Washington telegraph., 1864-03-30
TFrom the Java Times, Nov. 13. I

CAPTURE OF THE AMANDA AND WINGED
RACER.-Greate excitement was occasioned
yesterday forenoon by the intelligence that
the crews of two American vessels, cap
tured by the celebrated Alabama, had ar
rived in an almost destitute condition from
the coast, ut the American committee.
The news spread like wildfre, and the
speedy arrival of tie cruiser herself at
Batavia, as well as the probable recep ption
she would meet with from the Govern
ment, became the general subjects of con-
versation.
We are able to give our readers the fol-
lowing Information regarding the capture
of these vessels, which we obtained from
some of the crew of one Of them. i he
account, therefore, undoubtedly true in
the main, if not altogether, must not be
taken as official.
On Thursday last the Amanda, Captain
LARA bee, 6U0 tons burden, Stewards X
Crossbury, of Bangor, Me-, owners, bound
from Manila to Cork, for orders, with
cargo of 3l5 tons sugar and 1000 bales
hemp. loaded, we believe, by Messrs.
ker 4 Co., of Manila, un account Of
Messrs. Halliday, Fox 4 Co., Of London,
when about 200 miles from Java Head
and in company with two or three British
vessels, was steering S. W., large vessel
was perceived coming up astern, and was
taken for Spanish eunboat, but on near
ing she showed the British colors and or
dered the Amanda to back her mainyard
aud lay by, Informed her that boat
would Immediately he sent off to her A
boat was Immediately lowered, filled with
armed men, and sent alongside the doomed
vessel. when the Alabama hoisted the
Confederate flag, (white ground, with a
red square, blue cross and thirteen
stars
The Lieutenant, on coming aboard the
Amanda, ordered the master aud mate 10
accompany him to the cruiser, and to bring
with him the ships papers and other doc
uments. They were then conducted be.
fore Capt. Semmes, who, after perusing
the papers, pronounced the Amanda TO be
the legally captured prize Of the Alabama.
Hereafter they we're sent back to their
own ship, aud with the rest OF the crew
were ordered to break bulk. This lasted
TIL midnight, when the bedding Of the
crew was cut up into small pieces, Lid all
over the hold, and set on fire. The men
We're then, almost sutfoca'ed, sent on board
the Alabama, and placed below in irons,
with the exception Of Oae man, who was
sick. Next morning they were turned on
deck.
The Alabama then bore towards the
coast of Sumatra, where they, on Sunday
| 10
who informed them that the Wyoming
had been at Batavia, but had left that
port on a cruising expedition. Next
I morning she made weigh, and stood for
the Straits, and when abreast of North
Island saw a vessel making for the Suma-
ira coast.
| The Alabama fred two shots at her, and
showed the st. Georges Cross. The ves-
sci hoisted the American colors, when a
boat with armed men was sent alongside.
the st. Georges Cross was lowered, aud
the Confederate flag raised She proved
to be the Winged Racer, Of New York, Of
l 800 tons burden, bound from Manila to
| York, laden with a cargo of sugar.
| The master went on board alone aud
the two mates had to follow afterwards,
when an officer of The Alabama took her
In charge and brought her to an anchor
near North Islsnd, under the range of the
> labama's guns. The Winged Racer was
then stripped of all her ropes, sails, Goals,
provisions and nautical instruments, and
set OH fire. She sunk at about half fpast
s on the morning OF the l1th inst. The
men then got into their own boats, and
we're allowed to take with item few arti-
cles OF clothing, water, raw salted beef,
three nuskets and some gunpowder
The crew of the Amanda were also
/ placed III one of the boats, with q few
provisions and articles of clothing. The
master Of the Winged Racer, with his
wife, child and nurse, were transferred
to the British vessel Julia, from Shanghai
to London, which will probably land
them at AMER.
During their stay on board the Ala
bama they were most kindly treated and
allowed the same rations as the crew.
The Amanda was valued BY Captain
Semmes at $4,000, and the Winged
Racer at $500, ,OOO.j
The Alabama has six broadside and
| t"o piNOt y uuS.
When the Alabama was last seen she
was steering to the northward. This is
the fifty-eighth prize she has captured
The Liverpool Post says: Tie great
topic of the East India press BY this
mail is, of course, the Alabama, her late
maneuvers and probable future tactics
occupying much of their space. The
American flag. however, is fast disap-
pearing, ships taking shelter under that
of Peru, Prussia and Portugal. Risks
in Americas bottoms are point blank
refused by Eastern insurance offices,
and by this mail only one ship is re-
ported loading under the American flag.
Meanwhile, the cause Of all this con-
sternation is quietly cruising in the
Straits of Sunda. patiently waiting for
coming prizes.
| The following in relation to the FIori-
da, Pampero and Alaxandria is from the
Paris correspondence of the London
Times, under date Of January II: