, 1864-01-31

From tho Java Times. Nov. 1871
Great excitement was occasioned yesterday
forenoon by the intelligence that the crews
Of the two American vessels, captured by the
destitute condition from the coast Mt the
American consulate. The news spread like
wildfrc, and the speedy arrival of the cruiser
herself at BATAVIA, as we'll rs the probable re-
ception she would meet with from the gov
ernment, became the general subjects Of con-
rcrsat1on,
We are able to give our readers tho follow
ing Information regarding the capture OF
these vessels, which We obtained from some
Of the crews Of one Of them. The accounts,
therefore, though undoubtedly true in the
official: On Thursday last the Amanda,
Capt. Larrabee, coo tons burthen. Stewards
and Crossbury, Of Bangor, Maine, owners,
from Manila for Cork, for orders, with car
70 Of SIS tons sugar and 1900 bales hemp,
loaded, we believe, BY Messrs Halliday, Fog
miles from Java Head, and in company
with two or three British vessels, was
steering s. ~, a, large vessel was per-
celved coming up astern. and was taken
for Spaniel, gunboat, but on nearing, she
Amanda to back her main yard, aud l1y By,
informed her that boat won1d immedi-
ately be sent off to her. A boat was accord
inglv lowered, filled with armed men, and
sent alongside the doomed weasel when the
Alabama hoisted the confederate flag (whitee
thirteen stars-) The lieutenant, on coming
on board the Amanda, ordered the master
and mate to accompany him TO the cruiser,
and to bring with him the ships papers ind
and Other documents: They were then con
ducted before Captain Semmcs, who, after
Amanda to be the! legally captured prize
of the Alabama. Thereafter they were sent
back to their own ship, and with the rest Of
the crew were ordered to break bulk. This
crew vas cut up into small pieces, laid oser
the hold, and set on FIRE. The men were
then, almost sutEocated, sent on board the
Alabama, and placed below in irons, with the
exception Of one man, who was sick. Next
Alabama then bore towards the coast Of
Sumatra, where they, on Sunday morning,
spoke Danish merchantman, who inform ed
them that the Wyoming had been at Batavia,
hut had left that port on cruising expedi-
ticn. Next morning she made weigh and
stood for the st1aits, md when abreast Of
North Island saw vessel making for the
| 6u1natrn coast- The Alabama fired two shots
| after her, and showed the st, Georges cross.
| The vessel Aoisted the American col
OTIS, when a boat with armed men was
| sent alongside, tho st. Georges cross was
lowered and the confederate flag raised. She
| proved to be the Winged Racer, Of New York.
| eighteen hundred tons burden, bound from
| Manil1a to New York, laden with cargo Of
sugar. The matter went on board alone and
the two mates had to follow, when an officer
of the Alabama took her In charge. and
brought Arrto anchor near North Island. un.
der range Of the Alabams's guns: Tho Wing
ed Racer was then stripped Of all her ropes
sails, Goals, provisions, md nautical instru
mcnts, and set on fire. She sank at about
o'clock on the morning Of the 11th inatant
The men then got into their own boats, and
were allowed to take With them few artl
cles Of clothing, water, raw sa1ted beef, thret
muskets, and some gunpowder. The crew O
the Amanda were placed in ono Of the bouts
with few provisions and articles of clothing
The master Of the Winged Racer, his wife
child aud nurse, was transferred to the Brit
iel vessel Julia from Shanghai for London,
which will probably land them at AnjIef
During their stay on board the Alabama ths,
we're most kindly treated and allowed tn
E: re rntiors as the crew. The Amanda wa
value b, ,Eaptasn semmcs ut t140, 600, and tA'
Winged Racer at s3oo, ,oc0. The Alabama ha
, six guns and two piyots. When the Alabam
: | WAS last seen she wns steering porthward
t This is the 11ty-clgth prize she has cspturce