Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-01-02
THE ALABAMA STILL AT WORK.


BY the arrival at this port to-day Of the
steamship Constitution from Panama, we
have highly important and exciting news.
Tho Constitution reports that the steamship
Ariel, from New York for Aspinwall was
captured on the 7th instant, by the pirate
Alabama. The Alabama detained the Ariel
until the 9th instant, when she allowed her
to proceed towards Aspinwall upon her Civ |
ing bonds in the sum of S22S, 900 as a ran
som. The arms and ammunition on board
the Ariel were taken from her, and 100 ma
rines who were on board were paroled
Much anxiety is felt here lest the Alabama
should recapture the Ariel on her return trip
to New York and seize the large amount OF
treasure which she will carry.
The passengers on board the Ariel spoke in
the highest terms Of the courtesy shown them
by Capt Semmes. The Ariel was captured
near the east Of Cuba. The only plumber,
with the exception of the arms and ammuni-
ton, that the Alabama secured, was IS 900
in " greenbacks, belonging to Messrs. Wells,
Fargo a. Co.
The Alabama last coaed at Martinique
When leaving that port the United States
steamer San Jacinto aimed her guns at her,
when simultaneously the guns of the fort
we're opened on the San Jacinto. This is the
statement Of the first lieutenant OF Capt.
Semmes The Alabama claims d speed under
twenty five pounds Of steam Of sixteen knots
an hour She overlook the Ariel with only
eleven pounds Of steam, and fred two guns at
her when she hove to.
STATEMENT OF THE PUBsER
The Ariel was captured on her outward
passage by the rebel steamer Alabama, under
tho f,lIo,yin,, cfrrurn Gimme IN 81, ri fr.4
at hali-past l p. NJ. when rounding Cane
Mast, on the eastern point Of Cuba, we saw
a vessel about four niles to the westward.
close under the high hnd Of Cuba, bark-rig-
ged aud under canvasi. There was nothing
IN her appearance indica inc be, %. t-- -.~-'.'-
er Her smoke-pIpe teiug down, no suspi-
cions were aroused, Til IN short time We
saw she furled her sails, raised her smoke
stack, and was rapidly bearing down upon US
under steam. The American flag was then
flying at her peak. Sch was her speed in
comparison to ours, th.t in half an hour she
| had come up within halfa mile Of US, when she
/ fired lee gun, hauled down the American
ensign and ran up the rbel flag. No atten-
ton was paid to he sanmons and the Ariel
was pushed to her utmst speed. She then
sailed across our wake took a position on
our port quarter, about four hundred yards
distant, and fred two gins alm1,t simultane-
ously, one shot passing over the hurricane
deck, between the waking beam and smoke
stack, aud the other hung The foremost and
cutting it hathaway. Apody OF United States
marines, consisting Of on hundred and TWEEN
,y-sIx mafnes, had been lrawn up and armed
but the officer in command deemed it worse
than folly to resist, as We could plainly see
that they were now straHng iull broadside
upon us, and Capt Jones gave orders to stop
the ship, and haul down ne national ensign
from the peak. A boat then put off to us,
and the boarding officer or coming aboard at
once assured the passengers that none should
be moested, and that all baggage and private
property should be respected.
He then demanded the keys to the specie
locker, together with all the ships papers and
letters, and informed the Captain he must be
in readiness to go on board the Alabama with
him, where he was detained as a hostage till
the next day.
The money in the ship, amounting to 49,
500, was taken off and a prize crew, twenty
IN number and well armed, put on board
The engine-room was taken in charge by two
engineers from the Alabama. The Officers
and marines on board the Ariel were paroled
aud their arms taken, as well as some belong
ing to the ship Both vessels lay off the
Cape during the night and part of tie next
day. On the afternoon OF the 9Th, oar sails
were thrown overheard and the steam valve
taken away in order to prevent our escape
should they give chase to any otter yes
-sl~ tiles ssulc c4-peCetas teias A. ol-.-.-.
pion and had been lying in wait for several
days at this point for that purposel The
same night ourt valve was returned nd the
intention of landing on St. Domingo was
changed to Kingston, ia. Both essels
were then headed for that place, and IN the
9.h inst, at 9 o'clock, p. NJ, we arri,td of
, Point Morant, about 40 miles from KINGSTON.
Near this, the Alabama gave chase and bard
ed a vessel from which some informatiop was
received which induced Capt, Semmts to
again change his mind and take heavy BONDS
for the ship and cargo, permitting us to re-
> sumo our voyage.
> The reason given was that this vessel had
u reported Yellow Fever raging in Kingston,
u and he would not subject our passengers to
ITS rayages. But we were afterwards inform.
: ed that no yellow fever had prevailed there
for some time. The conduct OF the officers
and crew while in the charge of the shin was
~. extremely courteous. They we've in regular
y communication with the United States, both
= by letters and papers, and were fully cosnz.
! ant Of our days OF sailing, and that there wert
- no cruisers to intercept her in these waters
For this reason the specie to come by III,
ARIEL was lett at AsplnwaN as Cant lone,