New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-21
MORE OF The PIRATE SUMTER.
CAPTURE OF A BRITISH BRIG
THE BRITISHERS RECAPTURE THEIR VESSEL
THEY SEND THE PRIZE PRISONERS TO NEw.YORk.
The Sumter in the Trask Of California Steamers.
STATEMENT OF THE CAPTIvEs.

Captain Peel Of the brig Costa Rica, arrived thi,
morning from Aspinwall, reports: Sth inst. OF Cape
Antonio, spoke brig Cuba, Captain j. d. Strut, from
Trinidad Port of SPAIN FIR London, who reported tht
on tie 4h inst off the Isle of Pines she was boarded
by the privateer steamer Sumter who declared the
brig prize to the G.. s. A.. and put prize Of five
men on board to take her to the port. Captain
Strout succeeded in disarming them, and put them in
1ons, and he will bring his vessel TO New-York. Two
Of the pryateerSmen are now on board the Costa
Rca
The following note from Captain Slrout j, il our pos
session;
Juy g. off Cape Antonio bo,rd.i the brig Cot. Ris and put
New TX instead Of Lordon J. b. srRo6r.
The prioners were taxi en- in charge by Officers Van
derzee, OBIen and Swaine, of the HIrbor Police At
Quarantine, who took them to the u s. MarsLal's
Office.
Their names are Henry Spencer and John Dawson.
The former is an Englhhnan, aged 3 years, and the
la,tera Scotchman, from Edinburgh, aged %. They
are both seaa.en and last December left Philadelphia
on the merchant ship Mazepps, which had been char
tered by the Government to take Goals to he fleet
the African coast. The ship sailed from Africa to
New Orleans. Dawson has served IN the Unltei
States Navy three years. Spencer said lie had sailed
from this port for the past twelve years They state
thai they embarked on board the Sumter 10 avoid
starvation in Newt reans, and that they intended 10
run away VIXEN the first opportunity presented
The Captain of the Sumter is named Senmss, the LIT
Lieutenant, Carl. They hid crew Cf 10 men, por-
ton of whom, some fifteen or twenty in NUMBER were
Nortl en men, who desired TO escape when tue chance
offered.
The appointments Of the ship were similar to those
Of regular Ban-o war, the otcere, according TO the
statements Of these men, having formerly held posi-
lions of command in the navy. The men enlisted for
three yeas at the rate, for able-bodicd .eamen Of
ais per month. and ordinary seanen ST. The crew
was compoeed Of all naonaes, bat the men were not
enthusiastic in the Southern The officers are
desperate characters. The Sumter carried 1--WE guns
one 6s.pouhder and four J2POunders amidshp. She
al,o had large number Of shells, ana there were
small arrns in abundance such muskets, six shooIer
cu,llsees, ssbers, boarding ,ikes, &c.
The Sumter left New-0heans onJune 30. The United
States steamer Brooklyn heading ia and gave the
Sumter chase but the latter being very fis, sai"r,
escaped her. On The 81 Of July lust, she took her fret
prize, tire Golden Rocket, Of Bangor, which Sab
tequcntly burned. On the 9TH OF July she captured
the bnss Maohias and Caba OFF Cieufuegvs. A prize
crew, consisting of two nmrine-, and Spencer and
Dayifon he prisOners, were put on board, Nj ishP-
nan lGodgson acting prize-master. Toe midshpllan
is said to he froH HAMPTON, Virginia. Tue Sumter
towed Le,e ye-sels all night, aEd about O'Clock Ia
the moune the hawier parted aud the Cuba wa
ordered e. steer In the land. The morning OF the
9Th was the last they saw of the sumter -o still have
inc the brig Mnehias ia tow. The that hey
told the crew II the Cuba that they did not wish
hold her az prize. The crew worked the brig
urua, nes receiving assistance fon the stnng.
era. On MONDAY afternoon Of the sth the priEe-crew
had earelesly laid their about the deck and
of tiem Lad gone 10 sleep II 1T this time that the
Captain Of the Cuba became possessed Of the weapons
and recaplnred bis vessel The Captain notified the
newcomers that be had determined take charge OF
ms own vessel and ordered them aft, where two of
them were put in irons and the other three scared
with ropes there were no more wrst-braceets on
board.
Shortly aterwardthe Cuba fell in with the Costa Riel,
and the captain Of the former vessel not deemng it
prudent to have many of the Privateersnen on
board transferred Spencer and Dawson TO the Costa
Rica, and they were brought here as above stated.
The midshipnan and the two marines were kept 90
board the Cuba, which laden with cargo o.
sugar. and originally bound for London, but is now
sharing her cote for this port and ia hourly expected
70 arrive Spencer aud Dawson were brought to the
u. =. Marslars office this morning, where they made
statements substantially the same above narrated
The necesssry affidavit was made, and upon appea-
ion to one Of the y. S. Commissioners the prisoners
were committed to await an examination.
These men state Lat another privaeer ia fitting out
at New.0rlcaus.