, 1863-02-20
THE ALABAMA,
HER STAY AT JAMAICA.

From the New FORK Evening Fo5t, Feb. 16tn.]
A gentleman who left Kingston, Jamaica,
On the 9Th instant, gives us some interesting
particulars Of the arrival and reception Of the
pirate Alabama at that port.
It has already been announced that the Ala
bama landed les Of the crew Of the Hattcras
at Kingston on the Goth Of January. She re-
manned in port for Eve days, aud during that
time si1ty-tlve of her crcw wcre on shore.
Her whole complement Of men was 130; but
great insubor1ination prevailed among them,
and those on shore positively refused TO re-
turn. The active efforts Of the American
Consul, together viii the Influence Of the r.
leased prisoners Of the Hatterae, filed the
minds Of the sailors with listrust. It was
represented to them that their chances OF re-
ceiying prize money were exceedingly dubf-
ous, i1iasmuch as the Alabama was first to en-
ter Z Confederate port, before the distribution
could be made, and then only at the order Of
the rebel Government
It appears that when Semues burns cap
turcd vessel, he appraises her value and credits
the amount to thu crew, subject to the stipu-
Iatlons already mentioned 50 that the SAIL
ors Of the Alabama arc really receiving only
ordinary fcama1's wages. TLis fact necessari-
ly creates discomfort among the men, and 1t
WAS with the utmost difficulty he was able to
prese,7c the number Of his crew and carry
his ship out Of the harbor. It
would have been impossible SO to do
but for the actiyc assistance of an
English magistrate and merchant, named
Golthirst, who gave orders to the Chief Of
Police to have the Eeamen arrested and sent
on board. As soon as the Mayor of Kingston
heard of this action Of 31r. Colthirst, he coun.
tern,nndcd the order, but it was too late. All
but four Of the men by that time had been
returned to the Alabama by the police, in
obedience to Colthirst,s order; Before this
tenant Of the Alabama had offered boatuan
one hundred dollars in gold for every sailor
be would kidnap and bring on board. Mr..
Colthirst's plan, however, proved more effect
i've than the Heutenant's little project Of
making the men drunk and then kidnapping
them.
Acurious admission was made to our in
formant By this young officer of the Alabaua,
to the following effect: That it was neccs-
sa1y to recover the men in the secret and
somewhat dfslsonorable way which WAS sug-
gestcd to the boatman, because the Confeder-
ates were not recognised power, and could
not legally require the assistance OF the an
thorilie5 Of the port.
Our Informant was frequently on board the
Alabama during her stay at Port Royal "a
place about ten miles from JaHaica.] He
describes the vessel Us less formidable than he
had supposed. She is comparatively small
craft, Of coo Or 100 tons burthen, but is eyi-
IDENTIFY built for speed. Her armament con
sists Of four BlaEeIey guns on either side aud
an enormous pivot gun OH her bow.
SemmeB and his officers had abundance Of
money, principally in gold. The Demand
Treasury notes which Selnmes stole from the
steamer Ariel (amounting to about 5000
were exchanged for gold at Kingston.
During her engagement with the Hattcras
the Alabama sustained serious injuries. The
shots OF the Hntteras passed twice through
her bnlwarks, and a shell pierced lIcr stern,
just above the r11dder, making an aperture
three or four feet in diameter. Of this latter
injury, however, her officers were not aware
until they reached Kingston, though greatly
puzzled during her trip from Galveston to
understand why the vessel made SO much
water. The ostensible reason for her cordial
reception in \ British port was that she had
rut in In distress. British neutrality, there
fore, was quietly laid Oh the shelf for the time
being.
Our informant also says that the Alabama
took in four hundred tons Of coal and i'm.
1nense quantities Of stores during her stay in
port.
She left Port Royal on the Goth Of January.
and tie pilots Of the harbor have since re-
ported that the crew-many Of whom contin-
ued dfunE-renalncd in state Of insubor-
dination.
It was reported at Port au Prince that the
Alabama had made two or three new prizes
within six days after her departure from Port
Royal. Thl5 news wa6 received by express
FROM Jacmel, and it was added that two cap.
tains Of captured American vessels lad been
landed By Scn.mes.
The reception Of the Alabama at Jamaica,
seems to have been altogether cordial. The
British authorities, though they gave Scmmcs
no official recognition, afforded him all re-
quisltc facilities for rcftting and coaling his
ship, and took particular pains to catcG his
runaway sailors for him, The Alabama is
again at work on the high seas, iu good re-
pair and thoroughly in order for renewal Of
her piratical operations.