The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-08
From the Savannah Ne,Os of Friday
THE MYSTERIOUS SCHOONER THAT WA


TAlN'S ACCOUNT OF THE AFFAIR.
The schooner r. II. Shannon, Captain Joseph
Marts, from Boston, with cargo of ice, to Hey
ward Gage, of this city, arrived here yesterday
at noon. Capt. Marts informs us that on Wednes |
day morning, about IL o'clock, the weather being |
rough and heavy, he mistook Charleston barbor lor
that Of Savannah, and did not discover his error
until after he had passed the bar, when ne fnsue
signal for pilot, intending to go into the harbor |
and to come out next morning, in the event oil tue
weather proving fair, and proceed on ms voyage TO
this port. Shortly after making ms signal, oy dis
PLAYING the United States colors, in the hands of
one of his men at the mast head, and when his YES
sci had arrived nearly abreast OF Fort Moultrie one
two guns were fired as he thinks from that
Fort across his bows. lie Continued on his course
and ordered his colors to be run up to the main
peak, supposing that a Specification of his nation
atty was what was required But in few mo-
ments the hre was opened from both sides of the
channel-from Fort Moultrie and from battery on
Morris Isand-the shot passing fore and aft Of the
schooner, and whistling, he describes it, fear
fully over head.
Not knowing what to do, or what was required
of him, he ordered his colors hauled down. lacked
ship and stood out to sea- The firing from the
tort and battery continued, most of the shot COM
ing In dangerous proximity, and one ball passing
through MS malnsail, only some twelve inches
ABOVE tne mead oil man who was standing the
house at the time. The crew think that one shot
struck the schooner forward, but under water, and
uolng no perceptible damage. Passing within
sPeaklng distance OF brig that going into the
was Tired upon. The captain of the brig advised
MIN to haul his jibs down and come to anchor,
winch he accordingly did, and the firing ceased.
About an hour after coming to anchor, revenue
cutter seen bearing down towards the schooner;
but owing to the roughness of the weather, she
was compelled to put back after approaching with
in half mile of the Shannon. As she wore round
her return, the officer in command waved his
hat, which Capt. Marts took to be signal that all
was right and to come in from his dangerous posi-
ton
The crew of the Shannon commenced heaving
anchor when boat was approaching the
schooner, as was supposed from the shore but
whlch proved to be from Fort Sumter Two
oihcers from the boat came on board the Shannon
ana atter scertalning where she was from and
all the circumstances of her case, asked Capt. NJ.
why he did not display his colors The captain
assured them that he had done so but that the flag
had not been respected, as the firing continued
while 1t was displayed from his peak. The officers
informed him that his vessel had no doubt been
suspected of coming there to reinforce Fort Sum
ter, which was the cause of his being fired into,
and directed him to remain where he was until
they could represent his true character to the Con-
federate authorities when he would be permitted
to enter the harbor unmoested.
Alter tn boat had left, and had got about half
way to the Island, night coming o. and the wealth
er becoming more threatening, Capt. NJ. weighed
anchor and stood into the harbor for safer an
chorage; but looking through his glass and seeing
what he thought to be preparations for opening
nre on him again, preferred the perils of stormy
gauntlet
OF the Carolina batteries, and accordingly put to
sea Getting clear of the bar, the weather being
rough, the Shannon hove to until four o'clock YES
DAY morning, when she bore away for this
port, where she arrived, with no other damage
than pretty good fright and a shot hole in her
mainsail. Nv
Capt. Marts, who is an intelligent and clev err
skipper, says although he brought us a cargo to
Keep us cool, We certainly gave him very warm
reception on his first voyage South
Inc captain informs us that there was one or
TWO ships outside the bar when he went into the
har1or, which, in the hazy weather, might from
'ne land have been taken for steamers.
ALLEGED FORGERY OF VIRGINIA Boyps -Some
days ago, Messrs. Livermore, Clews q Mason. hank
ers, OF NO. ~ W all street, received a letter from
Washington, enclosing So 500 worth of Virginia
Sax per cent. bonds, which they requested to
sell at the regular market rates The communica
ton was signed X. W. Barbour, and appeared To
nave been written by man thoroughly posted in
business matters At first sight the bonds appeared
10 De genuine; but upon close inspection the bro
hers discovered that the signature of Il. C. Drink
nara had the semblance of forgery A further in
Vestlgatlon OF the subject only served to convince
them that the bonds were fictitious and arrange
ments were made to capture the originators of the
scneme- Information of the affair was communi-
Gated to police headquarters, when detective slow
ey was detailed to work up the case and if posi-
pie, enect the capture of the forgers.
