Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-01
TAKEN BY THE PIRATES.
A HONEYMOON EXPERIENCE.


A HONEYMOON EXPERIENCE
The following letter Is from young Scotch
man, who married q wife, and set sail iron
New York early Ia October for Cardenas
the vessel was taken by a rebel piratica
craft, and the party had the pleasure of (
visit to Charleston The narrative runs a
follows:
MATAEzAs, Nov. IL, 1861.
We sailed from New York on board the bril
Betsy Ames, on Oct. 5th In all we were si1
passengers, beside Mrs. Bartlett, the wife of The
Captain. We were bound for Cardenas. and al
went well until the morning of the 18th ult.
when we observed q schooner making right fol
us. There was nothing Suspicious about her at
her shot falling short about quarter OF mile
Captain Bartlett then ordered all sail to be
made, but the breeze shortly after died away,
and the now suspicious schooner made upon US
and fred another shot, which also fell a little
short Of our vessel. A third shot was fred, bui
we could not see in what direction it went
They fred fourth shot, which passed close
alongside our brig. This latter result caused
our Captain 10 take In sail and jog along more
leisurely, till the schooner made up to US about
twelve O'Clock, M. Still, we could not tell
what the little craft was, as sne had no color
flying. 3.
When she came up to US the Captain of the
schooner ordered our Captain to take one of his
boats and come on board with his papers, to
which he responded, "My boats are unfit for
service" The Captain Of the schooner then
said, 81 will come on board your brig, then,''
which he Immediately did. He came In his
own boat with an officer and four men, when
the Captain and his officer went down into
the cabin with our Captain, and took pos.
session of all his papers, then told him that he
was a. prisoner OF the Confederate States of
America. - aF
While the officers were in the cabin, the men
who were left in the boat sprapg on deck and
into the forehold, from which they took two
barrels of potatoes, about two dozen cabbsges,
and coil of rope, and put them into their boat.
When the officers came up on deck again,
they ordered our crew to the boat, and thence to
the privateer, which proved to be the Flying
Sally, of Charleston, on board of which there
were about sixty men and two pivot-guns. In
o short time prize crew was sent on board,
and as our captain had bis wife, they did not
transfer him.
The prize crew were seven 10 all. The mas
ter was an old cooper, named Joseph Tully,
who used to Cooper both at Matanzas and Car
denas. He evidently knew nothing Of seaman.
ship. 1isls Tsrt.
About 2 O'Clock We parted with the pirate
schooner, and nothing particular occurred un.
til the gath, at daybreak, when we made land,
but did not know where we we're Some of the
crew said we were north of Charleston; but, as
1t turned out, we were south Of North Edsto,
where we ran aground and lost our false keel,
but got of again, and went to sea. On the
following day we saw no land, and on the even
Ing of the 9th we made the land of S.. Helena,
almost the exact place where we we're on the
25th. After tacking off and on all night, We
were still in the same place Then we beat up
to the North Edisto Inlet. esst,tssDv -
While beating upwe espied schooner, which
fact caused the crowd 10 take alarm, and, to q
man, they rushed below, armed themselves with
their swords, knives and pistols, bagged their
clothing and q few little valuables, then pre-
pared for the boats, as they intended to beach
the brig. They were apprehensive that the
vessel sighted was United States gun. boat.
When they came on deck, however, and took
another observation, they discovered that 1t was
only little schooner. Then we made the in
let, when q boats crew, armed to the teeth,
came on board, and piloted US up TO the anchor.
age, about 40 miles inland. There they dis
ed up TO Charleston by tow boats. --l-
We arrived at Charleston about 8 o'clock P.
M on the 9th. Next morning the steamer
General Clinch took US on board with our bag
gage | may also state that the steamer Plant.
er towed us up to this safe "piFates' village
ground" asoE re ~ -.
When we got into Charleston the PRICE Cap.
tain took US to private boarding house, his
agent having closed his Office previous to our
arrival. IL tsr.,5.
Next morning we strolled about the city, and
called upon the British Consul, who told US,
strange as 1t may seem, that he could render US
no assistance, as We had done wrong In taking
our passage on board an American vessel, know.
ing that the tteo countries were, at war, there
fore, If the owners Of the prize had the good
feeling to pay our expenses II was only to be
expected from their generous character, but.
they could not be forced to do so. About ~
o'clock we were called upon to go to the Mar
shal's Office, and when we got there the Mar
shsl told US that we were prisoners, We were
then sent to the city jail. The captain's wife
and the other lady Of our company did not ao.
company na to the Jail. We remained In this
limbo till 6x o'clock P. NJ having been re-
leased at that time through the exertionso of her
British Majesty's Consul, Mr., Bunce, who had
Deen ,lnouceO 70 act tneuD Only because an OlQ
English captain who saw us in prison went to
him and prevailed upon him to use bis influence
In our behalf. ~ 60, =
/, The next day we looked round to see If we
could devise any means Of getting away. The
Spanish Consul informed US that the only
schooner which was going for some time, had
been loaded and had sailed already for Matan.
Gas. However, we had the good fortune to meet
Mr.. Salas, the owner Of two, vessels which were
ready for sea, and 1t appeared that Mr.. Bunce
had been 10 him to endeayor ii procure us q
passage; and as he could not assist us, Mr.. Sa.
las offered to take US to Matanzas on credit
That arrangement included the other British
passengers, my wife and myself The other
three paHsengers we're Gefmans, having Amer.
loan passports, and could mot be taken on board
the schooner Jasper. The crew on board this
craft declared her unseaworthy, after getting
their advance pay, and left. Mr., Salas had
therefore to ship another crew, and we got
ready for sea, AS the bark Rowena was get
ting her name changed 10 the St.. Helena Of
Ohafi lesion, 8. O., having been loaded with q
cargo Of naval stores, awaiting o favorable op.
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