The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-09-18
A NEW PRIEATEER.
An American Ship Chased in
( the South Atlantic by q
Strange Bark.-NarrOw Es-
cane of the Ship.

A
| Captain Dillingham;, of the Snow Squsll
which arrived at New York on the l5tl
inst, from Penang, reports:
July 18th, lat 38.05 s., long. l5.4o =
Cape Of Good Hope, bearing s. E. by E
E, distant $50 miles, 81 o'clock, p m.
made sail ahead, with which we came III
very rapidly; soon made her out to De
bark standing the same course as ourselves
under whole topsails, we having royal ant
topmast studding sails set. Sct our ensign
which was answered by the American en-
sign. We ran under her lee to speak her
as we approached her we observed no name
on her stern, which aroused our suspicions
We were soon hailed, "where from and
bound" which having answered, we asked
"what Ship and received for reply, "heave
to. and | will send boat alongside of you,
to which we promptly replied, "ay, ay.'
At this moment her three starboard ports
were opened anG as many guns run out, and
upon us, we being about ships length
from her. Of course we were now fully
aware of the character of the stranger, and
having a smart ship under foot, were fully
resolved to surrender only when the last
hope of escape was gone. Requesting my
wife to return to the cabin, ordered the
helm hove up and al possible sail made; the
stranger, now observing our movements,
fred blank shot at US, which, having no
effect, was soon followed by solid shot,
which fell short about thirty feet, at the
same timo the confederate flag took the
place of the stars and stripes. We now
shot ahead of her, when she made sail as fast
as possible, and gave chase after u.s. 1t soon
became but too apparent that she was too
light for us, being in good ballast trim, while
we were very deep, the wind in the mean
time becoming light and unsteady, with ev-
cry prospect of calm. We therefore on
consultation deemed it advisable to tighten
the s. ip as the only possible chance of es-
cape, and Immediately stove several casks
of water and hove overheard considerable
quantity Of heavy provisions, and then re-
luctantly sacrificed small portior OF the
cargo. At about o'clock the shase swung
broadside to and fired shot at us, but with
out effect and then continued the chase.
Soon after this, finding we were distancing
him, we desisted from tightening the ship,
all hands uniting to hank God for his gra'
cious deliverance.
The bark was abont 400 tons, evidently
eastern built, and quite new; had carved
work on her stern, surmounted by an eagle;
cabin on deck, set in half poop. In her
present trim she is very fast, and few are
the India ships that can outsail her. She
was thoroughly disguised as a merchant
man, having her ports closed and her fore
royal down, as is quite common for vessels
doubling the "Cape," and standing to the
northwest, that vessels might the more
readily overtake her. | may remark that
we each kept an ensign flying while day
light lasted September l, lat. q %, long.
5, A p. m., made steamer to the s. w., ap-
parently standing to the S. W. under steam
only. Directly after she had made oil sail
and hauled by the wind; heading about
north, evidently desiring to communicate
with US. Not fancying his movements we
hauled by the wind under all sail. At sun
set she was about six miles off on our lee
beam, and thought she had the appearance
of British mail steamer, yet as her move
mcnts were suspicious, feared lest he inten
ded cutting us off. AS soon as darkness
obscured our movements We stood in
another direction, and soon lost sight OF
him.