The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-09-12

The PIRATE SUNPrEE =" on TIE CALIFORNIA
STEAMERS TE,CK.-Ths letter of our Panama CORES
pendent, published to-day, furnishes some important
and disouieting intelligence. We have a confrma-
ton Of the fact that the Southern pirate steamer
SYHptcr is lurking about among the Windward
Islands, and that the latest intelligence informs us
that on July Goth she went in at san Juan, Porto
Rico, to get provisions, making. II l. presumed, but
4 short stay. An examination Of the map will show
that San Juan is but Il few hundred miles from the
track of the California treasure steamers, on their
way from Aspinwall TO New York; and, taken in con-
uectiou with the great temptation held out by our
bullion and the oft-rcpeltei limitations from South
ern papers, we fear that the presence of the pirate in
that qnarter is for the special purpose of Selling our
gold. If that is the design OF the ~SHMpter, she has
well chosen her ground. The innumersble caves and
hiding places in all the Bahama Islands afford her
all the cover she needs. while lying in wait for her
victim; and if she should succeed in making a prize,
either the Bahama group, or some OF the small
islands in the Caribbean archipelago, would furnish
a ready refuge, where her capture would be put for
n short time out of sight.
In writing this We do not desire u cause alarm;
but if danger exists. no good can come OF hiding our
ewes TO IL. When we know OF a hiChwayman on the
road, common honesty demands all shall warn the
traveller, and not permit him to fall unsuspectingly
into the power of the thief. SO with a pirate. We
cannot but regard the presence OF the SumPfeF IN the
localities last heard from rs threatening to our trea-
sure shipments. Let those most nearly interested
look into the matter narrowly.
The following is the extract referred to above:
The steamship Champion, with the passengers Of the GOT
d.u -fgs-which former ship left Aspiuwall for New York on
the afternoon Of the 4th. got "a big scare in going out Of Aspin-
wall. She LEFT a Little before dark. aud when out about an hour,
returned reporting that she had been chased by a pirate steam
81 She ran alongside the old war brig BaiHbTIfge. which was
NJ anchor iu the port. when tins vessel got up her anchor and
lo5seI hrr sails u 20 in search of JeE. Davi-'s cruiser. How
I- OLD brig with her short range guns expected n capture the
>4UIptsr. which L. said 10 ns a fleet steamer, with ; o-iuCh
luu.-rlu-e hII dogs. I have no; learned But she had no
chance % Try IL on-for suddenly a big steamship came swiftly
aud fearlg,,iy INTO rart. and ho-,eI British coiors. 1, proved
% De- th- British mll--hip IE1lE-, from IAryca-rnE- When
within fifteen mikes OF the htrhor, she saw III Champion com
iu- ou;. AMI wishing % put "a passenger for New York on board
oi her. sh- was seen lowering a boat and filling It with men 20 III
t.rcert tie latter vessel. and hence the scare. Now. II the yes
sci nat been tire StlHpt'r, no doubt she could EASILY have
blown she old BEiubrfEy' out u the water NJ her leisure. and
then come into the Larbor uf AsIiuwau and captured the cham
liyl without De-; or Ljujrauce-