New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-10-27
FROM THE WEST GULF SQUAD
RON.
Important Capture by the u. =. Cleaner
AriGnnsns-A Eioeknde Runner from
Ncw-york City-Loaded with sherp's
EsiGes-Vniae OF Carso. Abent Half n
aii;ion-A Renegade Navy Ofioer in
Coumuud.
From Our Special Correspondents.
WEST GULF SQUADRON, Oct ?


WEST GULF SQUADRON, Oct 2 1854.
Probably news has already reached you Of
the capture Of the blockaderunner Watehfal by the
L. 5. steamer Arkansas near Ship Island Shoals.
The facts connected with the capture. 1 learned
them from one Of the officers Of the AIhansas were Of
such en- interesting and romantic nature, that viii
give them in detail
On Tuesday n H.. Sept -. az the Arkansas was
steaing ouioiy on her way down tie ooasi to carry
her fortnight allowance 81 mails and provisions TO the
Texas blockading squadron. q CT "Snil no" vas
giysn nom the masthead, and soon schooner was
SIGHTED from q deck not fur ont Of their course. The
cry Of Sail 10 is always very exciting announce
ent when man.ofwlr is cruising o.tcI prizes bat in
this case it drew very little attention. for they we're but
so niles from southwert Pass and did not dream Of
tskinga hockaoorunneT there, or anywhere IN the
siai We steer for Lcrr asked the officer OF deck
NO. i uess rot" replied the Cuptain "She is moth
ing bat p coal schooner
"ls SIC much out q cur conTser
40, SIR"
.sVerr vel VIZ can 70 down and sec what she H."
And Still no interest was felt In the matter ny any
one for coal seho0ncTs ere continually sailing up nnd
down the coast they ply TO and nom tie bocSAahs
they reared her they found that she stood up high
ont Of he water and looked really formidable. She al
te1ed boy course 90 gei away hrt Trey soon caught mp
With. and haed her. She reported that she was from
New ork bound 20 Mat3morns. That they bad sprung
/ q leak. and were bound for New-Orleans 10 rcpar.
I CAPT CATE not satisfied, sud sent on "Wcer 10
hoard hor On examining the ship papers everything
evpcarcd Iight She cleared from Acw.f0rA with
cargo Of petroleum ard lumber Tor Matamoros. But
Ensign FARrIII. Of the Arkansas was not satisfied
with this explanation Tic captain OF the schooner had
clustering ar about him, talked loudly 81 The indiSny
Of being boardad that way said TINT &c had formerly
( been in the navy, that he lad boarded ships, &C.
NJ. FAgglLL said that he had boarded ships consia
efabe "taf H. uettr I'm U1s until " hat saei Of ht
he.,sor, and lhns he moatf to mel Of hs'
! And down he plunged amid The cargo. First sp-
peared the lumber. This is al right" said lAERILL
half sarcn tcaiiy Ne1i casks OF petroleum on
~ . Is also ri sht Also" Next ceme cases Of SgAnfh
/ rifles. This H. al wrong" The Captain looked
hank and ceas ed his clustering.
Ciu carr came on board and fOlnd that the schooner
was IN charge " bir BAHgLEY former acquaintance
OF lp Ia The navy where he had served on the blockade
ae ctiuV Master Report says that le dismissed
or soIae cause ard has succ been engaged III blockade
uruiny.
! some important discoveries were made on moro
thorough Inspection Of the papers and cargo OF the yes
.c N was found that her cargo was valued at hall
million or more; that Capt. BARKIEY was 10 receive
IS 600 for The trip sCc ssst that the lfeshage on
fo riAes was $40 COO that che had been cOastug up
and down coast for sine watching fog an opof,
tnnify 10 run H. Tho OUatco had poaiGed AeT' anu
: found the p1prra oil right
TIE Petobontas on ssbino Pass had her. but
rected nothing Size had been for several days IN tue
rack Of our supply and mail yesses " appears lhat
she bad calculated rpon the perfectly iar ana honest
Of her gpefs and cargo Great credit Is que
10 Ensign IA RIi for IFS shrewducss and pertnaety
| IN lis search aitcr I've keeLon st,
III the esnn nadO In regard to the yalae OF hef
cnrgo ara correct. she viii be the most valuable WH
that has been captured during the BY any vessei oil
the SQUADRON What makes II more fortunate loI lhe
Arkansas is that sLe was short OF and oiheerh, so
that the value Of the shares will be much greater Tor
those who were or board.
N g possile that the evidence afforded by the capture
on the future trial Of this vessel viii bring 10 light some
Of tho treason and dsOyaly IN the high places OF Jew
York City II may be PrODed II ~ now wen KNOWN,
that Wast az well Liverpool furnishes the capital
for the Illicit traffic with the Southern ports. IL -
rather noticeable fact that about all the captures the
Texas coast this SUMNER have been made by supply or
mail.yesseiS while under way. IL IS found here IA ~
Wilmington that anchored blockaders grc Of little
service TO themselves however much they may interfere
with TIE Of the enemy. They rarely sec any
thing and they do there is little chance OF their taxing
prze Six steamers ran out OF Galveston rbont three
weeks snee,.n the same night None OF them were
aeon by any OF the feet The Bicnyie recently chased
steamer into TampicO-came within four mice OF her
nt was compelled 20 endure the exquisite morhcaiion
of aeeing the bar and moor safely IN neutral
waters The AroosOOk started on the same chase but
soon lost sight both of the prize and OF the Bienvie
The science OF bl0ckade.running Is now earned 10
great perfection. The country and the world have
learned many arts and developed many devices during
these four years Of We have found our the ynue
~ ircnHads when Oitcerod BY Hon.hearts. we nave
fouud out that the best strategy h TIE baYetl uShuhgi
we have MANAGED 10 live aud more e1trayeganty
In urrnoron 20 the rise In prices and depreciation OF
lie ogrrency we have proven boioIe the won at the
uerfo con wC.k and Lght without ictt az ih OF bood
boa p. youtlri nations lave Dllle4 tht w =" i"ih
viii .clhrl lgrf1 --14d 1ft aAurhub Noif- nu .s"
creature comfort aud dt.rs o. 1e'e; ." t1e he's'