Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-12-21
THE CAPTURE OF THE ECHEsAPEAkE

THE CAPTURE OF THE CHESAPEAKE
Gt eat Excitement at IIalifax-The Prixo.
vessels OFF the Notwithstanding
Statement. &c.
HALIFAX. Dec. I9.--At one o'clock this after
neon the steamer Chesapeake and the pris oners
on board of her Were delivered to the govern
ment. Upon the arrival OF the boat at the
Queens wharf the excitement became intense
the prisoners were mediately seized by
hoat's crew in the slip, and hurried Off by q
crowd in attendance.
Upon the government officers moving to ar
rest the prisoners under warrant, they We're
were thereby rendered powerless TO perform
their duty. The crowd finally succeeded in
getting the pirates in small boat, which forth
with moved down the bay. The affair causes
the greatest excitement throughout the city.
What course the authorities Will pursue in this
matter it is impossible to say. The pirates ure
Province. The Federal gunboats are prepar-
ing 10 leave. Some will take their departure
tonight, and probably all will leave before
Monday.
The following is the statement OF FIRST En-.
sipeer johnson, of the steamer Chesapeake:
After we left ST. John, the first port
tered was Shelburne, where we arrived on
Thursday night. We here took in ten tons of
coal ard some wood The next morning we
left for I.ahaye river. Seeing steamer off the
mouth Of the river, We conceaied our vessel as
hest we could, and assembled the river on Fri
day night. We laid to at this point until Z Tues-
day night, dischargIng part OF our cargo, for
which we received one thousand dollars. We
sold the sugar Tor thrfe cents per pound, flour
three dollars per barrel, and other articles at
pToportionRte prices. We left the river at 3
o'clock p. m, laying TO at ITS mouth all night,
and loading schooner with goods which we
bad not disposed OF. On the morning of
Wednesday we steamed for st. Mary's bay.
About ninety miles east of Halifax, AT about
O'Clock the following morning, we saw
steamer. We Immediately concealed our YES
sci by hugging the shore, and when the steamer
disappeared we started again. Arriving of
Sambro without meeting any further trouble,
We Were boarded by pilot named Flynn,
who tCok the vessel into Samhro harbor.
Captain Locke now satisfying himself that
there We're not Goals enough on board 10 COM
piete the voyage, concluded TO anchor the yes-;
sl, ard he did so at two o'clock in the after
noon In the meantime he started for Halifax
to procure Goals and engineers for the vessel
He told me (JobEson) that as soon as he OBJ
tanned new engineers he intended 10 release
me, and / told him that i would notion any
account, remain with the vessel any longer.
| The captain returned about two o'clock on the
following morning, having been successful in
! his expe pedition. A schooner came up with him
| about six o'clock on the same morning. The
pilot Mr.. Flynn, informed the captain th'tt tne
| Federal gunboats were entering the haroor ana
| the captain satisfying himself that the state
ment was correct, ordered me yonnsoh) 10
| semitic the vessel. replied mat Wonid NOT
| do If The captain then hastily secured what
| pIuuder he could, and he and his officers, aud
/ poriion of the crew took to the boats as the
| Ella and Anna appeared In sight
| The steamer Chesapeake-Great Excite.
| mpnt in Halifax.
/ HALIFAX. Bee. 1s.-Tremendonss excitement
/ ureyails here this afternoon In regard to the
/ steamer Chesapeake. She was delivered over
| TO the British authorities, but on the landing
/ of the prisoners on shore they Were rescued by
| the citizens.
| The excitement is very great. The Federal
vessels Niagara, Dacotah, Anna and Ella,
| Acacia and Cornubia are of the harbor.