, 1863-02-05

&c Exciting Chase OF IL hours by the
q. s. Steamer PocnAontas.
from tie New York Tribune, 3D.
T. s STEAMER picArrnv5ts. OFT

y -u.l
L. S. STEAMER PecAneS7As, oFrl
atonfIE, Ala. Jan, s. 1855.
On tic morning Of the 9TH inst, We weighed
anchor to overhaul 4 vessel which was deserted
from, thu masthead. At 9A o'clock came up
to It, and sue proved to be 4 United States
transport with troops bound for Ship Island.
We rut our steamer about to return to our
the cycr-yis:lant lookout at the cross-trees;
and al the same time steamer MAS seen
standing close in.o the beach. We promptly
directed our course accordingly, when the
steamer rcrceivinE our movements at once
stood ont 10 sea, and now a highly exciting
chase followed.
Al 10 o'clock a. nl., tic steamer with sails
set, swept before lis 1t fall speed, gaining dis
tancc, and soon Threatened TO be out of sight.
We now set I'LL sails tlat would draw, ran
down our co1o.s and Er.cca our peak with the
ensign Of her Britannia Majesty. II o'clock
We hold our distance, but gain nothing. Il
m.--CommcIccd feeding our furnaces with
pork and Junk, which increased our speed
considerably, hut the steamer, sending forth
hinge masses Of black smoke, told Us that she
had similar resources, and kept her distance.
u. m.-W7c seem to gain, bnt very little. We
fired our ritled gun, which al course fell con
eiGrrab1y short. y. m.-Gained abou.
quarter Of Il mile, a1ld now eaw tue English
colors hoistcd on her main. ) O'clock p. m.
Same distance rs all hour ago. i. p. H.
The vessel seems to gain little. bnt not
much. S p'cloc1,--TTvinG our engines 10 the
best, were pleased to gain upon her: fired q
:So-poundcr, which however, dropped short.
& o'clock-A strong breeze sprung up. and We
set our storm maiu. sail, which increased our
spced to eleven and a-half knots. Darkness
scts IN, but stationing our look-outs with
night -glasses III top and OIL the forecastlc,
arc enabled 10 keep her in sight. O'clock
y. n.-Thc moon rose. and the vessel was
1:iain!v visible without tho aid Of glasses.
We gained considerable and had the best o!
expectations soon to hriug her to Ilcayc to by
4 io-jreia shell, when our fure-top-sal gave
way, and before it could be nend2d the steam
cr gained considerably. p. nl.-wc gain
aeatn, and now colnp.iEientca 1cr with &
!p. m, the steamers top's;ll gave way, Asi
rigging having been cut by rifle shot. Thi;
gave us considerable advantage, aud 1t o.. y
1n., cnother rife shot, whlzzing over hc1
| brought lrr to, her engine stopped, aud th'
| race sT:s won.
| Captain Gan.tle I.ailcd her, and ne tho SC:
WAS very rough, 30 that he could send no boat
ordered her to keep close by, dlsobedicncc 0
which would be promptly punished by "Olt
| Ben Uhe name ofour 10-ineh pivot, baptizei
| nj rcrt Roya1.}
The next morning we boarded her, whcl
| she proved to be the English steamer Aa,ona
t frcul Liverpool via Havana, bound for th'
! most convenient Srccsh port.
| The steamer is a fine iron one. built in Eng
| land in 1861, and about 100 tuns burden. Til
cargo is valuable one, aud consists ofa com
plcte battery Of brass Held pieces, lot of qui
lime, opium, Ecvcrsl thousand pairs Of shoes
numerous boxes Of tca, about 800 kegs o
powder, Enfield 1iles, medicines, clothing
Sc, DC.
Her pilot, who came on board at Havan.
left Mobile but two weeks ago, and was prom
iscd s. 2,oo for safe pilotage;;, Hc seems TO b
knows may become q staunch Union ma
hereafter.