New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-22

The cause Of freedom. z,,
DEPRBDATIoEs OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
OF TUE BRITISH SHIP MARTABAN.
From The Straits Times, Dec &c
Cant. Pike of the British ship Martaban'
burnt hy the Alabama, in compliance VITA our re'laes
has sent us the following statement OF the
sraks fr Itself ard, do not wish 10 be hurTieu
INTO On EXPRESSION Of opinion on subject "nicu 70 ',
TO arrest the attention OF every court IN L as 70
mist delay our comments tlil we are Wei hhoriheu " "
the LEGAL bearings OF TIE question: u ,;o,.
ieft nheTst the 22d inst, for Singapore ha'ing
board cargo consisting OF 29o' Dafsh :" rsrmons
plainly in sight from the deck made steamer go
la The north which, uyon making ont the Mar'apn, n
tered hcrcaursc directly FOR and when WITHIN "c n
set the Confederate fag and fred gun across our
In answer limuodiGtcy set tho British ohSsu ~ ~
peak and hove TO- Upon nearing tae Stsi t"oa' o"
armed boats crew. with officer, len Tue siesI anu
cor. alongside. thp officer when coming on bOarn, ue
nandcd 10 SEQ the ships papers, which he immeoidiey
did. Ike papers were register port oc'H''oo' """
linen elimination the officer Informed me that they
were not satisfactory aud that be should tese oslso
until lie could communicate with his conmahde GAY
tain Sempes Of the Alabama; calling Two ~ icu mn
ore ~ bon was stationed tbe OrecaStc fho cfhci
on tho poop no sent tho boat back with n'tsay"
Captain Semmes, who al once came on bosiu W.. w
Mart ban and demanded to see my papers hhnu,u
him the register which he examined iIhe Togi51di
WAS bona ide British register on parchment, u cu
by the proper British authorities IL MoWmelh) 49,
rxaniuipg this document Captain Scnines sad 10 me
that he was not 10 he humburged by any false papers
that ought 20 have had certificate thet the ehs,si
was legal and that ne should burn my ship Upon i1ls
said that the documents hea were ssi nu I1 Li
Gent proof OF my nationality and protested aees' Us
bprninr the vessel 70 this he paid not the sl.gies
attention but went deok and said TO his oifeer pr
Won viii burn this vessel He then returned Oh poaiG
the Alabema The first Lieutenant then came on
board the Martaban and took charge, hauled down me
English flag that lyiHg al TIC peas, leu 20 ancu1i,
ccWed UP sails and made Preparations ioI sttIlus VIC
vessel on tire stayrg in the cabin skyghts 70 mako
rnod draft in the meantime my crew, Dy ms o 9e,s
lad hoised gu. my ships boat and gone on Doaiu nv
Alabama leaving myself ana ofhcers on Dohlui VINO
were ordered TO mack ul Jew clothes giving as hall an
/ hour TO do so and follow them. was uiioWel t"o
small trunks my officers each small bag armed men
in the cabin watching the packing was sasureu .!
The First Lieutenant tha. the contents Of my TWO
trunks would be respected but my Two ciroLonletois
and sI my nautical instruments were taken from me
We Were then taken board the Alabama ana Iuno'
diately after the Martaban was set on hrc. ,
THE Alabama thcn proceeded MP the straits ana ~
ajdn -ht came to anchor five miles of the town o Ma
larca Steam WAS kept up all night. At daybieas,
was called upon tOopen IL? ualks which were sraicAVu
hy an officer and the master8t arms nag contaihbS
400 rupees taken from nc, and 6so amgnt g'asS
and part OF ny private papers Ny oitceIs pas WI
10 sign opr parole against the Confederate
States until exchanged. We were put on poaIa the
Alabama's boat (my ships boat having been broken
while towing. and landed et 8alaeoa. LAD Passe9
my examination British shipmaster at m0umein. ana
he'd my certificate Of co4ni cheney az also my cAi.i
officer On the part Of SELF officers. and crew. neg 10
express nv sincere gratitude for the kindness and
friendly treatment shown rs by the authorities ara
European inhabitants of Malacca who administered 10
or every want In the generous manner and pro
cured us passage in a native big to sing pore they de
fraying entire expense We being entirely Geslliue
A DEFENSE or CAPT. sI2rsTEs.
