Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-03-14
The Last Feat of the Alabama.

Captain Pike, of the British ship Marta
ban, recently burned by the Alabama, pub
fishes the following in the Singapore papers:
az left Amherst on the 18th instant, de-
cember) for Singapore, having a cargo on
board consisting of y ,3j4 bags Of rice. On
the 2Ith instant, at p. NJ, Polo Pisang and
Carimons plainly in sight from the deck,
made a steamer steering to the north, which
upon making out the Martaban, altered her
course directly fer us, and when within one
mile set the Confederate flag and fired gun
across our bows. In answer | Immediately
set the British ensign at the peak and hove
tc. Upon nearing the Martaban an armed
boats crew with an officer left the steamer
and came alongside. The officer, on coming
on board, demanded to see the ships papers,
which | Immediately produced. The papers
were register, port clearance and oil OF
lading. Upon examination, the officer in
formed me they were not satisfactory, and
that he should take charge until he could
communicate with his commander, Captain
Scmmes Of the Alabama.
Calling two armed men, one of whom was
stationed on the forecastle, the other on the
poop, he sent the boat back with a message TO
Captain Semmes, who at once came on board
the Marraban and demanded to see my pa
pers. | handed him the register, which he
examined. (The register was bona hide
British register OH parchment, issued by the
proper British authorities at Maulmeln)
After examining this document, Captain
Semmes said to me that he was not TO be
humbugsed by any false papers that l
ought to have had certificate that the trans
fer WAS legal, and that he should burn my
ship" Upou this | said "that the docu-
ments were legal and sufficient proof OF my
nationality, and protested against his burn
ing the vessel" To this he paid not the
slightest attention, but went on deck and
said To his officer: Sir, you will burn this
vessel" He then returned on board the
Alabama.
The First Lieutenant then came on board
the Martaban and took charge, hauled down
the English flag that was flying at the peak,
let 90 anchor, clewed up sails, and made
preparations for setting the vessel on fire,
staying in the cabin skylights to make good
draught. In the meantime. my crew by his
orders had hOisted out my ships boat and
gone on board the Alabama, leaving myself
and officers on board, who were ordered to
pack up few clothes, giving us half an hour
to do so and follow them. was allowed two
small trunks, my officers each Il small bag,
ing. was assured by the Lieutenant that
the contents of my two trunks would be re-
spected, but my two chronometers and all
nv nautical instruments were taken from
me- We were then taken on board the Ala
bama, and immediately after the Martaban
was set on fire.
The Alabama then proceeded up the Straits,
and q; midnight came to anchor five miles of
the town OF Maiacca. Steam was kept up
all night At daybreak, l was called upon
to open ny trunks, which were searched by
an officer and the master-at-armS; bag
containing four hundred rupees were taken
from me, and also a night glass and part Of
my private papers. Ny officers bags were
searched in the same manner. We were
then required to sign our parole not to serve
against the Confederate states until ex-
changed. We were put on board the Ala
bamas boat (my ships boat having been
broken while towing and landed at Ma
lacca."