In his letter to the brokers Barbour stated that
he would draw on New York for 81, 900, and sure
enough IN couple of days after the recent of the
bonds draft for the above amount was nrasented
Tor payment Mr.. LivermOre refused to cash the
Ilal,, ana without giving any reason for the STEP
ne alioweo the paper to 60 to protest. The next
Gay YESTERDAY Mr. Barbour appeared at their
ollce ana asked Tor an explanation of their con-
quot. lie seemed rather mortified when he was
ielormed that the bonds he had attempted to nego-
tiate were forged, and stated that he had got them
from responsible parties, but the brokers did NOT
deem the excuse sufficient and gave him into the Gus
eoey oil the detective Upon being brought to head
q nrIS Aa,. u Al
iedee OF the forged character of the bonds ond
Said ne would be able to prove his entire Innocence
a soon as the matter came to be fully investigated
10 ne oohus' number OF which are supposed to
De IN the market, are dated Richmond July |, 1881
Aney are autographs, well executed and are well
calcul ated to deceive ~ " "eii
IL Is not known where they were got up, but it is
very probable that the detectives will he oblo ~
tnem TO some of the photographers in this city
Inc matter Is to be fully investigated TO-DAY and
inner parties will no doubt be arrested-V YORK
Herald, april G.. "
LIE FAMINE IN lNDiA.-The famine in India is
spoken OF by foreign journals as unparalleled in ex
tehI' ana PROBABLY in intensity; though as vet the
Information received Is very imperfect. The latest
accounts represent the distress as increasing 7.
prevailed throughout the Northwestern provinces
where some 400 or 500 persons were diving every
day; and even in the Southern extremity of the
peninsula, famine and pestilence spread desolation
In many villages. This deplorable condition of
Things Is attributed to drought. From time imme-
horiai, lnda has been subject to visiaons of this
KIND, but their effects have been mtirated bv the
general Introduction of systems of artificial rr;no
uoh. Extensive works erected in former
years or the creation of reservoirs of water which
might be distributed in small streams through those
parts OF the country chiefly devoted to agriculture
Ut late years, however, owing to the reballion
among the natives and other civil disturbances
these works have been suffered to 90 to ruin. I'm
mense tracts OF land formerly peopled by flourish
communities
rem wastes. From the peculiarly of the soil cnIt;
Walton becomes impossible in India if rain Is lona
suspended. The surface is baked to stony bardS
ness vegetation ceases; and labor is uselessly ex
pended. But on the recurrence of rain tba earth
becomes covered with verdure with surnris;n, 49, VI
idlty. London papers evince much disposition r.
olame the Government for not having taken maa0
sures 10 provide against a calamity which was
eleariy ioreseen. No rain fell last season rendar
ing II certain that the crops must fail. As tbo
means o! transportation are very Inadequate. fear
expressed that with all the exertions which NAV
Of Pao rJr.n oy the Europeans and opulent natives
Vi BOMBAY and Madras, the next three or four
months VIII witness terrible suffering.
THE WoRsT COMMERCIAL REvu1sIoy op TEE acr
JOINING oN.-From all the indications which can
1e gathered from the proceedings now going on at
w asuington, 1t is more than probable that the adj
,hnistraton are about to plunge the country into
Tue norrors OF civil war; and if such should be the
unhappy result OF their blind policy we are at This
moment on the eve of calamity more tarr;hIo
than any that has yet befallen a nation-more dis
aStrous than the French Revo luton or any of the
oau Ievoiutlons IN England With all the applian-
ces OF our modern civzation-tbe teleoranhs ona
rallroads, and steamship agencies-a war between
tne North and the South would be the bloodiest
eyer known, and its termination could not be nre1
upon any reasonable grounds until after sew
eral years OF conflict. Meantime the commnroa ~
tue country would go to ruin; values of eyer kin6
property, especially in the Atlantic
citles, would diminish from FORTY to 6frv nor oat
IN tbo and shipping interests, except
IN 'ne construction of engines of war and in nriTe
teering, would of course be utterly demolished and
yet we seem to be rapidly drifting towards this
state OF things. Therefore it behooyes ali those
VINO own property, in real estate or money, or in
any other shape to look ahead and prenare far ,ba
storm that is gathering.-N p Herald, AprH 6,
The FRIGHTENED MEsSENGEa.-A yerv cbarac-
terlstic incident and adjunct of Lincoinism. was
Lne contemplate ru8e of Lamon, the special mes.
sGenger who registered here from Virginia A |
TIarrnG correspondent of the Macon (Ga.l
1ete9rdph, writes IL have not read tLa nAaj |
and cannot say, therefore, whether the fact hpp
oeen made public, but it is a fact that Lamon ON
cereu DIS name on the Charleston Hotel register &c
from f"g.nIa and betrayed, while here, the most |
nervous apprehensions for his personai S,ft
rms ruSe SO amazed the people, that The hovs ~
the motel took great delight in adding to his fears
by every Imaginable expedient, so that aItbonnb |
not the slightest purpose of harming him, existed
nave no doubt he left with an idea that he had |
passed through imminent peril. Lamon had an in |
terview with Anderson, and when be left here for
ashlngton, stated that in all probability the order
Tor evacuation would come in a few DAYS. You |
wall wonder at the extraordinary delay of this step.
S'er II mas apparently been long determined upon
NJ washington. The gossip here says it results |
rom desire to force the responsibility upon An
ierson. Lamon brought leaue to eyacuate. but |
hhueTson wants orders, which the Administration
Az not IKE 10 give If so, this is contemplate |
ties. ~ 0'i-