FROM Tie Sirsiis Times, Dec II.
We have received the following communication from
Mr. Beaver, and which VIC published yesterday in an
extra:
To he Editor oftie Daily 7s@sG
SIR: false aspect having been attempted 70 be given
a. hN ant
in burning the vessel called TIC Martaban OF Moai-
en, formerly the Texas Star Of Boston United states
request You to publish the following cory Of the de-
position Of samuel Pike who was Master OF the Mar
taban. The original is in my possession.
Ihaye received Inflammation that the American vessels
Sonora and Highlander have also been burned by the
Alabama. rcTaiu, &c, II. H. BEAVER
S.ngapore Dec. 80 p. NJ, 1853.
lDEP0sITIoS OF CAPT. s. .. PIKE OF TIE SARfAhAN
| OP MoUIuIdH.
o What is YOUR nnmei A. Samuel r. Pike.
o. Where were you borni A. Sewburyport Massa'
q. Are You nauralised citizen Of any foreign Gov
O. How long have Won been in command of the Mar
.,, ..neIly the Texan Star a. About two years
elQ half. .-
@. Has she ever had but one register in America /,
A. There a change OF ownership ana s1e mas hau
o VINO were the owners under the last American
regsteri A. John Atkins Samuel Stephen George L.
q. What proportion OF the ship did you oWn' A.
One sixth. ,
O. Wien did you sail from lhe last port il the United
Statosi A. a year ago last July ,
O. II Is stated in tie present British register that
M Marx Ridde Currie is tue owneri a. That is u
understand II.
O. 10 YOU state under your oath that this sale WAS
bona fde sale A. DO not state this
O. DO you not know that 1t was intended merely %
cover to prevent capture A. Yes, l do know u.
s. y. PIE.
Witnessed by W. Il. sNI1H. Captains Clerk
LETTER FROM CAPT. PIKE.
| To TIE Editor Of the Sfroits 3ia,s.
| SINGAPORE. Thursday, Dee. 3l-2PH II.
SIR With reference to your extra o. yesterday contain
ing otter from II. r. Beaver, esq in which he STATE
that false aspect had been attempted 10 be given 10
the exercise by Capt. Semmes. of his beFcent rights
in burning the vessel MGTa5an Of Moalmein beg 70
se,e that previous 10 the burning Of that Brih vessel
under nv command. I signed no paper o. document
whatever, was submitted 70 any examination such
as that ssid 20 have been signed by me under oath;
shall detail the particulars Of ray interview with Capt
Semmes the only one had with him before he buint
tie vessel commanded, and 10 the truth of which
pledge my honor.
Can't senmes when he boarded me, came into my
cabin asked him to be seated. lie replied II sdoit
/ sit down r. and demanded - see my papers handed
him nv register. register eilana.ing from the brthh
authorities at Noulmcin which he seenii gy f9ad re-
peatirg aloud the of t'e owner, Ar Mab luGiel
Cnirie Of Moulnein British subject aud also the date
o! cxccu'ion Turning to ne, Ao said, ~ an ci to be
Lnnbusged with any sham papers; you ought 10 have f.
certificate OF sale nd s0ic document which do not
rerncmber) Immediately adding. Il shall burn your
ship" protested against this decision stating TINT MY
papers were regular ard positive proof IS the
t0naty Of NY ship. Paving no attention 10 lis he
then with The REGISTER In hand directed his officer 10
burn the vessel, and immediately left the ship.
As correctly i calculate, the interview did not
Inst than three minutes. IAs is tho tue state Of
the case to the best Of my IeoOoc;ion SO help me God
l am. &C. SAMUEL Is. PIKE.
T. Sin the middle of the night, when on board the
Alebome many hours after the ship was burnt var
asked question. and signed PIPER tac context
Of Which do nol clealY relaelnheI. lMna I..e TIE