AMERICAN SHIPS BURNT BY A CONFEDERATE VESSEL.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 15, 30 December 1862, Page 3

AMERICAN SHIPS BURNT BY A CONFEDERATE VESSEL.

The Emily Farnum, Captain Simes, which arrived at this port on Tuesday from New York, reports tliat oil the 2nd of Octodev, when off the banks of Newfoundland, she came in sight ofa steamer, about 1200 tons, with English colours flying. The steamer bore down for them until she was within gunshot range, when she lowered the English er.sign and hoisted the Confederate flag, at the same time sending a shol across the bows of the Emily Farnum in order to make her heave to. Captain Sioies then discovered that the stranger was the Confederate war steamer Alabama (late 29o). A boat came alongside the Emily Farnum and conveyed the captain, along with his papers, on board the Ala bama. Captain Semraes, her commander, at once seized her register and papers, but on perceiving her cargo was owned in England, and also on receiving a promise from Captain Simes not to bear arms against the Confederate Government, he re'eased them. He put on board a number of seamen, being the crews of the different vessels which he had destroyed. Capiain Semrnes reported having destroyed 13 whalers, one of which had been out for four years, and was returning to New York with a full cargo of oil. Altogether, 74 distr::sed seamen were brought here by the Emily Farnum. The ship . Brilliant, from New Yoik for London, with a cargo of grain, was destroyed by fire by the Alabama in sight of the Emily Farnum. The Alabama has six heavy guns amidships, a pivot gun on the bow, and another astern, and a picked crew of 120 men. It will be recollected that this vessel received her armament off Terceira, from on board the screw steamer Bahama. The following is a copy of Captain Gi/Tord's report of the capture and burning at sea of the American whaling barque Elisha Dunbar, by the confederate steamer Alabama, near the Western Fsle? : — " Sept. 18th, 186-2. " Strong gales and rainy froni the Southward. At two p. m., after running about four hours, was brought to by a shot across our bow from the Alabama,and was ordered on board the steamer with my papers. Capt. Semines took them, and allowed me a small trunk and each of my officers and crew a bag of clothing. We were then put in irons and phiced in the waist of the ship, where we remained exposed to the weather wet through, and cold. The ship was then set on fire. At eight p. tn. the first lieutenant had a sail spread over us, and put some planks and handspikes on the deck, upon which we spread the few mattresses we saved, and there remained three days with the sea breaking 1 over us and rainrunning thi-ough our tent. The weather then moderated, and we dried our clothes. On board the steamer we found Capt. Tilton of the American whaling barque "Virginia, his officers, and crew. The Alabama had destroyed his vessel the day before. They fared the same as ourselves. David It. Gifford, Master of the American whaling- barque Elisha Dunbar, of New Bedford. " Oct. 3, — Was released and put on board the ship Emily Farnum, Captain Simmes, from New York for Liverpool ; and on the 6th was transferred to the brig Golden League, ofThomaston, for New York. b "D. R. G." Another account states— " Captain Semmes made particular inquiry after the American ship Dreadnought, Captain Samuels, which vessel, he said, had arms on board for the Federal Government. (_The Dreadnought left this port on the Ist instant. ~| At five p. m , having got all the information he wanted, or could get, fiom Captain Simes, he allowed him to proceed on his voyage. At six p.m. they saw them setting the Brilliant on fire, and she continued burning all night. Captain Hagar, of the Brilliant, reported her 24 days out from New York, with 30,000 bushels of wheat and lar^e quantities of butter, lard &c. The Alabama is becoming as famed as her predecessor, the Su inter, in the cruising line, and has evidently given the Tusearora and St. Louis the slip, as they are cruising on the look-out for her in the Mediterranean while she is commiting such depredations as the above in the Atlantic."