New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-10-08
THE REBEL PIRATES AT CAPE
TOWN.

THE REBEL PIRATES AT CAPE
TOWN.
The account which we publish this morning
of the appearance OF the Alabama and two
other Rebel cruisers at the British Cape Colony
of their reception by our English friends, u"
of their depreciation upon American commerce,
and of the history Of the Alabama's piratical
career, as narrated by Capt. Semmes himself,
will be read by our readers with intense, though
painful interest. The rupture of the
amcable relations between the Conicderates and
the English Government was Of course rot yet
known in Cape Town. and the British officials
and Colonsts did not, therefore, think it neces-
sary to put any restraint upon their enthusi-
astc sympathy with the Confederatcs. The
Cape Torn Adrertissr and Mail, from which
and the letter of our special correspond
ent, We derive our report naiyely remarks:
"a. far m the feeling. Of the population seneruly h've
been concerned fear cannot claim much credit Oh the
score Of neutrality
The Civil Service Club, most Of whose men,
bcrs are clerks in the employ Of the Cover
nor. invited Capt. Semmes TO lunch, aud only
the express threat Of the Governor TO resign his
membership could induce them to withdraw the
| invitation.
Bu, beside the enthusiasm displayed in behalf
of Rebel pirates, there were several oircum-
stances connected with their stay in the ports
of the Cape Colony which NAV call for the
attention of our Government. These oircum-
stances led to repeated and firm protests on the
part of Mr.. Graham, the Consul of the United
States at Cape Town. His correspondence with
the Governor of the Colony, which is published
in The Adreriisu and Md, we want room to
copy in full, but two of his complaints de-
serve special mentions:
On the fifth of August, the Alabama, in plain
sight Of the shipping and Of large concouTsc
Of the inhabitants Of Cape Town, bore down
upon the bark Sea Bride Of Boston, captured
| her. pu, prize crew on board, and directed her
10 stand OF and on the harbor. The bearing
taken by the captain of the Sea Bride at The
time Of the capture conclusively show tina, she
was in neutral waters. bong about two miles
and half from Robben Island. Such state
men,. the Consul thinks, ought 20 have been
more satisfactory 10 tho Governor than The te'-
timony Of persons who measured the distance
by the eye; yet be decided the case IN favor Of
the Rebels. coming to the conclusion that The
capture could not be held TO be Illegal.
The L. :. Consul alao entered a strong pro-
test agains, the admission Of the Tuscaloosa a.
Confederate war-ship into Smon's Bay. This
vessel had formerly bscn owned By citizens Of
the Uuittd States, aud while engaged IN lawful
commerce was captured as prre by the Ala
bsmn and a pine crew PIT 81 board. Tour
gus were taken from on board the Tal.inau,
also a prize, and put on board the Tuscaloosa.
But this transfer, the Consul insists,
p!I 10, shaus, n, c,s,sr Of s..hes ro'' fris ~
neither o.! ,si eoua os.., be psss oH hsd bs-H COB
AenncA b. Admiralty Co.r 81 esvtsr' eosry. ~ieh
e no, pretended h., bsen tus Ihs fnta4e9's hcfe o.
belize pnff vs., frb!iirn % es,f t.uon' hsy By N
Co-es Ffoeanou ani should hiv, teeu ofisfei - Il
once b1t she eferFsd oaHfs hat Ia AsJss
-. rroclsmtiou sfnsl ihs nst: = csst s'a-e' -
b-i.rrsni ,is md 60 Ai ffIe' III igh s'a' ''
- pA,ea.y denled BIZ fisi bold ,hr Ia Hrph psli
Now lhe could no; la thea In s.moH' Bay. ~Ao Gee
4
w.. ani,coJ o., 10 Lli--ih4i u. The o-n'''"
There were s,ill other circums'anccs which
called forth remembrance from the Consul.
but these are the mos, serious. However The
question involved in them may be decided by
diplomatic coucsp oadcnce, they vii remain on
record a. proof of the anxiety Of tie BnuAl
officials at the Cape Colony, not 70 decide In a
case which was doubtful, even 20 them, against
their Confederate frionda
These Rebel pirate are in The uacl. OF China
men and Indiamcn bound home, and no doubt
hope to reap a rich harvest They are probably
bound eastward on q cruise for thls purpose, Bat
a. the Vanderbilt IL on their track, and viii
probably put in AZ Cape Town, and learn their
destination, some of them perhap may be OYER
Iaul.I