New-York daily tribune., 1861-09-08
FROM KEY WEST.
dance of The N. Y. Trihnne.

US. srrssxR CRpsADgR, Capt. CRAvss,
On the pssssgs to New. York, Aug 2s, 1851
SR: After had mailed my last letter, and before
it left Key West, there arrived the Keystone State
steamer tside whee four five weeks from Philadel
phia, which had been cruising among the West Indies
in search Of the Sumter and the Santee figate, from
Pensacola, for water. The Key Stone, Capt. Scott,
which formerly ran between Philadelphia and Charles
ton has made her 19 knots carries six 6ss two3 aud
one rife cannon with is men, She did not come across
the Sumter but heard Of her in every port arriving at
Jamaica one day after she had left and stopping two
days over tme expecting her return for coal which
she had ordered and at another port arriving but four
hours after the Sumter had left This proves the diff
Guilty mentioned in my letter from Cenfuegos, OF
keeping track of priyateer, with the ocean to roam
over and which can change her course whenever out
of eight of land. Could the Key Stone get sight OF
her. she would by her great superiority IN speed and
gnns soon relieve our commerce from this pirate 9
depredations. She has captured four more vessels
since the six liberated and conveyed by us out OF
Cienuegos but have not learned how she disposed OF
them. Some Of her men left in Jamaica, and an ON,
Ger with several men were seen IN Havana, VINO dld
not deny belonging to her.
The Key Stone cane from Havana 10 Key West in
four hours for COAL and left again on the 25th, IN
search Of the Sumter, the men expressing hopes that
this time they would fall in with her. Some OF the
men seemed confident that they did pass her, with
French colors flying and also SLAYER at anchor be-
tween two islands The Lieutenant Of the Key
Stone has an old account TO settle with Capt Simms
having served under bin in the Navy. The Key
Stone lacks thirty forty men for complete etl-
eieny-sbont the number in the tre-room.
The Pow hatan is also said to be after the Sumter.
The Santee, Capt Eagle about two months from
Portsmouth N H. carries ten 6Ss forty 32s, and 40
men. The water at Santa Rosa Island is condemned
by the Doctors beside they were not allowed TO re-
main long enough on the island to obtain supply.
Rain water is the only fresh water at Key West, and
the recent rains filed the tanks which supply the ciii
zens and shipping. The Colorado flag ship, the only
one now at Pensacola, disis her own water, as does
also the Brooklyn. The Niagara is off the Missis-
sippi, and the South Carolina at Galveston.
The late gale caused more wrecks than l an
ticipated. We have now on board several OF the
crew Of one of them, who statethat 20 lives were
lost all from English vessels lone from Haliax
which NAV result from their not understanding the
reefs and coast 90 well a. our captains do Most Oh
the vessels in ballast, and the Sophia OF Boston,
with logwood and liquors, was got Of minus her mats
and is now at Key West. Wreckers are coming IN
with parts Of cargoes .
Tie Keystone, Sslvor, Wysndot and Crusader all
left Yesterday the 2sth and the Mohawk said to be
on her way-the last for New-York-for new boilers
and repairs.
The spy who escaped has not since been heard from,
and his name is Maseta from San Augustine, instead
of Shields, as enormously stated in my last The s
vessels he helped to burn were prizes taken by the H.
CAPE Florida lighthouse arrived, stating that it was
destroyed by company Of men in boats from Florida
and that be spared only after the most sbect sup
plicstion; that the San Augustine light wa: also de-
sroyed and the keeper and family made prisoners TO
be hung The rebels said they would soon burn Key
West Cape Florida is about $50 mles both from Key
West and the coast.
The Misunderstanding with Mr.. Greer, lst engi-
neer, resulted kom the treacbery Of some unknown
person here who sent letter TO The Neic York Her
aid aimed u. III. termilyea," and headed " from
naval officer" have never written to The Herald,
nor signed myself naval officer The paper was sent
TO this ship and though asked Of officers three times
to see it, it was sent to another ship Ihe only con-
lecture can form ia that copies of Of my letters
not finished and which would not send myself have
been picked up by enemy here, filed out and sent
10 TIE Herald. With Mr.. Greer personally 1 never
had any difficulty he having always used me a. gen.
teman and In my simple narrative or journal Of the
trip to Cenfuegos had not the slightest possible idea
that was Whiting anything that any oftcer on this
ship could possibly care about or object to.
Re,peetfdny L. II. vERMn.YEA, U. 8. ~