The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-05-29
6Japaure eff two AngIO-8ebeI Steamers
ReFmnda md Circassian.
Ksywess Correspondence n. Y. Herald.
Key West, May 6, 1862.
CAprrRE az rHE nERMrpA.


Key West. May g. 1862.
CAPTURE OF THE BERMUDA.
The arrival of the Mercedita at this port, 4
few days since brings us the gratifying lntelIl-
gence Of her capture Of the English ConIeder-
ate steamer Bermuda, 70 the southwark OF the
Bahama Banks The Bermuda had full cor
go of arms and munitions of war Her mani
fest, which occupied come four pages of foolscap
paper, saw a copy Of and the quantity on
board vessel of her tonnage is really surpn-
sing. Besides pistols ard cutlasses in any
quantity, there were number o. six and half
and seven and half inch riaed guns, together
with several complete field batteries Then
again there we're nearly fifty thousand pounds
of powder in barrels, besides cases upon cases
of cartridges, fixed ammunition and shells
Among the papers found on board the Bermuda
was complete code of night signals and sail
ing directions for entering the harbor OF Charles.
ton, both by way of Mathis and the main ship
channel also orders from parties in the South
for goods to be purchased for them by the Cap
tain of the Bermuda, which goods are now, no
doubt, on board the vessel
1t is a most fortunate occurrence that the
cargo of the Bermuda has been prevented from
reaching Dixie. II would have been invaluable
to Rebellion in their present dilapidated CON
dtion and is worth to US at least one million
ed to Commander Stellwagen and the officers
aud crew of the Mercedita for having effected
this capture.
The Bermuda, by her register, is owned by
Frasier, Trombone & Co., of Liverpool, a
branch of the hose Of FraSier g. Co, of Charles
ton, S. c., and her commander is Charleston.
ian. The majority of the officers and crew of
the Bermuda are here on board of the Aercedi-
ia. What disposition is to be made Of them
do not yet learn. One other crew has given
information that shortly before her capture
secession flag, together with large number of
papers, was thrown overheard by the captain.
This fact may have weight in the evidence be-
fore the Prize Commissioner. All the other
particulars regarding her capture will 10 doubt
be given to the Herald by its Philadelphia cor
respondent, as it is to that port that the Ber-
muda has been sent, in charge of Lieut. Abbott,
of the Mercedita, The Mercedita is now coal
ing, and will leave in a few days for her cruis-
ing grounds. .a4
CAPTURE OF THE STEAMER CIRCAsSIAS.
While your correspondent was on board the
Mercedita a steamer was reported in sight to
the eastward With the aid of powerful tel
escope she was made out TO be a large bark rig
ged screw steamer in tow Of one OF our armed
ferry boats. Various were the conectures as
to what she might be but all felt confident
she was prize and that the vessel towing her
was the Somerset. As soon as she had anchor
ed Lieutenant Commanding English of the
Somerset, which vessel the one towing proved
to be, came on board the Mercedita to make
his report to Commodore Stellwagen, the senior
naval officer in port. The English steamer
proved to be the Circassian, from Bordeaux. via
81. Thomas, andpurporting to be bound to Ha-
vana. She was captured on Sunday afternoon,
the 4tb i"st, about twenty miles TO the east
ward OF Havana, under the following circum-
stances. The Somerset, as soon as the Cir
cassian hove in sight, ran down towards her.
and, rounding too under her stern, hailed and
requested her to heave to until beat could be
sent alongside. To this request no audible re-
ply was received, the Circassian putting on all
speed and standing on her course. Captaia
English then ordered blank cartridge to he
Ared towards her, but no notice vas taken oft
shot was then fired broad or her quarter
still no notice A nine-iuch shell was then
thrown over her, which burst ahead Of the ship
still she would not heave 20. Captain English
lhen ordered the captain of the gun TO Ere at
her nasts, which was DONE and tho shot cut
sway the sings Of her foreyard Then. and
not until then, did Mr.. John Bull So fit to round
TO and state who and what he vas AS soon
as she was found to be the CTjircassian, which
vessel was known to have loaded in Europe
with cargo for Dixie, @ ant. English informed
..tr Captain that he " Lst be taken into Uni
ted States port to Lave bis case adjudicated.-
To this the Er.gIishman objected, and made
formal protest in writing, but alt to no avail
II 81 as the Intention of Captain English to send
her to Boston, as ordered by the Flag Officer,
but rs he could not DO SO without disabling his
own vessel he determined to bring her here,
and did So towing her all the distance, as the
EBglishman, as soon as taken, disabled the ma
chinsry so that it could not be used.
The CiTcassian is an iron steamer, OF about
fifteen hundred TONS bark rugged and very
handsome weasel. By her manifest she Is load
ed withe tea coffee, satpetre, clothing, blankets,
&c; but we are led to suppose that there are
other articles on board OF different character,
for the vessel is very deep, drawing now TWEEN
ty-one feet of water. The vessel since her ar
rival here here has been leaking badly, and it
is the general impression that her crew have in
some1way injured The vessel for the purpose Of
damaging the cargo as much as possible. Her
crew are still on board One of them, however.
more communicative than the rest, stated that
when the true character Of the Somerset was
discovered, a large number of papers were
thrown overheard, which gives her ease very
suspicious character. The capture OF the Cir
cassian is a very important affair and Captain
English is entitled to all praise for etfecting it,
LtC Cast VIII uiubISO iSic ,liinSb bhOioNE
examination, and, if there Is ground for 1t, the
Circassian be condemned, giving her owners
the opportunity, OF course, of appealing to the
Supreme Court if they see fit to do SO,
The capture ofthe Bermuda and Circassian
will enable the United States courts to ascer-
tain how far England can violate her Majesty $
proclamation of strict neutrality. We have suf
fercd enough through the Conniyance Of English
officials with the rebels and the facilities with
which rebel vessels are placed under the pro-
lection of the British flag. 1t is time it was ef
fectualIy stopped, and the cases of the Bermu-
da aud Circassian will afford our Government
the opportunity of laying before her Majesty's
Ministers all the particulars. and demanding
that England shall act up to her professions Of
strict neutrality in every particular.
Abolition of slavery in she District of
Columbia,
From the London Times.