Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-10-15
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
FROM THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
ARRIVAL THERE AND CORDIAL TREATMENT
OF THE REBEL PRlVATEERs.

and tina Cane ARGUS" of August ooh mainly taken
up with descriptions of the arrival ana reception az tna
place oC tie Con eferats prSateer Alabama OF her cap
lures Of vessels immediate proximity 10 that COAST and
with the correspondence which ensued IN consequence be-
tx.an IN. American Ccn.u Mr.. WALTER GRAHAM re-
Gently OF New Jersey, and Sir PHILIP WoDEHousE' the
q Colonial Governor
The first iunation that received Of the approach
of the Alabama was the 9th Of Juys prior I" which
she had appeared off Wal~ich Bay, some SIX hundred
miles north of Cape Town On thu 4th of August word
was received that she iSg snugly At anchor IN SOL
danha Bay within hundred miles OF Cape Town ana
by the opportunity a note was brought from Capt
Semmes her commander, 10 the Colonial Governor Sr
Philip Wodehouse ia which the lat. informed that
on the Goth Of July the Alabama had put into Saidsnha
Bay for the purpose of eectng necessary repairs
and that NJ coon rs these accomplished he would
proceed to sea-a the time assuring the Governor
that her commander would pay the strctest attention to
the neutrality of the British Government
What followed is related at length in the newspapers
above named. We quote maaly from the Advertiser
CAPTURE OF THE SHIP SEA BRIDE.
About noon on Wednesday, August 5th, an American
baoue was spnaled standing into Table Bay from the
southwest Almost immediately after barque ngged
steamer made down standing 10 from the northwest
The stoop r the Exchange and the space around the
sgnamans office beh nd the customhouse, aud all other
places from which the signals cou be made out were
soon crowded, aud when the of the stramer
made known the excitement passed all bounds Inc
news spread through Cape Town Ike wdfre: The
Alabama il outside the bay in chase of an American
barouer Trading foRoten-the busiest rushed out
of their Offices and shop every cab on the stand loaded
regardless Of municipal regulations, ard vanished the
Koof road or down Somerset road HoFsemen Ralloped
about thu street, and then spured their steeds right up
the Liens Rump Men, women, and children were sezed
IA with hrenzy and rushed about here there and
where king and telling the most contradictory and IN
heard of things: They were hr"g at each other
close auart-rs,-the smoke and of the battle could
be aut distinctly end heard from the Breakwatero
Aud from that point round to Camps Bay WAS
in an incredibly short space Of time lined with u"
consd rabe portion Of tie citizens OF Cape
Town.
We will not relate the imprecat"ns of the cab driver,
thu ungngs and stumblings Of bis horse and
athpmas at both, were lted over rock and into
holes places where cab had BEEN but proceed
at once with the narrative of what we saw.
The fine baroue Sea Bride having run the gauntlet of
the Confederate fleet the Atlantic had deemed her voy
age t. be approaching happy end and, with full sail set
breeze and the star spangled banner at her
pesk she sped onward like thing of life and beauty in
full view of the port to which she was bound Dimly 10
the north she deserted steamer standing likewise for the
bay and congratulated herself her good luck 10 arriving
Just time the latest American ut Vicks
burg the Rappshannock by the English mail. Fast as
the barqne the steamer went faster still, and in
very uncomfortable seemed be bearing down
the Yankee In es than half hour the suspicious craft
had fairly 0verhaulrd her. and with the dreaded Coincide
rvte flag the peak left little doubt that the Sea
Bride become the prey of the redoubabe cruiser
the Alabama But STILL as it appeared TO US, who wit
messed the whole from Green Point shore, the
Noherner determined to strain every tn escape his
foe aud reach the Neutral waters within the charmed
league from shore.
The demand from the steamer to heave to answered
by defau pressing of every possible stitch o
and still 4unty display OF the stars ani srpes
at the mzzen Inc chase was then continued ioF few
seconds longer but at time the of
tain. The Alabama seemed to cut the waters with pro-
dlgious speed and blank charge from of her big
gus brought the SEA Bride To full stop. The Confed
crate, putting her steam in enormous volumes, moved
gently her fasd victim and seemed 10 gaze upon
her wit ctfoua 81
after the seizure of tempting mouse, hawk which
in swift descent had bounced t1 unsuspectng prey
boat IT, 90 bonrd the barque-a few
longer aud it impossible to Judge what happening
until at last the stars and stripes struck and the
Northern bsrque Sea Bride manifesty proclaimed
Confederate prize.
great deal Of apparent and to from shore quite
accountable, d,ying succeeded The harque
and the steamer held her position for several minutes
II compacenty gazing at her; and then with ng
swfness, c sed down her again and steered close
alongside. Then further communication succeeded, fol
lowed by another departure Of the bsrque and
another advance Of the t-Sm"r until finally clear
that all the requisite arrangements must have been
pleed; and The Sea Bride in charge of Confederate
stood out with slackened sa and the Ala
bama steamed swiftly into the bay NJ il nothing but
mere every day sort Of incident bad occurred.
Just the prize barque had got fairly her
the southwark the stately form Of the Lady Joceyn
deserted the horizon. 1T seemed by unlikely
that TIE Conederaes board suspected her H. be the
Wander b 10 chsse; and whether they resolved 10 give
themselves the benefit Of the doubt not very
evident that they SUDDENLY bore and stood different
the nOrthNeatWard AFTER that
the stranger EDglishmsn and the Sea BRIDE
cordingly acted upon Capt Semmess instructions by
standing of aud for the night, under easy sail aud
within sight of land.
THE ALABAMA REACHES TABLE BAY.
he Alabama having completed the capture, steau-
ed into Table Bay aud 10 anchor about four
O'Clock The wharves and every prominent point soDg
the beach crowded with spectators md in very
short time hundreds Of boats put of loaded with visters
All who went alongside politely received on deck
and invited to inspect all parts of the ship. For three
hours, after dark, the crowd board dense
IA any have All classes and Of both sexes
kept pouring into the vessel but the courtesy OF the Ala
hamhs ofhcers "as such that all felt ut home. Some
lohhn their way among the prisoners he Of rap
tured vessels others gathered around the unucky
ana suprcarg" 81 the Sea Bride and others bgan
trated INTO the small cabin where Capt Semmes quiet
y receiving all Who sought the honor hands and
convesing with him Both the gallant captain and All of
his officers spoke frankly aud modesty Of the services the
Alabama had rendered to the Conede and the Gu
osity Of tbose who sought particulars OF all the caturs
was gratiied 10 the fullest extent
CAPE TOWN BOARDING THE ALABAMA
Next day the excitement in town was if possible stl
greater liz day TO all lntents and purposes n gene
raj b0ydhy. The weather favorable charming; the
Day Was as smooth and sparkling sheet Of glass and
every man, woman and child 10 Cape Town seemed /,
have made up their minds to get board the Aabama
some way or other The different ,tties were crowded
from early to late hour il the evening the ba,
YVES alive with craft Of all kinds from the heaviest anchor
and cargo boats to the ghtet gigs aud racing ,kis nj
packed with pleasure parties gong 10 ar returning from
the Alab6ma. The Alabama took in and discharged .
living freight ut the Of about tho