Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-01-12


hying the United States colOrs, are
brought wildly back by the following
letter, written b. a lady Of this city,
on board vessel captured by the
cruiser. Her relative, the recipient
Of the letter. gave the New York Com,
mercial Advertiser permission 70 pub
lish it.
..On board Steamship Ariel,
Dec :, 1862
my dear f.. Here we are prisoners
on war, taken captive BY the rebel
steamer Alabama. which had been
cruising in the vicinity 81 cuba watch
ing for us since last Wednesday, We
had beautiful smooth sea All Satur-
day aud passed one Of the Guano IT,
lands in the evening. II continued
beautiful and calm all night, and sun
day morning we passed Cuba ana Hay
Ii. There had been a good deal %
! excitement on Friday al the distant
appearance Of steamer which many
declared % b. the Alabama Nothing
was seen Of her yesterday, however,
until noon, when she came toward is
III All her fury We were going a.
fast as possible, but she drew 10 on
one side and fired She had up the
United States flag, but on firing drew
that down and hoisted the banner of
secession She fired into Its thc sec-
ond time bringing down part %
mast
After her first fire. the ladies and
children were all ordered bslOw You
can imagine the SCENE Of Distress ana
confusion which then prevailed There
were very large number ii pas
sengers on board ana tho deck AZ thg
time she fired was tiliet with people
Captain Jones was obliged % -ue-
render; resistance WAS useless ana
would only have caused our immediate
destruction. We Were boardtq. b.
Confederate officers. the nag Wa. torn
down they took possession 81 the
cannon, ammunition aud aII Chs frgas-
ure. sent our captain on board tha
Alabama and placed our ship aader
the command u a Confederate officer.
We are wholly n their power The
officers assure us that no ladies or
children viii BE- injured or private,
possessions disturbed. The mariner.
"a board and military officers wcru III.
disarned and allowed to ~ on parole.
They intend 70 destroy tho shin
and say they will land tho passengers
safely on some island In the VICINITY
All yesterday afternoon. last NIGHT
and to-day We have remained Ia great
suspense as 70 our fate. II was AZ
peeted last night that she would run
rs IN on the barren side 0t Cuba, but
to-day We have left Cuba III ths di.-
tance This state of things lasted
until about o'clock to-day, when d
boat was seen coming from Tia Ala
bama with our captain aud some
officers on board Great hopes were
now entertained that they would do
a. they said and take II into some
port-San Domingo, IL WINS thought.
We were disappointed, however.
They are lying in wait for thu
Champion. IN hopes Of getting her to-
night. of course, they will gain more
By her They want treasure, ana any
property belonging to the United
states they wish 20 destro; 1bey
don't mean that We shall get away.
however, 50 they have taken down
all our sails and thrown them over.
board, cut down our mast. taken nwny
the pumps and machinery and laft IA
in totally disabled state, drifiiug
around on the water II thc soa rc. 4
mains calm We shall probably h. SAFE .
Tor day or two. But II high wind
should arise and tire trade winds ara
pretty high at this season God alone
knows what viii become of I'll. WI
have no power 70 help ourselves. The
passengers all seem 10 ho in prsttv
good spirits, and are very cheerful. /.
bearing it admirably We have abonf
100 passengers On board. with about
eighty children, and quite number of
infants
This Is The first time California
steamer has ever been attacked
DO not believe any but the Alabama
would ever dare 10 touch them. but
She says she i afraid u nothing but
the Vanderbilt. She would clear olt m
the way Il that made it4 appparaprs
The officer in command on board TAM
rs they were on the lookout M tbs
hampton. They should rive her ~
i she did not make her appenrngcr
last night He assured is. however
That they would return this motning
and bring back our machinery nnd
take us into some port. The wind
began to blow pretty fresh before
night. The ship grew 20 onc-slded
many were afraid II might blow over
but don't know as It could ons
side however, was down near 10 tn
waters edge. The deck was mn ~
people. Hardly any one thongbt 81
going TO bed some looked anxiong MI
cheerful Some tried to sing. 4 faw
songs were sung and strong attemnt
made to get up the nStar Snangldd
banner," but il was no uge tbcg
could not sing that there waa no
leart for II with our dismanilcd aay
wing in sight and the Coniedcrate
ioior5 t0ating over us.
About III or Il o'clock the Ala.