The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-02-12
The Capture of the Amanda and Wing.
ed Racer by the Alabama
From the Java Tines, Nov. II

FROM tue JAVA Ilas,s, NOV. Is.
Great excitement was occasioned yss-
.erdav forenoon by The intelligence that
the crews of the two American vessels,
capt,red bv the celebrates Alsbama, had
arrived III almost destitute condition from
the coast at the American consulate. Tho
news spread like wid-fre, and the speedy
arrival Of the cruiser herself at Batavia.
as we'll as the probable reception she would
meet with from the government, became
the general subjects of conversation.
We are able to give our readers the fol-
lowing information regarding The capture
of these vessels, which We obtained from
some of the crew Of one of them. The
account, therefore though undoubtedly
trne in the main, il not altogether, must
not be taken as official: On Thursday
last the Amanda, Capt. Larrabee, 600
ton. burthen Stewards and Crossbury. Of
Bangor. Maine, owners, from Manila for
Cork, for orders, with a cargo OF 3l5 tons
sugar, and 1000 bales hemp, loaded We
believe, by Messrs. Kerr and company, Of
Manila, on account Of Messrs. Halliday,
Fox and company, of London, when about
200 miles from Java Head. and in com
panv with two or three British vessels,
was steering S. W., a large vessel was per-
ceived coming up astern, and was taken
for Spanish gnnboat. but on nearing she
.hewed the British colors and ordering the
Amand. to back her mainyard and lay by,
informed her that a boat would immedi-
ately be sent off to her A boat was ac-
cordnglv lowered, filed with armed men,
and sen. alongside the doomed vessel,
when the Alabama hu,led the confeder.
ate flag (white ground, with red square,
a blue cross, and 13 stars the lieussn-
ant on coming on board the Amanda. orr
dered The master aud mate TO accompany
him 10 the cruiser. and to bring with him
the ships papers aud other documents
They were then conducted before Capt.
Semues who. after per"sing she papers.
pronounced the Amanda TO he the legally
captured prize of the Alabama. Hereafter
they were sent back 10 their own ship. snd
with the rest Of the crew were ordered to
break bulk This lasted till midnight,
when the bedding of The crew WAS cut up
into small pieces, laid over the hold, and
set on fire. The men we're then almost
sutfocated, sent on board the Alabama, and
placed below in irons, with the exception
of one man, who was sick. Next morn-
ing, they were turned on deck. The Ala
bama than bore towards the coast Of Su-
matra, where they. on Sunday morning.
spoke Danish merchantmen who inform
ed them that tie Wyoming bad been At
Ba'avia, but had left that port on crus
lag expedition. Next morning she made
weio h and stood for the Straits, and when
abreast of North Island saw a vessel maxi
ing fer the Sumaira coast The Alabama
| fired two shots after her. and showed the
ST. George. Cross. The vessel hosted
the American colors, when a boat with
| armed men WAS sent alongside the St.
| Georges Cross WAS lowered and the con-
feGatate hag raised She proved to be
the Winged Racer, Of New York, l 500
tons buIthen, bound from Manila to York
laden with cargo OF sugar. The master
went on board alone and the two mates
| had to follow, wnen an officer Of the Ala
hama took her in charge. and trough'
| her to anchor near North Island, under
TIE range Of the 4 ahana'~ guns. The
! Winged Racer was then stripped of all
her ropes, sails, coal provisions. aud nsut-
! ical instruments. aud set on fire She
sank a, about half past eight on the morn
ing Of The l,h instant. The men then
got into their own boats, and were allowed
to take with them a few articles Of cloth
ing, water, raw salteA beef, three mrs
ke,s, aud some gunpowder. The crew of
the Amanda were also placed in one OF
the boats with few provisions and arti
cles OF clothing. The master OF the
Winged Racer, with his wife, child, and
nurse. WAS transferred to the British YES
sci Julia, from Shanghae for London
which will probably land them at Anjer.
During their stay on board the Alabama
.hev were most kindly treated, and al
! lowed the sane ratons as the crew.
The Amanda was valued by Capt. Sem
mes a, $40 900, and the Winged Racer
at $500. 900.
The Alabama has six guns and two
pivots.
When the Alabama was last seen she
was steering to the northward. This i.
the 58th prize she has captured.