The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-07-10
kecapturc ofrhe Ship Emily 81. Pierre. ForDI-
erly of Charlc-Ion. -. &.

This ship under the command Of Capt. Wilson, from
Calcutta, with a cargo Of gunny cloth, was captured
OF Charleston while attempting 10 run the biocAade,
by the steamer Jas Aiger, who put IA prize crew Of 10
men on board, under the command Of Lieut.. Stone,
with orders to take her TO Phiiade. phia. All the
ships company, except Captain wilson, the cook
and steward, were taken on board the steamer as
prisoners. As the ship was crank, Capt. Wilson
suggested if he were LETT on board, he would sail her,
as he was better acquainted with her management
than Lieut.. Stone, and his services were accepted. tie
Immediately determined TO recapture his vessel, and
secured the aid Of his cook and steward. While one
watch was below, Wilson bound, irOuei and gagged
the officer who was asleep IN his berth. lie then
went on deck and invited Lieut.. Stone to come with
him into the cabin 10 examine the ships position on
the chart, and while doing this, with the aid Of his con-
Tolerate he bound, ironed and gagged the command
ing officer also. Next he went on deck and met three
men, and ordered them to 60 into the BOBBY matches
to get out a coil Of rigging. Surprising that he was
acting in obedience 10 the orders Of Lieut.. Stone,
they went below, and were Immediately shut down.
Two others, who were on deck, were easily over
powered and ironed. The watch below were shut
down and Capt. Wilson, ordered them up one AT 4
time, and told them what he had done. lie asked
them to aid in working the ship to q British port;
but only two consented, and these We're landsmen.
with this slender crew he nlVlglted the vessel from
Cape Hatteras, where he recaptured her, 20 Liverpool,
and kept his pTi oners safe ut the same time without
Shedding q drop Of blood or using any harsh meas
ures liable to affect their health. During the passage
the ship encountered a tremendous gale, in which she
carried away her tiller but Wilson seemed equal to
every emergency, soon repaired the disaster, and
finally brought his vessel into Liverpool safe and
sound. We are somewhat astOnished that he did not
put into Bermuda, rather than run the terrible risk
Of making such n long passage with such a crew.
The ship and cargo are probably worth @loO,OOO.
Hereafter, we hope our cruisers, when they take n
prize, will have the prudence to take out her crew,
and not leave the least chance for her r~ecapture.
Captain Wilson, however, had no warrant in mari
time law for resuming possession OF his ship while on
her way to an Admiralty Court, which had yet to
Iscilp u1pon her i innocence q II Quilt. Had II been the
vessel OF a belligerent, such an act would have been
protected by the usages of war. But, as the vessel
Of a neutral, it was bound to submit to the Judgment
of n Prize Court without resistance or hesitation.
While this point is perfectly clear i'll itself, It becomes
still clearer in view of the fact that, after an act Of
war-uamely, the combining of those legally in charge
Of the vessel-a lieutenant and sailors of the Ameri-
can navy were carried as prisoners OF war into n
neutral port. This phase of the transaction has no
circumstance unsuitable under international law. 1t
is unqestionably an exceedingly neat little bit of
business but it will require from England repara-
ton as complete and satisfactory rs that we frankly
rendered in the instance of the Trent.