Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-06-22
An Important Capture.


PHILADELPHIA, June 20.-The U. S. steam
er Massachusetts, Lieut.. VIM. II. West COM
handing, from the north and south Atlantic
squadrons, arrived this afternoon with 200
passengers, invalids and prisoners The
Massachusetts has been as tar south at St.
St. Johns, Fla, and supplied about fifty yes
sells. She tOwed the confederate steamer
Calypso, prize, from Wilmington to this
port,-the latter being disabled, which is sup
posed to have been done by her officers before
she was taken by the U. S. steamer Florida,
on the afternoon OF the l lth inst, thirty miles
south east OF Wilmington, N. c.
The Calypso had several passengers, among
them Mrs. Grey and three daughters, who
were sent to Wilmington, n. c., under flag
OF truce. The officers and crew of the Ca
lypso were brought north in the Massachu-
sets. The name of her captain is William
Black. He is noted as a desperate blockade
runner, and commanded the steamer Stone.
wall jackson, which was sunk by the block
aiding squadron off Charleston some time
since, he and all the crew escaping. All the
papers of the Calypso and her rebel flag were
found aboard, the captain not having taken
measures to destroy them.
Lieut.. West also reports that on Thursday
night, the 18th, the blockade runner Herald,
from Nassau, was sunk on Folly Island by the
fire of our blockaders within three hundred
yards of tine batteries. The fate of her Off
GERS and crew are unknown, as broadside
after broadside was poured into her on every
side until she sunk. The blockade off
Charleston is perfect. The fleet hereafter
viii not wait to capture, but will fire broad
side after brOadSide into the blockade runners
until they sink or surrender. The Herald
was under another name at the time she was
sunk.
The Calypso is now lying at the navy yard
with the rebel flag flying, surmounted by the
stars and stripes. She is in rema rkably
dirty condition. Her cargo consists of
liquors, dry goods, and assorted merchandise.
NOarms nor ammunition were found on board.
Ali her crew have plenty OF money. Capt.
Black and his engineers were OF the opinion
that they could land as soon as they arrived
here, but find themselves greatly mistaken.
The engineers say they intended to leave inn
mediately for England. Their pay is $500 a
month, Capt. Black says he will take any
number of oaths OF allegiance if he can there
by secure passage to Nassau.
From conversation with the officers and
crew Of the Calypso we learn that the shipping
of goods from Nassau to Charleston is not
popular among the owners of blockade run
nerS They prefer to run in ballast and re-
turn with cotton, the risk of capture being
less. They however take goods on freight,
but ship none themselves. All the crew have
private specuations in liquors and other arti-
cles. The Calypso was owned by club of
twenty -four CharlestonianS. Capt. Black
was probably one OF the owners. She cost
S25 900 at Nassau, and has made five or six
successful runs Capt. Black takes his mis-
fortune very philosophicaly. 1t is impossible
to find out who were the pilots of the Calypso,
all efforts to ascertain this fact being fruitless.
The Calypso broke the connecting rod OF her
engine and became powerless and an easy
CAPTURE. Her captain then cut the feed pipes
and filed her with four feet of water. He
also attempted to burst her steam boiler and
destroy the vessel together with all on board.