Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-31
THE REBEL STEAMER ATC1LAIs

L. is announced that the Custom Houss authorities at
Calais had received instructions to alloE the rebel
selmer RappahannOck to leave whenever her Captain
might think i 10 depart Il appesrs tina. the Raopa
hanncekEas formerly H. B. Esj sty' steam sloop Vic
tor and recently sold with three other steamers 10
pryste parties Three Ohsr steamers were liz swse re-
ported to be fitting out fer eel pIivateess On The
Thames. The Vc.or, Rlppahaanock, is 10 Yards of
1000 tons burden, bulEof Sood, with engines of 800
orse power.
The L1ndOn Times says "W en- the Admiralty so d
the Victor, it stated THAI she was nenCod fer the
China trade. and she osteusibly fitted out with
that view, while her name changed to Scylla OF
London Several sufpic.eu3 Circums ancer, however
Cured, and tbs dockyard officials felt their duty 10
make report to the Admiralty. The result was the
ospt OF order a. Shelrness directing her TO be
stopped Toe order, however, arrived few hours too
lte. Those in cha Of the vessel evidently susp CT
ed the intention of the Government and had her taken
out Of the barber few nights snce. Sac Immediately
afterwards hoisted the Confederate fay She of $50
hOre power, bu', owing TO some slight defect in the
construc len Of her engines and machinery her tate of
steamng vas never very high, which was the principal
7. sson for the Adm rally directing her to be sold
special report has besn made 10 the Lord Of the Admit
RAJ OF the circumstances under which she left Shear
ness dock yard"
Litter from Calais contains the following respeciing
the RaPp,hannock:
"ThiI steamer in the roadseai IRON midnight,
waiting 70 receive on board fifteen young Americans
who have been residing here for than two month";
to se;ye as Offices. These officers had embarked on
boa,d fishing boat Ehich they bad hired TO convey
them to BoulogCe, as they told the master in order 10
conceal their project aud AVOID the Police When once
they were outside the port however they ordered him
TO put them beard vessel from which rockets were
being fred, Shici was the sigual agreed upon The
master OF the beat in alarm called for assistance from
ether boats him. aud With their help he sal ed into
port where be landed bis passengers, who were much
annoyed It what had occurred.
The Rappahannock has been pu chased for the Con-
tedeEate Government; she English vessel under
going repairs az SheGrness She efs tba. port under
pretenco Ct trying her machinery aud taking with her
a. crew the mechanics and shpoarpeners who we're at
work 90 board OOce at sea TIE Eng ish flag was re-
placed by that Of the Southern States She has not vet
any guns on board but pierced for eight heavy guns
Her repairs are, it is thorght about to be completed a.
Caiis. Il is reported that part of her crew have
arrived by steamer from Dover. private letter from
Hull, dated November q, and published in The Daily
News, says
There vas pr'ze vessel got away from here some
days hack. She was an undoubted RAM with masts
be ed to lower on the deck AMI telescope funnel She
vas lsunched with steam up, and came alongside the
West Iier. Two cabs full Of Southern looking gentle
men drove down and went on bsard, aud she was of
Ike shot Every one vas taken by surprise"