New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-14
THE PRIZE SCHOONER SMITH.
TIE BITTER BITIEN-AN INNOCENT CARGO O

THE PRIZE SCHOONER SMITH.
TIE BITTER BITIEN-AN INNOCENT CARGO or
SOAP AND SUGAR.
In our morning edition Of Monday, we stated tho
fact that the schooner George NJ Smith, from Norfolk,
had been brought to this port in charge OF Prize
crew. Prize.mastcr Chisholm, Henry Edgar, boat
syain's mate, and John Holden, second gunner, the
prize crew have called upon US and communicated
i1l particulars of the capture Of the prize:
The schooner was from Brookhayen IL. L., com
manded BY CAPT. Mills, l7O burden, fore and aft
riyeed, and Of tirs-elass TIE CaLtsin reports ina,
phe ssiled from New-York the 4th of April, bound
to Wilmington, N. c.. with general cargo, which be
cms TO consist merely of canoes crackers, soap, aud
other small s,ores THIS innocent craft laden with Ia
nocept soaps AID sweets sailing her tracing
voyage was forced BY stress Of weather. after being
ou Il days, 10 put Into Norfolk!
The cantain states that he wae not only partiaiiy
disabled but he vas short oil wafer and provisions, and
two Of his men sick for which reasons alone he
put into Norfolk. Unfortunately, he was nos aware
tta, the harbor was under ckade el'e bis peace
fol trading voyage mis- h have been safely teuonaed
at Wilmington and he turned al honest penny by tue
frei lat on lis soaps and sugars.
Cant. Mills, then, in search Of beef and water and
ac,uated with the humane purpose Of placing hls ssS
men in hospital, steeied up Norfolk harbor for me
dock But tho Rebels, having sunk certsln wrecks
across the channel ut Sewels Point he was forced to
come to al that llce and anchor III the stream lie
Ijni,n down. Whether by this he intended to signify
tia, he was really in need Of help or that be- thcGgt
the Union turned topsy turvy, and tie flag should oe
Inverted, or that he was maxi g private signals u
conspirators IN shore, was MT clear 70 ic =" .crn-
ment officers on the Cumberland, aud hS not been
u ace clear TO them or the prize-naster -. .ce
A short time after the sigusl Vas made. the tug
| Young Ameica belonging ~ ue man Baker who
sunk he wreck. for the rebels: ya' se0 HqFF out
being reported to the officer of the deck the
Cumberland be ordered away tie first cutter to look
| after both tie tug and schooner.
! The captain OF tie tag seeing the frgates cutter
steering for him, with man standing ready to fire her
howi'zer, innedi.'ey tackled slip AID attempted TO
run in again. lie paid attention to The two shots
that the cutter sent across bs bows but on receiving
the c6npi9 ents of the Cumberland In the shape oan
steven inch rLe rom her boz chaser that tore aws
porion Of bis rails amid ships, lie thought best to
leave TO. Like a great many predecessors he had
gone to do doughty deeds ia defiance Of the enemy but
was taken captive binself
The cutter paid no attention to the tug when she
had f1iIly about for IL was plain she would not
attemI, escape while within range OF that ugly bow
chaser that Lieut.. Selfridge know 20 well how to
sight. The Of tie schoOner was first attended TO,
and Oh reaching her de,k the visit proved Interesting
ia the extreme for usead Of the soaps and sugars,
the crackers, crockery and cheese that Capt. Mills
that bis schooner war laden wi b, aud that
were consigned 10 a candy y-Ierchant IN Wilmington,
there were discovered on deck ten gur-cariages
tLumb-stalls, and primng. The gus Were not
visible bu; it is sarmi-ed that they may be slowed
away somewhere in the hold. Ugoa this point how
ever nothing can be known until the matches
sealed at the Nsvy-Yard by the United States Mar
sha
Upon being asked to explain the presence of these
curious "grccery stores" Capt. Mills replied they
were for Government but consigned 10 the candy
chant at Wilmington, n. G.. This was deemed so siiS-
fctory that The commander Of the CGmbrl md thought
the carriages might well bo used by Government ut
Fortress Monroe, wtere they were very much needed
as at Wilmington, wbeie Government didn't Iced
them at all so the tug was boarded ordered to take
the schooner in tow and both craft were brought up
und, the guns Of the Cumberland. The cargo was
examined to o small extent by the Cumteiland's
officers, but, nothing in the way OF ammunition beng
found ie tscles were senled, and the 9ih Of May
the prize put aboard, aud ordered to take
her to New-Yoik
Tie unfortunate tug was too valuable prize 70 send
away she WAS pu. into commission Us tender ana
has been doing excellent service since She goes
down every night to the ght-ship to light the lights
and every morIiug TO extinguish them; aud having
been armed with howitzer, and under charge OF Boat
swain Bell and a stout crew, she runs on elrancs,
Oyeghauls vessels and does q vast amount OF work.
The schooner now lies ut the Navy Yard guarded by
q file Of msrres, AID the pacific Capt. Mills, with lis
Of four men, is under confinement with the pros
pect Of speedy trial snd swift justice, and abundance
If leisure on hand To reflect ON the close resemblance
that exlsts between soap aud sugar and gun-caiages
Prizenaster Chisholm will return in day or two to
taeksges TO Fort Monroe or the officers on
that station. Address care OF Mr.. Chisholm, Naval
Lyceum, Brooklyn.
THE REPORTED CAPTURE OF PRIVATEERS.
1t is believed by those who would be likely to be
informed the subject that the report Of the capture
Of two privnteers between Montauk Point and Gar.
diners lslaud is incorrect. Nothing had been heard
Of it at the Naval Office on Mouday afternoon, aud
possibly the story grew out Of an affair which Is
officially reported as follows:
NEw.YoRK, May 13 1851.
The Hon. Z. B. HART-Sn: We proceeded in &C.
codance with your instructions to Cernsse Bay IN search Of
schooner said be Of suspicious character On reaching the
vessel found her be the schooner Minerva L. We'd
more Capt Ooodh Of and last from Fsirhsven
Conn In ballast bound New York pot Rockswsy Inle:
while In search Of spchcr woich
warrant her detention The vessel will pro.
ceed " New ork this afternoon tomorrow morning
Yours, respectfully,
CHARLES A. BROWN
WILLIAM II. BAKER, in'pee'''~
SEIZURE OF THE BRIG ELISHA DOANE BY
GEORGIANS.