New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-29

up by the nautical "chivalry." Such was the COM
motion and terror of the ladies aud the children on
board that Lieut.. Low, Georgian officer, who was
in command of the boarding party, was Desleged Dy
them to make known his intentions rs far as they
involved their fate. He assured them that no one
should be harmed or lnsulted Said he: " we are
gentlemen. DO you think we are rufians, who
would attack the helpless; or do you imagine we
are robbers! Have confidence IN US, and we will
protect, and not lnjure you. Not an article OF your
baggage shall he taken from you. You will ind we
respect private property"
STATEMENT OF THE PASSENGERS.
MONDAY, December 8, 1862.
We, the subscribers passengers on board the
u. s. mail steamer Ariel, A. G. Jones commanding,
take this means of expressing our approval of the
surrender of said ship yesterday to the Confeder-
ate steamer Alabama. Just after passing Cape
Mays she showed herself. As soon as we were
apprised OF her presence we were at the mercy OF
her guns, and the unarmed condition of our ship,
and the large number of women and children on
board would have made it inhuman TO resist.
Chas b. Wyatt San Francisco; John O, Ellis. do VIM
A. Dana; doi Edward Slo,son do W H. Perks do l..
lhsm, do Edward Farrell do.i e. X Howes do. G. J.
Prince do q. W. Read do. John Callahan, do $; C.
A. b: Cofp, Boston b. f. Moore Dutch Flat, California
j. L. Beyes, NewYOrk; M@vin Devean, do; C. 5. Bone.
dict, Missouri; Henry Hubbard California; Sun.n Fuller.
Michigan; Geo. W Dow Bristol N II. Chas. b. Petit,
Lewis Hynman PhIlaGS phis; H. T. Baldwin, Detroit
Charles L. Hunt Boston.
CARD OF NAVAL OFFICERS ON BOARD THE
ARIEL.
UNITED sr,rrs MAIL STEAMER AREL}
Or CAPK NAVE Dec. 8, l6b2.
We, the undersigned, fully concur in the foregoing
letter from the passengers of The steamer Ariel to the
Commander, A. G.. Jones, respecting her surrender
On rounding Cape Msysi the Rebel steamer Alabama
came suddenly upon US from behind the highland
where che had been awaiting day or more. We
were at once within range of her guns. The Ariel
was very much crowded, having many passengers,
and nearly one-half Of them were women and chill
dren. The enemy fret fired blank charge which
Capt. Jones disregarded, and endeavored TO escape
but she rapidly overhauled u.s. and fired two she'll
one OF which struck our foremost few feet above
the hurricane deck, and nearly carried it away.
The vessels then less than five hundred yards
apart. Resistance would have been worse than
folly, as the preceding letter states. Hence we
promptly advised her surrender. Very respectfully,
lie. sARToRI, Com, U. s. Navy.
A. GARLAhD, MAJOR, U: 5. NJ c.
d. NJ. CONAN, Captain, T. 5. NJ. C.
J.
L. H. CORRlE, First Lieut.. L. s NJ {.
w. h. McKEAN. Fipt Lieut., L. S. NJ C.
A. W. WARD, Second Lieut., L. S. NJ {.
c H. DANIELS, Second Lieut., U. s M
STATEMENT OF CAPT. JONES OF THE ARIEL.
On reaching the deck Of the Alabama, and being
met by Capt. Semmes, Capt. Jones was informed
that bis passengers would be landed on the east end
Of Cuba at small settlement at tina. point and the
ship destroyed. Against ,his Capt Jones pleaded
very hard, and spoke in behalf Of the women and
children be had rs passengers. To this Semmes
piled. "Why should L spare yVun sup She Is
owned by a man who has given his finest vessel TO
your Government to cruiss after me-"
Semmes kept Capt. Jones on board tho Alabama
for fifty mine hours before deciding 10 bond her.
Among the passengers on board of the Ariel were
Capt. Sartor of the United States Navy, Maj. Gar
land Of the United States Marine Corps and others,
together with one hundred and fifty United States
marines on their way to the Pacific, all Of whom
were paroled by Semmes, and allowed to proceed
he first taking all their arms, and the cannon and
muskets belonging to the Ariel. While Capt Jones
was detained on board the Alabama bark hove in
sight to which the Alabama gave chase and soon
oyerhauled. She proved to be foreigner, aud Of
course was not moested. Capt. Sennes SAID mad
she proved 10 lie an American he would have trans
ferred the passengers and crew OF the ARIEL TO her
and then destroyed the steamer.
Capt. Jones says that the Alabama deserves all
her previous reputation for speed. She can steam Ia
knots with IL pounds OF steam, and IL allowed to
carry 25 pounds Of steam. bhe has two engines OF
52-iDch cylinder and l7inch stroke. and is in all
respects perfect model Of beauty Her armament
is he GAYS l00-pounder rife, and one 6Spounder
pivo, gun, besides six medium 32-pounders. lie
can fight seven guns side having arrangements for
transferring two of the broadside guns from sde TO
side with great rapidly. Capt Jones further says
that the Alabama has fine crew, and that they are
well disciplined that the ship 10 IN fine order and
that the deck is arranged for two additional pivot
guns which be was informed were lOO-pounder
rifes and in the Alabama 4 hold, ready TO be mount
ed should they be required Capt. Jones says that
the Rebel Captain treated him remarkably well.
lie was not confined, had the privilege Of the deck,
and messed IN the wardro0m.
Capt. Jones says the only chip that Semmes fears
ia the Vanderbilt. He made many inquiries regard
inQ her speed and armament, but obtained no intor-
nation whatever. lie laughs OF oil the other ships
we have and remarked that 4" he cared nothing for
the San Jacnto; that he went to sea by her when
in Martinique, and paid no attention to her. What
he cannot whip be away from"
Ii is the opinion of Capt. Jones that Semmes has
gone TO Aspinwall, or of that harbor, TO intercept
The California steamers both ways. lie held on 10
The ARIEL long enough to determine that the steamer
bound the other way with treasure had passed him
before che WIGS allowed to proceed.
Capt. Semmes, IN his conversation with Capt.
Jones talked q good deal about the Pacific Ocean.
aud knew all about our ships. there. The
thing that seemed TO trouble him most was the ln-
possibility Of his burning Vanderbllts ship, which
he could not do on account Of the passengers. The
fact is, be had won an elephant in rattle. lie
could not drop them down in any desert place, and
be knew nc could not land them in Kingston, or i'll
the port of any powerful nation. =,
Cant. SemInes told Capt. Jones that he coaled last
at Martinique-that when he left port the San Ja-
cikto trained gun upon bin, when the fort imme.
dately trained Der guns upon the San Jacinto, and
she desisted from the attack.
Akru, A DAGGENGER