, 1863-01-10
Work of the Alabama. ,

We clip from the account given by the Panama
correspondent of the Bulletin, some of the Incl.
dents connected with the capture.
At about o'clock P. NJ, on Saturday, the 17th
inst, just as the passengers sat down to dinner
"bark in sight was reported to Captain JONES'
The Captain Immediately left the dinner table for
the deck. The vessel was Just coming out of the
sun glare, close to Cape Maze while Capt Jones
made her out to be English bnilt, and saw she
was a propeller. He Immediately ordered all
steam to be put on. The propeller hoisted the
American flag and gave chase The Ariel, a slow
craft, was going only about knots an hour and
the Alabama under steam alone, at IL knots
When she gave chase she was only about miles
off, She soon got close to the Ariel, when she
hoisted the Confederate flag, and fred a blank
shot. The Ariel paid no attention, but kept on,
when she fired two shells simultaneously one a
stecl-pointed one which explodes Immediately on
striking an oS;ect and the other common fuse
shell. Fortunately the steel pointed shell passed
over the vessel but the rouEd one struck the fore
mast above the hurricane deck, cutting Wy near
ly the size of the shell. The 40 marines and
officers on board the Ariel at this time were
drawn up for resistance which Capt. Jones insist
ed on making but Com. Sartori and Mai Gar
land seeing the futility of defense, ordered the
men to be disarmed ard sent below. The ARIEL
then hove to and hauled down her flag.
Soon Lieut.. Low, young officer, came on
board and called for the ships papers, manifests
ETC., which were given him-assuring the passen-
gers, who were very much frightened that not
hair of their heads should be despOiled, and not
dollar of their property touched. Finding there
were 14O marines on board, he communicated
with Capt. Semmes, who ordered that they and
officers should be paroled mot to serve against
the Confederate States nor in any manner serve
the United States during the war" which, Of
course had to be agreed to. The money on
board the ship was then demanded, and $4,000
in Treasury Notes, belonging to Wells Fargo &
Co. and 1900 in coin, belonging to other par
ties, was taken. Being assured that the Ariel had
no letter mail the sacks were not ovsrhauled-
The sacks of Wells, Fargo & Co., those of the
Panama Railroad Company and the State De-
partment sacks for U. s. Consul at Aspinwal all
came safe to hand.
The sails of the Ariel were cut away and thrown
overheard, and that was all the injury done to
the vessel At dark a valve of the Ariel was
taken out and carried to the Alabama thus disa-
bling her. The Alabama then left her and crused
about for other vessels. Next morning she re-
stored the valve and kept company as before,
only the Alabama would occasionally dart off at
sight of a sail, and find her not American, would
return to the charge of her game, which she had
plenty of time to do, going, as she did, two knots
to the Ariel one.
On the Sth, Monday, stood for Jamaca, chasing
vessels occasionally as before, and so up to Tues
day night. All this time, Capt. Semmes seem ed
at a loss to know what to do with the Ariel with
her 800 souls, as if he had won an elephant in
rattle. He finally let go his hold on her and she
proceeded on her voyage.
forget to say that Capt. Jones bonded the ves-
sci and cargo to the Confederate Government
the vessel for S125,OOO cargo $123OOO, freight
$4,000, payable thirty days after the independ-
ence of the Confederate States. Captain Semmes
retained the "sow" manifest of the Ariel