, 1862-12-31
the PIRATE ALABAMA.
Capture Of the Steamer Ariel
Statement Of Mr. J. P. Wheeler,
Purser Of the Ariel.


The Ariel WAS captured on her outward pas
sage by the rebel steamer Alabama, undershe
following circumstances: On the 1th inst,
1T D. NJ, when rounding Cape Maysi, the
eastern point of Cuba, We saw vessel about
four miles to the westward, close under the
high land Of Cuba, bark-rigged and under can
vas As there was nothing in her appearance
indicating her to be a steamer, her smoke
pipe being down, no suspicious were aroused,
iii in short time we saw she had furaed her
sails, raised her smoke-stack7 and was rapidly
nearing US under steam, the American flag
flying at her peak Such was her speed, 10
Comparison to onrs, that In half an hour she
had come up within half q mile Of us, when
she fred lee gun, hauled down the American
ensign and ran up the rebel flag No atten-
ton VAS paid to the summons, and the Ariel
was pushed to her utmost speed,
She then sailed across our wake, took po-
sition on our port quarter, about 100 yards
distant, and fired two guns almost simultane-
ously, one shot passing over the hurricane
deck, between the walking -beam and smoke
stack, and the other hitting the foremost and
cutting 1t half away.
/ body Of United States marines, consisting.
Of r. men, passengers On board the ARIEL
had been drawn up and armed; but the off
GERS In command deemed it worae than folly
to resist, a. we could plainly see they wert
training full broadside to bear upon us, anC
Capt. Jones gave orders to stop tho ship ans
haul down the en81gn.
4 boat then put of to Us, snd the boardine
officer, on coming aboard, at once assured tht
| passengers th8t none should be molested, ant
that sli baggage and property should be r
| ,pected, He then demanded the keys to tn
specle-iocker, together with the ships paper
and letters, and informed the Captain be mus
be IN readiness TO 60 on board the A1abam
whMAim. where b. was detained as hostag
| until the next DAY.
The money in the ship, amounting t.
| $3.50, was taken OF, and the prize crew
twenty u number, an well armed, put o
board. The engine-room was taken in charx
by two engineers from the Alabama III
officers and marines On board the Ariel wer
paroled, and their arms taken, as well as SON
belonging to the ship:
Both vessels lay Of the Cape during th
| night and part Of the next day. On the ate
) / noon Of the Sth our sails were thrown ore
board, and the gteam-valses taken away,
| order to prevent our escape should they gi'
r chase to any other vessel, as they we're e
, pecting to capture the Champion also, AZ
, had been lying in wait for several days It th
s Fal1s vas va returned, ind the intention 81 Ian
ing US at st. Domingo changedfo kingsto
, Roth vessels were then headed for th
Ip.ace, and Oh the 9th inst, at P n, We !
! ITed of Point Morant, about sfor*y mil
: from Kingston Near this point ne Alaosa
Some information was received, which lnduc
Capt semes to agsif 4,s saange .h'g ,na 1 csao a
I mittInQ Us to resama our voyage. The r
son gi7en wss that this vessel lad report
= yellow fever 1agfng1 IN Kaaxstoa, md he woa
= not subject our Passengers to IT, favages; 2
,. We xere Afterwards informed 81; aotan1 u
e time. ~ -
y The conduct H the officers and crew OF t
y = ALABAMA IN charge of this ship Was eKtEen3'
n couFteo4a ha-Hsks IN neGa3nt commune
a t1os With .aa united StatAz, beth bJ Lett.
g. and paperE, and Wete funT coxnizsnt Of G
it tjnye OF sailing, Ana fhat ~, a113aer1 we're
te these wats1s to intercept thsm. For ta,is 4
be son, The specie to come by the Arta1 WA
Of at Aspinwall, as Capt. 4onaa did not thia1
nt prudent to bring it.