Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-10-27
The DePredaGioas Of Ilae Aiabamn-ssafe-
nleHts Of Capsuias Of Vessels DenfToyd BY
ane EsIrsIara


The DrPredaaiOas Of ll.e Aiabamn-ssaie
UleBts OF Capsnias Of Vessels Desfroyd b
she Rirasess
From the New YORK Evening Postl
We have received interesting statements from
the captains OF the whale ships Virginia an,
Elisha Dunbar, of New Bs3iOrd-two Of ter
vessels which were recently destroyed al sec By
the rebel pfivateer Alabama (No. 29O) Thes
{ accounts cOEhfm former reports of tie WOntOI
destruction ct shipping by Ssmmes, the com
mander of the pirate, aud show that his ship l.
N the direct track Of our vessels, and is likely
to prove dangerous craft if not summarily
} caught.
Captain 1Tlton, of The Virginia, says that he
was overheuled by the Alabama on the morning
Of the 7-h OF September, in latitude 80 10
aud longitude $40 20. The pirate showed
B-itish colOTs, but when a quarter Of a mile from
the Virginia set Confederate cJlors, and sent an
armed boats crew aboard. Captain Tiltoa was
informed that he was a prize 10 the Alabama,
and vas ordered to take his papers and 90 on
beard that steamer. Tao pirates then stripped
the ship OF all the valuable articles on board and
at P. NJ set fire to the vessel Captain Tiltop
adds e On arriviug Oh board the steamer. I
asked the captain TO release me, as I wGs doing
no ona any harm" HIS answer was : F0u
a0rtheners are destroying our property aud New
1 Bedford people are having their war meeting,
| ofoIiag :; 200 bounty for volunteers, and send
out t5eir stone fleets 10 block up cur barbors,
and l am going to rstali2ie " Captain Tilton
/ clltiLu1s:
/ " went or tie quarter deck with my son,
when they ordered me into she lee-waist, with
! my crew, ana al o. US put in IRONS wish the
exception of swo boys, cook and steward
/ esked If l vas to be pus Ia irons. The splY
was that his purser was put in irons and his head
shaved by US, ana that he was going to retail ate
/ We were put in the lee-waist, with the old sail
I over Us aud few planks to lie upon.
! ln5 steamer W2s cruising 10 the west ind
F ihe next day they took the Elisha Duubar, her
crew receiving the same treatment as ourselves
The steamers guns being kept run cut, tde SIDE
ports could NOS b. shut, and when the sea was o
Hals rough Or the vessel rolled, the ws.er was
continually coming IN on both sides Esd swssh-
( ing across the deck where we were, 80 thas cur
feet sad clothing were wet all the time, either
rem the water below or Eae rain above.
e. We were obliged to sleep in the pisce y hero
we were, and ofE n walked uD in the night nearly
alder water. Our fare consisted Cf beef and
pork, rice, beans, tea aud ccffse, aud bread.
/ Only one Of Ouy irons was allowed TO be taken
off st e tirae, and we had to wash III salt water
/ We were kept Oh deck all the time, night aud
I day, and guard placed over US
J. " The s5asmsr continued u cruise 90 the
northwest, and on the Sd Of October fell in
( with the ships Bgilliuut and Emily Farnh.m-
the former Of which they burnt, and the crew,
I with ourselves, were transferred 20 the latter
/ ship, after signing parole On the 6 h in ytant
| we were taken On board the brig Goldeubead.
of Thomasto1 Captain Smith from jersey for
/ New York, who treated Us with great kindness.
). r. IILTON,
90 Lste OF bark Virgins, New B3dford."
/ STATEMENT OF CAPITALS CLIFFORD OF THE
ELISHA DUNBAR.
/ Captain Clifford Of the whaler Elisha Dun
oar makes the following statement:
! On the morning Of the 18th September, in
latitude 39o 5O' with tie wind from the south
( west and the bark heading east-southeast, saw
/ a steamer on our port quarter, standing to tbs
northwest. S0cn after found she had altered
/ her course ard was steering for the bark We
/ soon male ell sail % get cut Of her reach aud
/ were going ten knots at the time; but the
I steamer gaining on us under canvas alone
/ soon came up with Us and fred gun under our
stern with the ST. Georges cross flying a. the
/ iime. o Ir c5lors were set, when she displayed
/ he Confederate flag. b ing near us, we hsve
4 TO, sna Doas With armed Cfiicars and crew
/ came along side, and on coming on board stated
! to me that my vessel Was a prize 70 the C0nfsd-
/ crate steamer Alabama, Captain Semmes.
I was then ordered on board the steamer with r7F
papers, aud the crew to follow ne, with bag
| o. clothing each. On getting aboard, the cap
! .au calued me as prze, and said my vessel
would be burnt. Not having auy clothes with
NE, be allowed mo TO return for E small tIuuk Of
clothes Tao C1hser on board asked me- what
was coming back for, and tried TO prevent me
/ from coming on board. I told him | came after
a few clothes, which took and returned to the
steamer. II blowing very hard at the time. and
/ very squaIy nothing but tie ehronometer,
sextant, charts, etc, were taken, when the YES
sci was set tirc to and burned. There were 65
barrels OF sperm oil deck, taken on the pass
! age, which were consumed. We were all put Ia
/ irons, and received the same treatment that
| Captain Iilson's ethcsIs and crew did who
! were taken the day before. While on board we
understood tnst tbs steamer would cruise of
the Grand Banks for q few weeks, TO destroy
/ tLa large American ships to and from the Chan
/ mel ports They had knowledge of two ships
/ being loaded with arms for the United States,
and were in hopes Of capturing them They
/ were particularly anxious 10 fail in with the
! clipper ship DIeadnought, aud destroy her, as
| she was celebrated for spsed, and they were
c2uut6ut OF their ability 20 Csp.ure or run away
/ from any vessel in tie United States The
steamer being in tho track Of both outward and
nJUe#aId bound vessels, aud more or less beiug
In sight every day, she will make great hav oc
among them. DAVID r. CLIFFORD.
Late master Of bark Elisha Dunbar"
THE SHIP BRILLIANT, OF NEW YORK, BURNED
At SEA BY THE ALABAMA.
Since the foregoing letters wero in type, We
have received the following account of the de-
structicn Of the Brilliant:
Captain Hagar, lete Of the ship Brilliant.
reports that be was from New York bound 10
London. On the morning Of October Sd, in
ls'itude 40 longitude 5000, ths wind from
northeast, e large ship was seen about a mile 10
windward. Soon after a steamer was seen On
I t1Fa tiorb hon gF.. H.. -.
sail The steamer on rearing the ship to the
~indwavd, ran up At beT peak tie s.. George
/ Cross, aud IN = feW minutes after fred g gun
ACROSS lor bow, at the same time displaying tbs