Year: 1866

Tho Capture Of the Chilean Bark Alice


eordi.-The Chiisan vessel Drifis into


the Enemy's Anchorage, Sc.


From the London Times May Al


The Spanish screw sloop Concordia, with the Chilean
bark Alice Ward in tow prize, arrived at Cadz after
spassage OF eighteen hours from Agesras on the 22d
and remained detained Both vessels stated to have
subsequently left for Carraca where formal nvestiga
che Gibraltar Chronicle II the oath Of April says


Tho Chilean bark Alice Ward, which on the Goth OF
February last sought refuge In this port from he danger
since has fallen into the hands OF her enemies in
singular manner. Between midnight on Saturday and
daylight Sunday morning she dragged her anchor,
and, the wind being east drifted out Of British
waters and across the Bay till her anchors again
brought her up in Spanish waters between the
two rivers, and she was quietly taken posses.
aon of by the boats of the Spanish gunboat
anchored in Orange Grove Bay. There are variety Of
shsntc information Is that contained in the depostons Of
shs second mate who in charge Of the vessel at the
tnne the master being on Shore and of boy board
the Alice Ward These two left the vessel in a
small boat when the Alice Ward was in the mid
appears from the mates statement that he his
berth at half ten leaving orders that he should be
:.ed aoncy i anything pasasr ns One lookout
utea, formed the night watch. The Alice Ward
lying In four athoms Of water, riding at single anchor
With thirty fathoms OF chain vcered out. About three
o'clock the lookout man called up the mate saying he
thonght the ship adrift. The mate Immediately
wont on deck, and his observation confirming the
mans report he turned out all bands, veered out fifty
SAthoms of chain to the port anchor by which the
vessel had been riding, let go the starboard
anchor with sixty iathoms of chain, and tried
% find bottom with the lead and twenty
1Athoms of lne but without success The extra chain


nd not cause the anchors to hold, and the vessel


nued to drift As the mate supposed the vessel at this
ene to be about half way between Gibraltar and Agecras
shs must have drfted far from the bank this side,
and there was, therefore, chancc Of her anchors
asuching bottom. On looking the bows the
1Ate discovered Spanish guarda costa row boat
san The people in this boat we're examining the
8des of the ship with lanterns On being asked
by the mate what water the in the reply from
shs scampava was that there was plenty OF water
snd that the waters spanish The scamphva after
Mis- pulled away In the direction of the Spanish gunboa
anchored at the Orange-grove. and we may suppose,
therefore, that her crew. by the aid OF their lanterns,
shat she the Chilean bark which the Spanish Gov
0enmen had ordered to be specially watched hasened to


give the intelligence to the unboa believed to be charged
With that service At about four o'clock, Spanish
boat being alongside In sight, the second mate and
by got into tho ships small boat and pulled to
Gibraltar The ship continued 10 drift until her
Shs brought her up in the shoal water the opposite


- At daylight she was seen riding at anchor between
che two rvers at about quarter before six boats from
~ Spanish gunboat in Orange Grove Bay boarded her.
md shortly afterwards the Spanish flag hosed
Ne vessel There Is nothing In all this TO any
Durprse except the the circumstance Of tho vessels drag
gag her anchor when blowing hard although
therc occasionally st squalls from the east and
when all the other ships In the bay securely enough
- their anchorage The OF the unfortunate ex
ooption in the Of the Alice Ward Is believed by the
suthories OF the port be sThe vessel had been
riding for time at a single anchor II Is known
that such practice in this port attended with danger
ne now and ebb Of the tide and cans variable winds
QAuse vessels to swing round and their anchors
ehs chain fouls the anchor and then the slightest pun
- wind causing strain upon the chain brings the
aA1g out Of the ground, and the vessel drags