The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-08-11
IMPORTANT FROM KEY WEST
KEY WEST July l8, 1868.

IMPORTANT FROM KEY WEST,
KEY WEST July l8, 1868.
The activity and vigilance Of our naval
officers is telling in very substantial man
ner in our blockade, both in its effects on the
rebels and in the exchequer Of the captors,
many of whom have handsome fortunes to
their credit in the Treasury. Tbo most graft
flying feature Of ali this, however, is found in
the reaction upon English enterprise-disap.
pointed in the estimate Of paper blockade,
and the consequent prospect of either eluding
il or else showing its failure to meet the in
ternational standard Of efficiency. Their game
is blocked, and our haibor is full Of periles,
and ''the cry is still they cone."
During the last week of Judge Marvin's Of
fetal duties ere, he condemned about twenty
Of these captures, with their cargoes, and they
are being sent on to New York for sale, as
fast as the goods can be transferred to vessels
thet are gea.worthy. Judge Marvin has held
these blockade runners to pretty close accoust,
and on one occasion, when case was on tri-
al, where the vessel was cleared at Havana
for New Orleans, and captured at or near ST.
Andrews Bay, Fla, the master claiming that
his chronometer, bis sextant and quadrant
were all out of order, the Judge said this may
all have been SO in bis case, ard yet there be-
ing large reason to donbt it, he deemed it
better in such cases that one innocent case
should suffer than that dozen rogucs should
escape.
A rather unusual CAPTURE was made on
Tuesday last by the small cruising schooner
Anna, in charge Of Masters Mate J. s. VIII
liams, who deserves much credit for bis
prompt apd Efficient action. 1t appears that
a strange boat was seen at various times on
Monday from the Northwest Lighthouse 10
our outer harbor, attracting the suspicious Of
the REFERS that en- attack was intended upon
them. The Anna passing out about this
time, was signalsd from the Light and in
formed Of the strange boat, and the Light
keepers suspicious. Capt. Williams at once
pursued, and after a long chase, several miles
Of which was among the keys in his small
and drag their boat, he at length overhau.ed
ard captured the party, proving to be six 10
number, iu an open whale-boat with a mast
and sails, claiming to be from Havana, and
bound to the main land of Florida. The
Leader Of the party is John Dukes, an old res
'oeus VI InIs cUaos, auu n"..n''-. ,-i.i ---y
crook and turn. When captured the men
had no arms, but good supply Of powder.
This is brother Of James Dukes who 80
successfully captured the steamer Boston, a
few days since, in the Mississippi. AMI destroy
ing bark, made good his escape to Mobile
with the steamer. Persons well acquainted
With the brothers, think that John was in
tending 10 emulate the enterprise Of the other
and secure desirable vessel from our harbor,
and as he successfully captured six fishing
smacks that we're owned here, 10 the earliest
stage OF the war, about the waters Of tie
Tampa Fa, and that without any pretended
commi sion as naval officer Of the rebels
we hope come good reason will be found for
retaining him until the war is over.
The little gunboat steamer 5asamine, Capt.
Ledega, captured AMI brought in on Tuesday
last the sloop Retawpaga, with full cargo Of
wines, liquors, coffee, salt and copper steam
pipes, from Havana. This sloop has been
here before as a prize, and left this pert just
five weeks previous to hei recapture aud re.
turn. She was taken west of Tortugas, bound
probably to the Florida coast, tnd will be
condemned. The Jasmine was on her way to
Pensacola as a tender to this feet there, and
the day previous to this capture chased q
steamer all day, but couId not overhaul her.
A fiue prize has just been captured and
brought in by the gunboat steamer R. R.
Cuyler, Capt. Jewett. From officers Of the
Cuyler learn these particulars; Gu Sunday
last, they chased steamer for many hours,
during which they we're constantly throwing
over board bales Of cotton, they think to the
number Of 800; and night approaching she
was enabled to escape among the Florida Keys
northeast of Tortugas. The Cuyler vas put
on circle during the uight, with the inten.
tion Of securing the drifting cotton the com
ing day, but the weater being boisterous aud
sea rough, they were unable TO accomplish
anything until near night, when tie watch re-
ported o steamer with black smoke. The
Cuyler was headed for it, and' after pretty
severe chase, captured the Kate Dale Of Mo
bile with eight hundred bales Of cotton, one
hundred Of which were thrown over in the
chase.
She is good vessel and built FOR river Ray-
igation. and was sailing with the rebel flag
which I saw on board. The other steamer
and The three hundred bales thrown over ;wers
left game for somebody slse, and may bt
brought in here yet. Her name has teen
| ascertained to be the Alabama.