The Portland daily press., 1863-08-22
Rec.n,ure of Fort Warren Prisoners.

AS already stated by us, Collector Jewett
dispatched Capt. John A. Webster, Jr., COM
mandng the CutterIJ. C. Dobbip, to recapture
IL possible the prisoners who had escaped from
Fort Warren, Boston Harbor. The Cutter
stood to the west along shore and overhauled
every vessel she met at night Capt Webster
wisely stood east again, SO rs not to permit
their escape by him in the dark. la the NOR
ming he stood west, aud when east Of Boon Is
land saw several vessels in sight and noticed
among them a small boat OF about the size
named, but schooner, instead Of sloop rugged
which tackled and stood in shore when she
saw the Gutter boarding other vessels.
There being light easterly wind, after he
had boarded the other vessels in sight, he run
down for this schooner, then standing in shore
about four miles to lecward The Cutter
soon overhauled them, and ordered them to
heave to which they did. The Cutters boat
was sent under charge of LIST Lieut.. Colesbury
with orders to bring the boat alongside, and
the men on board the Cutter.
On being questioned, they said they were
down-east fishermen, belonging to Eastport,
ohd had btcH w ocot W sSh thSh non anu
were bound home; but their southern accent
and manner betrayed them to Capt Webster,
who was satisfied that they were not fisher
men. He ordered them searched, when roll
Of Confederate money, about $500, was taken
from the breast pocket of one of them, with
some greenbacks. As soon as this was open
ed the party "owned up and frankly admitted
that they had escaped from Fort Warren.
They proved to be Lieutenant Alexander
formerly of the United States Navy, and who
was an officer on board the frigate Susquehan-
ma In the Mediterranean when the rebellion
broke out, came home in the Richmond, went
South and joined the Confederate Navy. He
was lieutenant and second in command on
board the Confederate ram Atlanta, formerly
Fingal, which was captured off Savannah
some time since. Lieut.. A. says that the At
lanta had torpedo at her bow, thirty feet in
front Of her, with which he intended to blow
up the Weehawken, but that the latter's shot
made such dreadful havoc as TO defeat his
plan. He says it crushed through her iron
coat and literally broke it into small pieces,
while it tore away the pitch pine backing of
the iron as if it had been paper
The other party proved to be I'd Lieutenant
Thurston Of the Confederate Marine Corps, a
native of Charleston; Lieut.. A. being native
of North Carolina.
Both Of them escaped over the ramparts of
Fort Warren with nothing on but their fan
mel shirts. They lay about two hours in the
water near sentry before they attempted to
swim TO target near tie shore. Lieut.. Read
of the Tacony also made an attempt, but was
discovered after the alarm was given, and cap
tared. They loosed the target from its moor
ings, aud by its aid foated and swan to the
opposite shore, bat SO chilled by our 'cold,
Yankee water" that they were scarcely able
to move; but seeing fishing schooner near
the shore at anchor they boldly went on board,
in plain sight of two men On shore, by whom
they expected momentariIy to be captured.
They cut the boats cable and stood Off to sea,
hoping as they say to intercept some English
or Provincial vessel, but speaking none, they
went ashore near Rye Beach, and reported
themselves 10 an elderly gentleman as fisher
men who, having got their clothes wet took
them Off to dry, and lost them accidentally
overheard. The party applied to thought the
story little strange, but seeing them "cold
and naked and hungry" took compassion ON
them, gave them pants, food and bottle of
wine, with which they again made sail and
were vending their way east when captured
by the Cutter.
They we're in very exhausted condition
.Ia.s L. ~. ~ n
had wrapped pieces of canvass around
their bodies under their shirts to keep
them warm; but their chill while in the
water and their exposure all night while
In an open boat, had made them highly indig-
nant against our "cold Yankee water and
chilly nights"
They say but two persons escaped with
them on the target. They constructed an i'm
promptu anchor by filling piece of canvass
with stones from the beach. They are both
intelligent and gentlemanly Off GERS and have
that quiet dash about them that would make
them troublesome officers TO our vessels if
once again aboard Confederate vessels The
cutter arrived back about A. NJ. yesterday,
and they were both committed by u. S. Mar
shall Clark yesterday forenoon to our county
jail In this city, subject to orders from Wash
ington.
The boat which the above parties took is a
clump, square stern fishing boat decked over,
and had only her ballast on board with small
LOT OF junk and canvass. She has no name is
painted green on her bottom and black above
When Lieut. Alexander was joked as TO the
humble class of the boat he commanded, he
replied that liberty in such craft was swee,
after the confinement at Fort Warren.
GE- The Eastern Star Division Of the Sons
OF Temperance, will make an excursion to the
Islands in the Barge Comfort, on Wednesday
10Th inst, leaving Atlantic wharf at oclocl
A. M. A good time, chowder, coffee, ice wa
ter without stick in it, Ell cetcro, at an outla,
OF only 30 cents for adults and Is cents fo
children.
AUCTION SALEs.-.Mr. L. NJ. Patten offer
for sale on Monday next dwelling house or
Adams street, and on Tuesday, the very val
liable and desirable store lot on Commercial
street, opposite Thomas Block. The latte