The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-09-26
Another Pirate Cran DESTROYED.

The SINKING OF TIE PEIyATEEE .- PErREL."-
The Philadelphia correspondent OF the New York
Ha-ad gives the following account Of the sinking
OF the private-r Ps'rel by the trigate =. Lqr-
TSHcs
e. The leading naval event of the war came TO
light in this city Yesterday. (GtA) by the arrival
Of the gunJoL; Flag. ~ Fort Nifin. simultaneous
with - Fortress Monroe dispatch, relating the
capture OF the crew OF the urIydtecr Psfrei. and
the sinking VI the vessel IF Charleston harbor.
The fl0g siiied from this Navy Yard ON the lat
ter part OF May some time before the departure
IF the iri-ate -. Lcrrsucs. She cruised of
Hampton Roads ami various parts OF the coast be-
tween tape Henry and Savannah, holding in
check the pirates that sg1rEed OUT from tie In
lets and Sands, and oyernaulinS merchant yes-
sels OF whatsoever kind.
The s.. LGtCrens. likewise sailed down the Car
Cilna coast. IN the day time closing her ports and
maintaining the semDiauce of a very respectable
merchant vessel. The crew was kept below she
showed the stars ami stripes ut the peak, but
maintained 4 guise - cautious that none but cxpe-
rleuced mariners could detect IN her a govern
ment vessel Of the first class. armed 10 the teeth,
and ready at all hours for an engagement.
The 81. LGrrs,ice lay directly of one Of the
small shoal islands on the Carolina coast, on the
afternoon Of the lst Of August. when u trim-built
rdkIsh vessel of war was seen coming out of
charleston harbOr, making directly for the sup
posed merchantmen. The ~. Laurence affected
to crowd all sail and yet out to sea. but in reality
vas FA-li1 tlfSt IL " us stranger. anu lAthllZ
preparations 10 open the ports and deluge her
win shot. The pirates deck was seen crowded
with men, and the gunnerS distinctly seen ram
ming and pointing the guns. She flew the rebel
hdg, and shouted twice for the merchantman to
heaye To and send a boat aboard. No response
being made. the pirate fired three shots in quick
successiou-the first two ahead and the third
directly over the deck Of the 81. LdJrreEcc. the
grape and canister w~histliEg through the rigging
and falling III dangerous proximity To some OF the
officers.
Then the 81. Lawrence threw up her port lids
and showed III a moment the tiers Of cannon with
the gunner> AT the breech holding lighted matches.
Scarcely Il second interviewed when u shock that
shook the sea and made the ship tremble in all
her timb:rs broke from the guns, and when the
smoke cleared away the waves where the pirate
stood were seen full of drift wood and swimming
men. I
She had been literally cut to pieces. and one
ball that knocked IL hole in the bow at the water
line caused her To fill in Il moment and 20 down.
MI the boats of the 81. LQtCrcHce were put out
and the seamen picked up. Five of them, either
wounded or unable 10 swim, went down with the
hulk. 1t was found that the audaciOus craft was
the PetreI, formerly the General aiken, Il United
States revenue cutter. She had been seized in
prior TO the taking of S~umpter, and
'OIne accounts say that she had been duly entered
Confederate vessel of war.
Some of the men. when fshed out of the water.
we're at a loss 10 know what had happened to
hem. The suddenneSs Of the 81. L0lcrence'S re-
Ily, the deatening roar of the guns and the splin-
ers and submerged vessel, were all incidents that
Iappened in less time than we can take to relate
hem.