The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-16

communicating influence or complsxiona distinction.
Colthirst himself should be with Sommes, few miles
exchange With the %ssOsss bis brethren
Kingston, Notwithstanding he might possess all the mines
i in Peru.
Captain semmes s striving 70 perpetuats slavery in
America and Is impossible that he be rid Of the
feeling when ne is the hater of the negro here he
is on the soil or Alabama his native place. During
short lived have the fucuating changes
in this commercial city, the perpetuity Of their
TIE Transaction correspond with the confusion Of Babel
We frankly confess that there were few present
sne sns through system has
they might ingratiate themselves with the vanous Cap
tain Semmes, OF Alabama Doorety, and pirate under
the sembance Of law recognizing his dangerous expedi-
| tion on behalf Of the Confederates.
We have something say this matter, with refe-
renee TO the mulato merchants conduct, who many in
the United States do not know except by the advertise
ment which appears daily in the city papers, signed
negro mulattoes we find them for many colored man
in jamaica forgets the pit from which he was dug
Our Key West Corrcsponaence.
| ~ KEY WEST Jan. "a, 1892.
The San Jacno and Alabama in he Rarbor of Fort Royal
Aa'tinique-P,.blic Opinion Frequently Wrong What
the San Jacinso Had to Consequences of an
Attack Upon the Aiobama--Our Treatment of OGcers-
The Conduct of Captain Rockendo-WAat Others Could
Haue Done UNdeH Similar Csrcunstances-7he Officers OF
Our Navy, de-, de-
During the stay OF the United States steamer San ia
cnto at this port enabled obtain many interest
ing particulars from her officers regarding the escape or
the Alabama from Fort Royal island Of Martinique and
1t is but simple act or justice Captain Rocksndorn and
those under his command that fair and impartial
ment OF the affair should be laid before the public.
The public at large are too much in the habit Of
demning unheard officer OF the army or navy who
fails TO accomplish mpoRbilities In regard TO naval
operations they look upon the pond, and
imagine that one OF cruisers fairly sea- able
observe from the masthead IL not from deck every other
vessel on It's surface They also think that United
States vessel Of war meeting rebel neutral
port should at destroy her. or If not so blockade
the port that her flying jbboom should be side
Of the channel way while her spanker boom is the
other, thus preventing ngress as well egress.
To illustrate the difficulties that the steamer San yacinto
had to encounter send herewith sketch OF the harbor
Of port Royal showing where the Alabama anchored
when the San Jacinto made her appearance and tho
course she pursued making her escape, and also tho
position the San Jacnto vas compelled to take by order
OF the Governor of Martinique. 1t must be taken
into consideration that the mouth Of the harbor at Fort
Royal is six miles in width and deep water all parts Of
t. II the San Jacno had attempted to into attack
the Alabama with France would have been the inevi
table result Napoleon would have bcen delighted at the
opportunity thus afforded. Captain Rockendorf crused
Of tho harbor the limit ordered BY the Governor and
used every precauton by staonng picket boats TO give
the ALARM 70 prevent the Alabama escape, II possible.
When the signal given and the San Jacno started to
chase in the direction Indicated she might have been
successful had she the necessary speed in
taking the Alabama but must be known that the San
Jacnto under tho favorable circumstances, with
smooth water and plenty Of steam, can only obtain
speed of and half knots, while at the same time tho
Alabama would be going fourteen.
An attack upon the Alabama in the harbor Of Fort
Royal by the San Jacinto would have drawn upon the
latter vessel the fire OF two very heavy forncations
Fort Ngri and Fort st. Lousbesides creating war with
France And it is doubtful If such attack would have
been successful for the 200 had steam up, and could
have slipped chain ahead before ship
could have accomplished her object
We are, / know. given TO recalling and dismissing
officers upon the suspicion Of having violated
law in the OF Captain Hunter Of the Montgomery
and al the same time the public demand that an OIL
shall be dismissed II he does not when the opportunity
offers, violate the law OF nations What are our officers
to do under the circumstances They are between two
fires matter what they pursue bring them
selves either under the dispeasure Of tho or
the people.
for affairs of this kind Give them the material TO work
wi,h-vcsses with equal speed Of the enemy-and what
can be will be ACCOMPLISHED The blame should be at
ached those who have furnished such abotons TO the
navy have been purchased and built since the war
ana ho e Mn ala a ,Saa
could do under the circumstances and believe that
any understanding the affair viii say the same The
Alabama took advantage OF dark night and her great
speed escape and Captain Rockendorr captain any
body else with half dozen Jacintos, could not have
prevented IT, Put the smartest IN all creation
dark night the centre u Broadway opposite the Astor
House extngush every light in the neghborhood and
demand that he shall prevent another man equally smart
from passing him and escaping up the Bowcry, and
see how often he can accomplish IL. boy may be sta.
toned each curbstone with Roman candle, TO give
signal the to be plrsuea passes him but With this
precauton nine hundred and ninety nine times In
thousand the pursuer viii be disappointed Such the
Of Jacnto and Alabama in the hrbor OF Fort
Royal.
The officers OF the navy Of the United states
brave and energetic be found anywhere. They
heart and soul in the work before them trey shrink
difficulty danger; they willing TO encounter
Of peril aud hardship and only ask that the
tools they have work with may be equal 70 those OF
the enemy They also ask their Countrymen not "a be
hasty forming opinion but 70 wait patiently and
hear both sides before saying who is right and who IL
wrong. Give officers such ships the Alabama and
Oreto speed aud rebel vessel and will not
exist upon the surface OF the ocean.