Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-05-20
MORNINGLEADER
WEnIFsnEVIoRNNG. mAYao. -


The Pirate Virginsa--HOw she Left.
The following interesting particulars oil
the escape and outfit Of The new rebel pi-
rate Virginia, given by a Plymouth Eng
peE. are fuller than anything previously
published Il
o,6 vbilst building and fitting out, 1t ap-
800 No suspicion was aroused Of her be-
inc intended for any other purpose than
sitber TO increase the navy of the Emperor
Of China, as was stated, or to trade IN ms
dominions or those Of the Emperor OF "a
nan She Is reported to be a very me
stsamar If about seven hundred tons bur
den and Is fitted with engines Of nun
drpd AID fifty horsepower. She was
Isrnobed on the 10Th Of January last, and
sailed from the Clyde on the I'd OF April.
II ia reported that when she left the Clyde
she had FORTY carpenters On board con-
strueting a magazine, all Of whom returned
bv fbp inc steamer which tOwed her out
Two DAYS after she left the Clyde, a tele.
Gram was received by the Collector OF
Gnstoms at Greenoek, directing her to be
seized as a Confederate cruiser.
uThe japan or Virginia is an iron-6ullt
sbin- laid down 10 a very few fine lines
SoT snaed. She has all the ftments for car
-vin9 heavy runs, shot and shell, and leiI
Gree1ook with over a hundred men, VINO
we're an sbipped at very high wages n
in perfect cognizance of the real intention
at their voyage. At the shipping master $
o#ca in Greenock, they we're entered ior
two wears for a voyage to Shanghai, Hong
Kong, andany intermediate ports AFTER
sbe had proceeded TO sea, another set Oh
articles were produced by the captain, IN
which it was stipulated that they should
dv the Confederate flag, and assist IN cap
turing and destroying all Federal vesseiS
with whom they might fali IN Lhlrpeen
Of the crew objected to signing the new
articles, and their alleged reason was they
thoupbt thew we're to have higher pay
This was considered on board 10 oe an =
enss. as it was well known among them
what were the wages offered. The captain
however, stated that he had no wish &c
take any man against his Will.
nFrom Greenock, the Japan proeeeded
IN a creek in the coast Of France, east o.
the Channel Islands. The Alar, that has
been for several years a regular trader be
tween Newbaven and St. Malo AMI tn
Channel Islands, took on board at Newha
ven near one hundred tons Of goods Il
cases and cleared for st. Malo. ines
cases consisted OF twelve Whitworth guns
ten 4~O-pounders, and two heavy pivot gun
-tS-pounders-it is said with q larg
Quantity Of powder, shot and SHE'LL an
some provisions. She proceeded TO Tn
coast Of France, and was there joined b.
the japan and French pilot. The Nv
vessels ran in and anchored In the ereeB
where the transhipment Of the goods be
tween the two vessels took place durin
two nights.
GThe Japan then left, aud afterward
the Alar. the latter vessel being watched
off the coast by a French frigate. In I'D
dition TO the thirteen dissatisfied seameI
she also landed here two Of the Japan
stokers Alexander MDuf, Of Edinburl
and William Hamilton, of D~OWnpatriek,
who were severely scalded by the burstin
of one of the condensers on board th
Virginia, whilst they were working q
fremen.
According to the story told on boar
the Alar, with the reading Of the new art
eles. the japan wac re-christened, and
said now to be sailing as the Virginis.-
Her crew are all picked men, and, IN az
dition to their being good seamen, the mi
ioritv of them are old hands at the gun
drill. On board they are Literally SUI
Piled with high provisions, and every a
commodation, and are in excellent spirit
expecting to make their fortunes by prli
money in a few months. The names OF u
commissioned officers are unknown the
present cognomens on board Icing consl
cred to be mere pseudonyms. On the a
rival Of the Alar here she landed also I
gentlemen by whom she was chartere
who left by the first train for London, pa
ing the passage of the dissatisfied me
uko -IeRt for Liverpool and PORTSMOUTH