The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-25
Rescue of the Chesapeake Pirates
from the Civil Authorities.


HALIFyx, Dec. 49, 10 o'clock P. MAT l
O'Clock this afternoon, the steamer Chesa-
pcake and prisoners on board of her were de-
livered over to the government authorities.
Upon the arrival of the boat containing the
prisoners at the Queens wharf, the excite
ment became intense. The prisoners were
seized by boats crew in the slip, and hur-
red off by the crowd in attendance.
Upon the government officers attempting
to arrest the prisoners under warrant, they
were seized and held by prominent citizens,
and rendered powerless to perform their duty,
The mob finally succeeded in getting the
pirates off in a small boat, which forthwith
owed down the bay.
The affair causes the greatest excitement
throughout tho city What course the au-
thorities will pursue in the matter it is diff
cult to say.
The pirates ara now at liberty, and sea t.
tered throughout the province.
| The United States gunboats are preparing
to leave. Some will take their departure to-
plight, and probably all of them will leave
before Monday.
HALIFAX, Dec. 19.-The following is the
statement of first engineer Johnston of the
course of the steamer Chesapeake after her
capture: CATER we left st. John, the first
port we entered was Shelburne, where we ar
rived on Thursday night.
Here we took in ten tons of coal and
some wood. On the next morning we left for
Lahore river. Seeing a steamer off the mouth
of the river, we concealed the vessel as best
we could, and assembled the river on Friday
night. We laid to at this point until Tues
day night, discharging part of the cargo,
for which we received a thousand dollars
We sold the sugar for three cents per pound,
the flour at So per barrel, and other articles
at proportionate prices. We left the river at
o'clock in the afternoon, laying to at its
mouth all night and loading a schooner with
the goods which we had not disposed of.
ION the morning of Wednesday we steamed
for st. Mary's Bay, about ninety miles east
of Halifax. About nine o'clock on the follow.
ing morning we saw steamer, and we i'm
mediately concealed the vessel by hugging
the shore. When the steamer disappeared
we started again. We arrived off SambrC
without meeting any further trouble, anC
were boarded by pilot named Flynn, wht
: took the vessel into Sambro harbor,
Captain Locke being now satisfied tina
there were not Goals enough aboard to com
pletG the voyage, concluded to anchor thu
vessel, and he did SO at TIVE O'Clock in the at
ternoon. In the meantime he started for Hal
flax to procure Goals and engineers for tn,
vessel lie told me (Johnson) that, as soor
as he obtained new engineers, he in tended t,
release me, and told him that would not
I, on ony account, remain with the vessel any
: longer. t...t
n The Captain returned at about two O. clocl
on the following morning. Having been sue
cessful in his expedition, schooner cam
with him at about six O'Clock on the sam
! morning. The pilot, Flynn, informed tn
q captain that the United States gunboats ha'
entered the harbor. The captain, to satisf..
f himself that his statement was correct, OF
@ dcred me (Johnson) to seuttle the vessel 1
replied that could not do it. The captai
S then hastily secured what plumber he could
: and he and his officers and part of the cre'
It took to the boats just as the Ella and Ami
C appeared in sight,