The Express. — 1853-01-08 (London, England)

SATURDAY  SEIZURE BY THE ADMIRALTY OF A PORTUGUESE VESSEL AT BRISTOL.  BRISTOL, JAW. 7.—A • good deal of interest has bees created in our commercial rooms and among adroittile circles, in ennsequeuce of the seizure, under warrant from the Adinirelty, of a Portuguese vessel, called the Segredo, which had brought in a cargo of fruit here, and was about to sail for Lisbon with bricks, &e., and connected with whose history is an extraordinary degree of romance, she having been seized coins time ago as a pirate ship. It will be remembered that some time ago an accoset was published of the discovery by her Majesty's steamer Virago, while cruising in the Straits of Magellan, of a: rebellion having taken place at a Chilian convict settlement, called Punts d'Arenas, and of the subsequent capture of a brigantine, then alleged to be pirating under Chilian colours, called the Eliza Coruish, of Liverpool. When first the officers of the Virago went en shore at Punta d'Arenas, they were received by a person ..ho was riding about on horseback in a gay hall dress with epaulettes, who styled himself General Csmbiaso, stated that he was second in cimmand, the governor being sick, and who was attended by a body of men with lances; and after leaving the settlement, and going to Valparaiso, the commander of the Virago there fell in with the crew of au English ship called the Lima, from whom he learnt that she also had called at Punta d'A.renas, where she discovered that there had been a revolution among the prisoners fomented by Casubiaso, that the governor had been shot, an English barques and a brigantine taken, their owners and the captain of the litter murdered, and the vessels prepared for sea to join the rebel General Cray, who, it was erroneously thought, was still making head against the Chilian government and the Governer Monte. The Virago then kept a look-out for the Eliza Cornish, with whom she fell in, captured, and boarded her. Iler Majesty's crew were heartily welcomed by the Englishmen on board, who stated that they had been in prison nut in dimmer of their lives from the rebel pirates, as were aka Captain Salsa and Lieut. Diet, offieersjuf the Chilian army, who had resolutely refined to join the rebels. The cunt minder of the Virago now learned that when the Elise Cornish touched at the convict settlement she bad a rick freight amounting 1. 95,000 dollars, besides a valuable bal. last of silver ore. An invitation was sent by the sham governor to invite the captain and Mr. Dean, the owner, on shore. They complied wish the invitation, but had scarcely got on shore when they were arrested and cast into prison. A boat full of men were then sent of heavily armed, and by them Mr. Smith. the chief officers and the crew were captured, and all the money seized. TM next day Cambiaso made a false charge that the captal• had drawn a knife upon him, and he cansed him and the owners of the two vessels to be brought out, placed owe bench, and shot in the presence of a large body of rebels, both men and women, who shouted and clapped thine, hands, and indulged in every kind of fiendish exultatim Every insult which could be deviled was offered to the dead bodies. They were hung up by a greased rape to • tree, were afterwards taken down and burnt, and ask ashes mingled with the remains of dogs. A calf was also killed on the site of the murder, and a savage revel kept up. After her seizure the Eliza Cornish was sent home to this country in the charge of a British officer, but instead of being brought home she was taken into Faye', where, it is alleged, she was improperly condemned as not being seaworthy, and was sold to a Portuguese fur 2001. Alter this she was chartered to Brictol with a cargo of trait, consigned to a Bristol firm, which she had delivered, and was preparing to return to Lisbon when the seizure was made, and she was carried up the Bristol floating harbour. It is stated that upon inquiries being made by the representatives of her former owner at Liverpool, it was found that when she was condemned as unseaworthy there was little the matter with her, and that nothing was required beyond the insertion of a couple of planks to fit her for the voyage from Portugal to this port. She will remain in the hands of the sheriff under the Admiralty warrant till the pending suit has been determined in the Court of Admiralty.