New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-12
A Whole Fleet After the Alabama.
SKETCHES OF THE REBEL COMMANDERS.

with the crews of the ships Levi Starbuck Of New.
Bedford, Capt Mellon, and L. Is. Wales OF Boston,
Capt. Lincoln, captured at sea by the pirate
Alabama, who landed them at Port Royal, Mar
Unique. Thence they proceeded in a French brig
to St. Thomas, where the American Consul, Mr..
VIM. b. Edgar, chartered the Alice, and sent home
the entire party. Caps. Lincoln and Mellon will
arrive by the Halifax steamer. Toe ship Levi Star
buck, Capt. Mellon, from n. b., when FIVE days
out, bound for tie Pacific, captured November
2, in latitude $50 30, longitude 66'. The pirate
took all the clothing and nautical instruments on
board and set her fire. She also captured the ship
T. b. Wales of Boston, Capt. Lincoln from Calcutta
for Boston, l47 days out, with full cargo Of salt
peter and gunny cloth, November 8, in latitude
49, 30, longitude 5So The captor took from her the
captain and crew. and set her fire. The
Alabama then proceeded to Martinique, arriving
there on Nov. II, at q. M, landing the captains
and crews of both ships as above slated.
The U. S. ship San Jacinto arrived the same after
noon, and finding the Alabama in port, Immediately
got under way aud proceeded outside the harbOr to
await the departure of the pirate. On the 18th,
at 10 p. H., the Alabama got under way and
escaped-the San Jacinto lying of the harbor till
the 22d.
The ship T. b. Wales was built in Medfori in
1884, and is of 500 tuns burden.
The following is the
STATEMENT OF JOSHUA p. ATKINS, FIRST
MATE OF THE T. ID. WALES.
Tie ship I. b. Wales Of Boston. Capt. Edward
Lincoln, loaded with hides, cotton, saltpeter and
lnseed left Calcutta on June Is, for Boston. She
passed The Sand Heads On the 18th. She touched
IT St. Helena, where sue took board the Hon. G..
H. Fairfield of Salem, late Consul of the United
States az Nautilus bic wife, two children, and two
servants. and sailed thence October !. At 9 a. N.
N November s, in latitude 2so 30, longitude $50,
We perceived a steamer apparently following
schooner. When the steamer saw US she turned
toward us, as ii on a friendly mission. As she ap-
'roached nearer We could distinctly zee the Amer
can flag, and her signal numbers spelled the word
ruscarora. When near us che fired q gun across
our bows, and ran up the Rebel flag.
Can't. Lincoln was ordered TO come on board With
bis papers. lie returned with the fret ieuten-
ant of the steamer, who informed Ms that we Were
prize 10 the Confederate Government. He told us
hat the officers and crew would alike be allowed TO
AIRY one bag of clothes each. We found on board
he Alabama the crew of the Levi Starbuck, Of
New Bedford. The crew of the pirate then took all
,ur provisions and our mainyard, which they needed
BADLY. Our crew were all placed III irons and
towed away in the eugine.room and coal buDkers.
was not all0Nel 10 DOu any cOnNtrthtlOn Win
,apt. Lincoln. AT dark they burned our brig.
An American vessel, attracted by the flames, came
o our assistance but after approaching few mies,
eemed 10 have an inkling OF the barbarous decep.
ion sought to be practiced upon her and made saii
fast TO escape the clutches of the pirate.
We were well fed and well treated. Our fare was
# the qnslity that of the crew Of the Ala
,ama. There no discipline on board the pirate.
The First and Fourth Lieutenants were the only
Competent officers Capt Semmes was reserved and
r,fs,a ,fa
Thew declared they would fight the Yankee ships
until Southern independence was acknowledged.
nephew Of JEFF. Davs is n junior officer on
,oard. We were not insuted for our opinions and
principles. Through the day we We're allowed the
reedom of the deck, but az night we were put
below. On account of a lame foot | was not put in
rons. The Alabama put in at Port Royal, Martini
que, on Nov. IL, and sent ashore the captains and
'rews of both ships. We were released upon
, parole of honor Thence we sailed 10 st.
Thomas in a French brig, whore Mr.. VIM. b. Ed
,ar the American Consul, chartered the schooner
Alice and sent home the entire party-sixty-one per-
ems.
The Alabama has on board flags 10 represent any
nationality. The San Jacinto came into Port Royal
he day succeeding the arrival OF the Alabama. The
,rate was anchored in port, but the san Jacinto
,ept standing off and on, IN hopes OF capt 1rins her,
The CAPTAIN of the American chip Hamden Of
Bangor took a small boat and visited the San
aciuto, advising the officers of the movements OF
he Alabama. lie was given three large rockets
With which TO execute the requisite signals upon her
departure. When he returned TO shore he found the
irte had sailed, but Immediately sisnaled The San
qcntO.
For giving this warning, the French Governor Of
Martinique took possession Of his ship and put him
prison heavily roned. The residents Of the Island
/ Martinique are undoubted Secession sympathizers,
not active Secessionists. Loyal Americans are
reated with insult while Rebel pirates are fostered
v the Governor At Port Royal, the second mate,
oseph Neal, and eight seamen, all partially intoXi-
ated, Joined the Alabama, but afterward repented
I their action and endeavored TO obtain their re-
case, in which they were unsuccessful
The mate whose narrative is given above is a
IAN Of intelligence and trustworthiness. He left
lst evening for Provincetown, Mass.
TATEMENT OF WILLIAM WHITNEY, SAILOR
ON THE LEVI sTARBUCK.
The ship Levi Starbuck, OF New-Bedford, Capt.
lelon, five days out from New.Bedford. bound to
ne Pacific was captured on November 2 in latitude
5. 80. longitude &c, by the Rebel pirate Alabama.
{ ,aybreak on the "a we saw vessel to wind.
,ard, which bore down upon us. When within
silpg distance she fired gun across our bows and
"a hove TO. A boats crew and fonr officers wers
,nt on board our ship from .he strange vessel. Our
,pran stood upon the poopdeck. One OF these
Ulcers said to him: Captain, you are prize to
,e Confederate steamer Alabama. Let me- take
our papers and you go on board with me-" Capt.
Iellon went on board the pirate whose guns were
ow run out and aimed at the ship. The crew Of
,e Starbuck were then conveyed to the pirate.
ant. Semmes had taken no notice OF Capt. Mellon,
Ut be now addressed him as follows: lyon, sir,
q prize to the Confederate steamer Alabama. I
lall burn your ship. Your clothes you may keep,
1t your nautical instruments will be placed under
y supervision. The provisions and needed articles
tho Starbuck were then transferred to the pirate,
Zee Eighth Page,