East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-03-23

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HER OnIorSAI Cnlw,--A seaman WHO
went on board the pirate AlaLamafroln
the timc sho went into commission ut
Terceira, Wostorn Islands, August z,
1862, until he deserted in January
1868, at Kingstown, Jamaica, pull
fishes very interesting narrative OF
his experience, from Which we mako
few extracts. He signed the shiI-
ping articles at tho Sailors Home, in
Liverpool, TO ship in the British stee-
mer Bahama, Captain Tesiier, for u
voyage to Nassau and back. Tho
Bahama was boarded by Semmes,
Captain jas. d. Bullock aud somo
other officers after slo dropped down
the river, who remained on board IN
I'll her arrival dt the Western islands.
There, ut Terceira, the Alabama and
Agrippina, which went out as q coal
tender, woro found, Captain Butcher,
a ub-lieutenant in the royal naval re-
serve, who took tho Alabama os,t from.
Liverpool, ordered the Bahama around
under the lee Of the island until roxt
morning, August lS, when the Agrip-
pna discharged her cargo into the
Alabama.
On Sunday, the 25th of August,
Semmcs came on board the bahama,
and called Us undor the bridge he
| himself aud the oihccrs standing on
the bridge. He addressed us and said;
"Now my lads, there is the ship"
(po;nting to the Alabana) "she is US
fine vessel as over foatcd; there 10 q
chance which seldom offers itself 70 "a
British seaman, that is, to make lit
tic money. l am not going TO put
you alongside Of a frigote at frst, but
after i have got you drilled little, l
will give you q nico Little fight. lIe
said: 'There are only six ships thatI
am afraid of in the United States na-
Wy" "Ho said, "Wo are going to
burn, sink ana destroy tho commerce
Of the United States. Your prize
money will be divided proportionalIy,
according TO each mans rank, come
thing similar to the English navy
Some of the men objected, being naval
reserve men. Capt. Semmes said,
"never mind that will mako that
all right. ] will put you in English
ports where you con get your book
signed every three months" lie then
said, "Thero is Mr.. Kell on the deck,
and all those who arc desirous of 60
ing with me, let them so aft, and giyo
Mr. Kell their names" a great many
went aft, but some refused. a boat
came from the Alabama, and those
who agreed 10 go, went on board
Capt Scmmes and the officers went
on board. Mr.. Low, tho 9TH L;euten-
ant then appeared in uniform, ind Lo
came on board tho Bahama, endeav-
oring to induce the men 10 como for
ward and join and no saececded in
getting the best part Of us. ! was
one who went at the last minute. :.
When / got on board the Alabama,
found great ntmbcr Of mon that
had gone ON board Of her from Liver
pool Capt. Semmcs then addressed
US on board the Alabama, and Gait.
Butcher was there also, who had TAX
en- the vessel out. Capt. Serl,ncs said
1
and be comfortable one amongst an
other but any Of you that THINKS le
: cannot stand to his gun, l don't want.
He then called the purser, and such az
agreed to serve, signed articles on tho
companion hatch, and on signing, the
men received either two months pay
in advance or orc months wages and
a half-poy note. took months
wages and half-ray note for three
J pounds ten shillings month III favor
of my wife. The note was drawn on
Frazer, Trenholm & Co., Of liverpool,
but was raid at NJ. G. Klingerder e.
Co.'S Office in Liverpool. Tho note
was signed by Capt. Semmes, Clar-
cnoc Randolph Yonge. nho wns the
, paymaster, and Smith, the Cal tain's
4 clerk. Fraser, Trenholm & CO., paid
the half-note regularly until after
5 deserted AS soon rs tho men who
! had consented TO 60 lad signed tle
articles, the British ensign was llsu,e1
: down, the Confederate flag hoisted and
saluted with ono gun. The men who
declined joining the ship left with
Captains Bullock and Butcher for Ito
, Bahama. We cruised about the West
5 crn Islands, captured and burned q
: whaler; in two days aftcrward tho
S schooner Starlight, of Boston, ind
> among other vessels, the Manchester
, of Philadelphia, bound Cor Liverpool
from Now York. 3 so 4a
, After this we went to Arkaskees
: where We stopped and painted ship,
and then went toward Galveston, and
, off that l,iaeeve fell in with the Amer
lean ship Iiattcras, which we sunk.--
We got her crew ON board, and pro-
ceeded to Port Il .,-al, Jamaica there
l ran away and LEFT the Alabama.
OF the crew so are Englslnssn,
large number of whom belonged 70
} the royal naval reserve.