The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-02
THE "FLORIDA" AGAIN.
Burning OF the Barque ''GeIcOnda'' and
Schooner .,MnE gnret Y. Davis ;,

Burning OF the Barque "GeIcOnda" and
Schooner ''Margaret Y. Davis Sc
Captain W. l.. West, of the schooner Iiargaret
Y. Davis, burned by the Rebel pTivateer Florida,
makes the following statement =
Sailed from Port Royal, S. c., July 3, bound
for New York, IN ballast. 7lh instant, spoke
United States gunboat Santiago dc Ct6a, and was
again IN company with her on Saturday, July o,
lat. 1920, long 74'40. At daylight saw barque-
nge, steamer steering for us, which soOn came
up with us ana no cd the American flag. which
VIC did also. He ordered me TO hcave to, and he
would toad me. When this boat came along
side, be hauled Gown the American Colors, and
informt me thar we were prize TO the COnfede-
rate guubOat F2or5G0, and gave us tea minutes 10
pack up ana leave.
They first took Iny nautical instruments and
other yaluahcs, and then set the vessel on fire.
The crew OF the FtoridG'S boat acted in Il very
disorderly manner. on the same day VIC were
transferred 70 the schooner lIiiam II. Clsare, of
Nassau Captain Hall from whom the captain of
the Florida got Nuw Nork paper containing the
account OF tho sinking of the Ala5anlo, which
confused them very much Besides myself aud
crew, there were on board Captain Winsloy v aud
crew Of the harQue GOhco3dc, of New Bedford,
burned previously. who were with us put ON
boRid the Cleoye aud raken TO iiarbor Island.
Captain Minslow, OF the G0icORQa, states -
ford, with cargo OF 1900 bbls. OF whale aud
sperm oil, mostly on freight. On Jl!y 3, 40
L M, lat. $3.50, long p, WAS boarded BY the
Cor ftderIte pri, atct r Florida, who informed mo
that was a pr.ze TO her, and that he woald give
ten minutes 60 get our things ready and leave,
Rs he was going 10 burn The ship | asked the oii-
Ger IL he Won not bond her; bat lac replied that
"thAt thing was played cut long ago"
The officer informed me that my private pro-
peTty would be rcspectrdi hut y vas not, for he
kept $500 worth. The officer had no control
over the mon while on board they commenced
tearing down The skylighLs aud plund0rin2 as
soon as they got ON board they took iOur OF byo
barrels OF sperm oil and one 3tuddlug sail. aud
then set hre TO her in three placeS--cabin. main
hatch, and iOIccGstlc; they thcu left her, aud
steerfd for auotler ba'quc, which proved 20 be a
frtnch barque bound 60 New York.
They asked the captain TO take us on hoard
and land us, but he refused, on the ground that
he was consigned 20 the French Consul and
could not. Tho Florida thon KEEP. OFF w. by s.,
under sail and steam, and al any time did not
make over nine knots per hour. July 9, fell in
with the schooner Margaret Y. Darts, West, of
and for New York from Port Royal, and burned
her. On same day, myself and officers, together
with Captain West and crew, were put on board
the British schoonerIVDp. H. Cle0rc, Captain Han,
from New York, bound 10 HarbOr Island, where
We arrived July Is, whence we went 10 Nassau,
where we applied TO the American Consul, Mr..
Thompson, stating our destitute condition, and
that we would like 10 get passage 20 New York,
He ordered us on board the brig Oire Frances,
Captain Small TO wait until she was ready 20 go.
The O!ipe Frances had 20 go 10 Ragged Island
for load of salt before going to the States, but
the Consul Afterwards allowed us $40 each tow
ards paying our passage in the steamer G0reT-
nor Bayley for New York.
We are under obligations 10 Captain Light
bourne of the GoreTnor Bayey for his generosity I;
also to Messrs. Darling and Arnold, owners Of
the steamer; 10 Captains Hall fthe w. II. ClsGrs,
and Small of the brig OLpe Frances, for the
many acts Of kindness while ON board their re-
speciiVe vessels.-NetS York Tribune.