Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-31


The Capture st sbe Ariel By the Alabama.
The following is The Purser's statement
Of the capture of the Ariel by the pirate
Alsbama:
a The Ariel wss captured on her out
ward passage By the rebel steamer Ala
hama, under the following circumstances !;
On The 7th inst, st 1:30P. n, when round
ing 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, End under canvas. As
there vas nothing in her appearance in
dieating her TO be steamer, her smoke
pipe being down, no suspieious were aTUus-
ed, tn in a short time, we saw she had
fdrled her sails raised her smoke-staek,
and was rapidly nearing US under steam,
the Americsn flag flying at her peak.
Such was her speed, in oomparisouto ours,
thai in about half an hour che bad come
up within half 3 mile Of US, when she fired
a lee gun, hauled down the American en-
sign, and ran up the rebsl flag. No stten-
tion was paid to the summons, and the
Ariel was pushed to her utmost speed.
q She then sailed across our wake, took
q position on our port quarter, about 400
yards distant, and fred two eEus almost
simpltaneously5 one shot passing over the
hurricane deck, and the other hitting the
fore8lezt, cutting it half away.
" A body Of United States Marines, cen
sisting Of 126 men, passengers on board
the Ariel, had been drawn up and armed;
but the officers in commsnd deemed it
worse than folly to resist, as we could
plainly see they were training q full
brosdside to bear upon us, and Captain
Jones gave orders to stop the ship and haul
down the ensign.
"a boat then put of to us, and the
boarding officer, on coming aboard, at
once assured the passengers that no one
should be molested, and that all baggage
and private property should be respected.
He then demanded the keys to the special
locker, together with all the ships papers
and letters, and informed the Captain that
he must be in readiness to go on board the
Alabama with him, where he was detained
as a hostage until the next day.
The money in the ship, amounting to
S., 500, was taken of, and TIE prize crew,
twenty in number, all well armed, put on
board. The engine-room was taken in
charge by two engineers from the Alaba-
ma. The officers and marines on board
the Ariel were paroled and their arms tax
en-, as well as some belonging to the ship
Both vessels lay off the Cape during the
night and part Of the next day. On the
afternoon Of the 8th, our sails were thrown
overheard, and the steam valve taken away
in order to prevent our escape should they
give chase to any other vessel, as they were
expecting to capture the Champion also,
and had been lying in wait for several
days at this point for that purpose. The
same night our valve was returned, and
the intention Of landing us at St. Domin-
go changed to Kingston, Jamaica.
I Both vessels were then headed for that
place, and on the 9th inst, at 9 P. n, we
arrived off Point Morant, about forty miles
from Kingston. Near this point the Ala
bama gave chase and bOardeda vessel from
which some information was received
which induced Captain Semmes to again
change his mind, and take heavy bonds for
the ship and cargo, permitting US to re-
sumo our voyage. The reason given was,
that this vessel had reported yellow fever
raging in Kingston, and he would not
subject - our Passengers to its ravages; but
that ne yellow fever had prevailed there
for some time. ..
The conduct Of those officers and crew
Of the Alabama in charge Of this ship was
extremely courteous. They we're in regu-
lar communication with the United States,
both by letters and papers, and were fully
cogniEsnt of our days of sailing, and that
no cruisers were in these waters to inter
cent them. For this reason. the specie to
come by the Ariel was left at Aspinwall,
rs Captain Jones did not think it prudent
10 bring it.