The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-10-24

the Confederate steamer Alabama. Captain
Semmes, with orders for me TO 90 in the boat
to the steamer, with all my ships papers
0n'arriving on board after waiting awhile,
was asked into the cabin to have my papers
eIamnedl The ship not having any docu.
ments to prove that her cargo was on foreign
account, the papers and cargo were conf.cs-
ted. was then ordered on board the ship
to assist with my crew in removing such
stores and cargo as they wanted for tberown
use, and to bring my officers and crew with
but small bag Of clothing each on board
the steamer, as they would not be Numbered
up with our baggage. On arriving back to
the steamer with my crew, l was ordered to
the other vessel, which proved to be the En-.
lily Farnham, Of Portsmouth. N. H., Capt.
Simms, from New York for Liverpool. This
ship was claimed as rs prize, and the cap
tain was on board the steamer having his pa.
pers examined. Documents being found
among them to prove that his cargo was on
English account, his ship was released.
On board the steamer were the captains,
officers and crews, 81 in all, of the whaling
barques Virginia and Elisha Dunbar OF New
Bedford, captured and burned at sea. Both
Of these crews, with those Of the Brilliant,
were put on board tho Emily Farnham after
being paroled.
During the remainder Of the day the OFF,
GERS and crew OF the steamer were plunder-
ing the Brilliant of her cargo and stores and
everything they chose to take. All Captain
llagars private property, such as his chron-
ometer, sextant, barometer, charts, books,
&C., and large part Of his clothing, were
taken from him, the steamers officers claim
ing everything.
During the afternoon large ship was in
sight to the southwark, heading to the east.
ward, and they had their eyes upon her. II
was now nearly or quite calm, and continued
80 during the night. Atsunset the Brilliant
was fired at 7 p. NJ. she was in flames foro
and aft. The Emily Farnham was lying
about mile from her. The ship continued
to burn oil night. In the morning the steam.
er was close ut hand. and the ship that was
seen the afternoon before had worked up to
the burning wreck during the night, prob
ably with the expectation Of saving lie, but
at daylight found herself In the clutches OF
her destroyer. 1t continued calm nearly oil
day. and but light mir during the night
Toward midnight bright light was seen in
"
than probable il was from the third ship.
Three of the crew Of the Brilliant. all
Englishmen. volunteered on the Alabama.
Capt. Tilton. OF the Virginia, says that
he was overhanled by the Alabama on the
morning Of the l7th Of September In lat. 80
10, lon. 81 %. The pirate showed British
cplors. but when quarter Of mile from
the Virginia set the Confederate colors and
sent an armed boats crew aboard. Captain
| Tilton was informed that his vessel was q
| prize 10 the Alabama, and was ordered 10
take his papers and 90 on board that steam
cr. The pirates then stripped the chip Of
all valuable articles on board and at 4 p. M.
set fire to the vessel.
Capt Tilton adds, that on arriving on
board the steamer asked the Captain to 70.
lease me as was doing no one any harm
The answer was "You Nortberncrs are de-
stroying our property. and New Bedford peo-
pie are having their war meetings, Offering
5000 bounty for VOLUNTEERS and send out their
stone fleet to block up our harbors, and ! am
going to retalate."
Capt. TiltOn continues 81 went on the
quarter deck with my son, when they put
mo into the lee waist with my crew, and all
of US were put in irons with the exception
of two boys the cook and the steward. I
asked II was to DO put in irons. The reply
was that his purser was put In irons and his
head shaved by us, and that ho was going to
rctaliate.
We were put in the lee waist. with On old
sail over us, and few blankets to lie upon.
The steamer was cruising to the west. and
the next day they took the Elisha Dunbar,
her crew receiving the same treatment as
ourselves. The steamers guns being run out
the side, the ports could not DO shut, and
when the sea was little rough, or the yes-
sci rolled. the water was continually coming
in on both sides, and washing across tho
deck where we were, so that our feet aud
clothing were wet oil the time, either from
the water below or the rain above. We
were Obliged to sleep in the place where We
were. and often walked ur In the night near
ly under water. Our fare consisted Of beef,
pork, rice. beans, tea, coffee and bread.
Only one of our irons was allowed to bs
taken of at time. We had TO wash In
salt water. We were kept on deck all the
time. night and day. and guard placed oy.
er us.
The steamer continued TO cruise TO the
northwest, and on tho Sd OF October fell in
with the ships Brilliant and Emily Parnham
the former Of which they burnt, and tho
crew with ourselves. were transferred to the
other ship after being paroled.
On the 9th inst, was taken on board
the brig Golden Leaf, Of Thomaston, Capt.
Smith, from jersey, for New York. who
treated US with great kindness.
NEw YoRx, Oct. l6.
The Alabama took her armament and crow
ON board near Western Islands from an En-.
clish barque. Her crew aro principally En-
clish, her officers being the chivalry OF tho
South. All the water consumed on board
is condensed. She has eight months provi-
sions besides what she has plundered, and
about 400 tons of coal. ... ..l
The following is Captain Giaord's state
ment:
On tho moning Of the 18th Of September,
in lat. 80 50, lon. IS 20. with the wind from
the southwest. and the barque heading east
southeast, saw steamer on our port quar-.
ter standing to the northwest. Soon after
we found that she had altered her course and
was steering for the barque. We soon made
all sail to get out Of her reach, and were 70.
ing 10 knots at the time. but tho steamer
was gaining on US Under canvas alone she
room came up with ne, and fred gun under
our stern, with the st. Georges cross flying
mt the time. Our colors were Get. when she
displayed the Confedente Gag. Being near
US. we hove to, and boat. with armed om-
ccrs and crew. came alongside. and ON com
ing 90 board stated 70 me that my ,e.s.w s.