The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-03-26
The Cruise of the Pirate Alabama in
the Java Waters.

the Java Waters.
From files of the Singapore Straits Times. to De-
cember 4th, we extract the following:
The Alabama at AMER.
From the extra which was issued to our subscri-
bers early this morning, and which We now reprint,
together with some further particulars of the capture
of the two American ships -7mdndd and Winged
Racer, by the alabama, it will be perceived that our
own conjectures regarding the whereabouts Of this
renowned Confederate cruiser have been pretty near
the mark. We doubted, from the first, the presence
Of the alabama in the Bay of Bengal; because the
aeld there was decidedly inferior. in point of attrac-
ton, to that of the neighborhood CT the Straits Of
Sunda; and beside, the risk OF capture was more
than had TO be encountered in the latter vicinity.
The amount of American shipping which, to and from
China, Java aud the Archipelago, must find its way
through the Straits of Sunds sud the Straits of Ma
lacca, quadruples the gross Of that which is loaded
in oil the ports Of the Bay OF Bengal, and in addition
to this. the cargoes OF the former ships are generally
of n much superior value. Another advantage OBJ
tanned by the Confederate vessels By cruising in these
parts, is the constant fine weather, and the conse-
quent greater effectiveness OF steam power. as well
as the immense number of ports TO which they may
by turn resort for repairs and outfits.
1t will be seen by n perusal of the extract which
we give from the JdUd Times, that the communion
ton which was made to Captain Semmes, regarding
the proximity of the United States steamer Wyoming
had not the effect of intimidating him. but that the
-9idbama continued to cruise about, no doubt conf
dent that it was time enough to take TO her heels
when in sight of the Federal pursuer. The alabama
mounts, it is said, six guns and two pivots but as
she is a slight built boat, il is not probable that she
contemplate a trial of strength with her enemies
her defence is her speed, and we know that in this
respect she is far superior to the Uyoming. end at
least equal to the Vanderbilt. We have seen that
these Confederate vessels have invariably been ena.
bled, in some way or other, to rendezous, and il is
more than probable that the Georgia and Tuscaloosa
are not far away; indeed. it is quite likely enough
that one or the other of them may turn up here at
any hour.
Nothing would be more welcome 10 Capt. Semmes
than TO encounter one Of the private American
steamers which continue 10 pass this on their way to
China; these vessels are invariably of great speed,
and it might be thought that for this reason they are
safe; but. besides the chance there is Of their falling
by strategy, we know that they are seldom when on
their voyage out in a condition to put forth their full
powers. and would doubtless, after q long chase, fall
to such a pnrsuer as the Alabama. Ii one Of those
vessels did so fall, we know very well that the torch
would be spared in her case, TO make her the means
of still further spreading the flames to Federal prop
erty. We do not think Captain Semmes can be
ignorant Of the number of these steamers that find
their way through the Straits of Malacca. and for
this, among other reasons. We conclude that before
very long we shall have an opportunity of inspecting
the alabama for ourselves. Ii is to be hoped that if
what We say proves true, the Confederate cruisers
will receive a somewhat less encouraging reception
here than vas given to them at Cape Town.
The Capture of the Z" Amanda " and
"Wingcd Racer.'
Batavia, November 18th, 1S63-On the morn
ing of the 18th instant. the officers and crew of the
American ship amanda 600 tons register) arrived
here at the United States Consulate, reporting that
on the night of Friday, the 9th instant. one hpndred
and twenty miles south southwest of Java Head, in
the Indian Ocean, the amanda was burned by the
so-called Confederate steamer .dIG6dmd, Sammes
commander. She had on board a full cargo of sugar
and hemp shipped by Messrs. Ker & Co. of Manila,
and bound to Queenstown. After the crew of the
amanda were taken on board the .AiabamI, the
vessel was burned, and the alabama steered for
Sunda Straits, where she arrived at nighttime and
anchored close under the coast of Sumatra. When
there, she was informed by a Dutch vessel lying at
anchor, that the U. s. Steamer Wyoming was at
Batavia, upon which she steamed on, always keeping
close to the Sumatra coast, and finally running out
of Sunda Straits. stood in near North Island on the
10th, and at 5 P. NJ. signalized the American clipper
ship Winged Racer, 1870 tons register, Cummins
commander, which ship was owned by Robert l..
Taylor. Esq, of New York, and had ON board a full
cargo of sugar and hemp, bound from Manila 10 New
York, shipped by Messrs. PEBBLE, Hubble s. Co.
After distributing, her crew in three of the ships
boats, they were permitted to take such clcthing,
provisions and water as they wanted and the boats
could carry, and the ship was burnt. Captain Cum
British ship Julia, bound from Shanghae to London,
hen at anchor not far off, and they were landed at
AMER. The alabama then put the crew Of the
amanda into a boat in which they arrived at Bata-
via.
The Winged Racer sunk at half past eight. When
the alabama was last seen she was steering for the
northward. The U. s. steamer Wyoming left Bata-
via, on the morning of the 9th inst, for a cruise {:
having been detained at Batavia in order to repair
her machinery. The amanda was the first vessel
destroyed by the alabama since she left Cape Town.