monday night and be did not believe she would be in
for two or three days and in she did not arrive
boat was 10 be sent 20 signal 10 that effect. The cap
tain of the Argo directed Wsytts attention to a
schooner lying OFF the Highlands, and said che was
| nice vessel and would answer their purpose urging
the latter TO take armed boats crew and cut her
cut. Capt Wyatt refused He was invitel below TO
partake of refreshments, and, when In the cabin,
half-dO1on men, by order of the Argos captain al
tempted TO PIT him in irons lie drew BIS pistol and
fired weunding Of the men, and declaring his de-
termination 10 die rather than submit To suCh out
rage The captain ordered his to desist and gave
| Wyatt until the following night TO think over his
proposition, advising him 10 90 on board the bark and
1 see her. He did 80, and found she was M armed
vessel disguised Ia merchantmen. She had on board
three hundred and fifty men, aud was named the
Typee.
"Captain Wyatt did not learn the name Of tie
ter of the Typee but he describes him rs man Of
| middle eye, with black eyes dark complexion, and
long black hair, and AZ having the general appearance
! Of Down-East shpmaser. The Captain Of the Typee
after nqniring the schooner's name, raid TO Wyatt
"You will have fine little bark meaning the Empe.
ror) she il the finest Of the whole lot lie informed
Wyatt that fleet Of twenty vessels Of various snes
was being organized and equipped for the Confederate
States of which smiling vessels, five were
steamer and eight were TO be smaller vessels Of light
draught, to act tenders, 10 run up shallow rivers,
and bring of, when necessary, men and PROVISIONS,
and also TO land the cargoes Of prizes. II the
design 70 get all the vessels Of the feet the coast
near NegYork for the purpose OF completing their
crews. The Typee and the Argo were the only snes