Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-16
THE ALABAMA BURNS TWO MORE
VESSELS.
she IL Bieckaded AT Martinique by
the san Jaeinto. but Escapes.


latter Vas captured November 81, in LAT IS 80,
Ion. sc. by the Confederate steamer Alabama
The Alabama took al the clothing, nautical in
struments. and set her on fire, Nov. sth, in lat
D 30
Lon. So IS, she also captured the ship T. b.
Wales. of Boston, Lincoln, from Calcutta for
Boston, la days out, with full cargo OF salt
petre and gunny cloth. took from her the Captain
and crew. and set her on fire. The Alabama
thea proceeded 10 Martinique. arriving there
Nov. IL. at A. NJ, landing the Captains and
crews of both ships The United States ship San
Jacinto arrived the same afternoon, and finding
the Alabama in port. Immediately got under way.
and proceeded outside the harb0r To- await the de
parture OF the Alabama. On the 18th, at 10 p
NJ. the Alabama got under way and escaped, the
San Jacnto lying off the harbor on the Odd.
The Captains of both vessels would take pass
age for Halifax
The crews came here in the Alice Goodale
sent by the American Consul
The manner in which the Alabama escaped
from Martinique is thus described by reporter of
the Express, after an interview with Captain
Goodale:
Captain Goodale, of the steamer Alice, states
that, when coming out OF st. Peter. Guadeloupe,
he was spoken by the u. s. steamer San Jacnto,
and was told that on the 2Sth, the pirate Ala
bama was in Martinique, and the San Jacnto
stationed herself in front of the harbor, acting
blockader In the night, the Alabama quietly
giided out OF port, and on the following morning,
when the San Jacintos look out reported, it was
ascertaiued that the pirate was non est The
Alabama had bat two days coal on board. and
had gone into Martinique 10 receive cargo, which
had arrived at that port for her on an English
brig The brig also had on board two large
armstrong; 100 Founders. At the time of the
departure of the Alabama, the brig took her de
parture also The Captain OF the San Jacinto
had made an arrangement with the Captain of an
American schooner lying in port. to announce
any movements on board the Alabama by send
ing up rockets. He followed out these nstruc
tons, and was Immediately arrested, and his YES
sci seized by the authorities of Martinique, who
nearly unanimously sympathze with the South
ern COniederacy.
Captain Goodale, with his schooner, went to
st. Thomas and the crews of the Levi Starbuck
and I b. Wales had arrived there in French
schooner, having been chartered to convey them
from Martinique. The American Consul then
chartered the schooner Alice to bring them To
New York The Captain also states that gen
tleman went into the American Consu's office
at ST. Thomas and said that his brother in law
had piloted the Alabama into the harbor of ST
Johns, n few miles above; that she was there then
coaling and taking on her heavy guns. News
Immediately sent to the San Jacinto and
they were Immediately TO depart in search of
her.
The escape of the Alabama is explained by
Captain Goodale, from the fact that the harbor of
Martinique is large bay, about three miles
wide, with high, mountainous shore. He also
says that cloud is always overhanging the har
Dor, and ut times the sea washes way up to the
city. No one vessel can at any time blockade
such harbor. He represents the Alabama as
sailing almost entirely under canvas, and making
thirteen knots per hour at that The statements
made to him were detailed TO our reporter sub
stantiaIIy rs follows: The crews complained
that they were kept in irons continually, and only
one Captain, and the American Consul of
Maurtius. who had their wives on board, were
allowed the freedom of the vessel. They stated
that they had plenty to eat and drink. The Ala
bama had on board an abundance of store ,
which she had captured from off her several
prizes.
The ship 7 B. Wales was from Calcutta and
had very valuable cargo, including heavy con
signment Of satpeter. It's stated that the Ala
bama put after pretty little schooner, but all to
effect. the schooner outsaed the pirate, and
Semmes gave up the chase Semmes was very
retlcent, and seldom cOnyerSed even with his Off
On occasion, however, he beca me
quite laxative, and boosted of his captures and
said he knew the value of his prizes, as he always
swOre the Captains the exact value of their
cargoes and vessels He prided himself in having
once been within seventy (70) miles of Sandy
Hook Semmes, it was also said, made cOnsid-
cradle money out of the captures He generally
made the searches in person, appropriating the
quadrants. mails, money, and all other valuables
that easily mosable, to himself After all
has been removed from the vessel that is OF any
value, the cabins stove in, and the fire started
in the cabins, generally at night, and when the
flames under full headway, so that there is no
possibility of a failure. the pirate vessel moves
off. The scene of the vessels as they are thus i'm
flames Is described as awluliy grand. the heavens
being lighted up for miles The Alabama is re.
ported very fiat and exceedingly light, "A large
part OF her wood work being composed of pine
&c was also said, that the officers of the Alabama
had stated that they were expecting to be soon
joined by one or more vessels To pursue the same
business. one OF which would pay its attentions to
the Z icific track.
The Captain OF the Levi Starbuck left St
Thomas on board the schooner Sarah NJ New
hall, the day before the Alice departed. and the
Captain Of the T B. Wales will arrive here on
the first steamer. The parting salute to every
vessel now. as it leaves any of the West India
ports. Is, Look out for The Alabama
After the crew were safely on board, Semmes
set about despoiling the i'll fated ship, and took
away large lot of preserves, provisions. and also
the main yard, which the Alabama stood sadly in
need of
A signal was then given by the waving of a flag
on the Alabama. and the ship was set on FIRE.
which owing to the combuStible nature of her
cargo speedily spread over the entire vessel.
which soon was mass of flame, Illuminating
brightly the horizon for many miles
On the 18th ultimO the Alabama ran into Mar
Unique, where she landed her prisoners first max
ing them. however, swear not to take up arms
against the South.
At Martinique there a that the
American man-of war San Jacnto was outside
the port waiting for the Alabama TO come out
The first officer Of the Federal ship il was said.
offered TO the Captain 10 run into the haFbor and
either run down or engage the Alaba ma. but the
latter refused ThereupOn the Lieutenant begged
OF the Captain TO 20 on shore for few hours
when he would DO so Oh his own responsibility,
but the Captain refused to accede 10 his request
The American brig liampden. OF Bangor, Me
was in port when the Alabama arrived. her
Captain at once took boat for the San Jacinto,
and arranged with the nav, Captain signal 10
notify him. by the firing of rocket. whenever
the Alabama wss 10 move. The Captain re
turned to port. but the bird had flown during the
night, whereupon be did not fire his rocket For
this he Mas pat in irons by the Governor General
and his vessel eon6scated
TIE San JacinIo had two boats out all |
night, but the pirate slipped her anchors and
went 70 sea.
- The special dispatches from Washington
to the Cincinnati Gazette of Yesterday saw that