SINGAPORE.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 47, 24 February 1864, Page 5 (Supplement)

SINGAPORE.

PROCEEDINGS OF TUE ALABAMA. (From the Free ABress, Jan. 8.) The Confederate privateer Alabama, Captain Semmes, arrived at Singapore, on the night of the 21st ultimo, and on the 22nd she proceeded to jNTew Harbor to coal. On the 23rd she was open to the inspection of the curious. The Alabama left on the morning of the 23rd ultimo, and proceeded up the Straits of Malacca. About lavo p.m. of the same day she fell in Avith the British barque Martaban, Captain Pike, from Moulmein to Singapore, laden with rice. The Martaban Avas, formerly an American vessel called tho Texian Star, belonging to the port of Boston, but she Avas sold at Moulmein to a British merchant, aud obtained a British certificate of registry. When she met the Alabama she Avas about ten miles N.E. from Mount Eormosa. The Alabama fired a gun across her boAvs and sent a boat on board, the officer in charge of which demanded ' the ship's papers. The master of the Martaban produced his register, port clearance, and other papers, and Avas then requested to go with them to the Alabama. He refused to do this, on Avhich the Confederate oflicer said he Avould take charge ofthe vessel until he could communicate Avith Captain Semmes. Tavo armed men av ere. then called on board, ancl the boat Avas sent back to the Alabama. It soon returned, bringing Captain Semmes, avlio at once proceeded to the cabin,- -where he sat down arid called for the ship's papers. The master handed the certificate of British registry to him, Avhich he perused, reading out aloud the name ofthe OAvner ancl the date ofthe certificate— 10th December. Captain Semmes .said he Avas not to.be hum-f bugged, by any sham papers, and that Captain Pike ought to have hacl a certificate that the transfer Avas legal, andmentioned some other documents that ought to have beeiiproduced. He then turned

to; Captain Pike, and said,* "I- shall burn your ship." Captain Pike protested against this, and said his papers were legal ; but Captain Semmes called his officer, and said, "You will burn this ship, sir," and immediately returned to ( ,the Alabama. The first lieutenant^ bf j tlie AlabainaJ theii came On. board, and took charge of the Martaban. In the meantime the officer who first boarded the barque ordered the Lascar, crew , ,t0 , ., hoist out one of ; the ship's boats, and* proceed^in her to the Alabama, which they did. Captain Pike. and his officers were told that they might take some clothes with,' them. Captain Pike was allowed to take two small; trunks, and the others one bag each,, and they were '/assured^ that the property they took with themY would be resp ected/ Captain Pike placed in his trunks a bag containing Es. 400, and: some papers: . The first lieutenant of the Alabama ordered the Martaban' s anchor to be let go, and the sails clewed up,. and he directed some of his men to haul down the British : flag, which had been flying at the peak. The skylights were broken, aud. tow steeped' in tar, was placed in the cabin, and in the fore part of the 'tween decks. The officers of the Martaban were then ordered- to proceed to tlie Alabama in their own boat, which had returned. Shortly after they reached the Alabama, they saw the Alabama's boat returning, and flames burst out from the Martabari at both ends: The Alabama's boat! brought from the Martaban four bolts'; of cotton canvass and some twine, two chronometers, all the nautical instruments of the- master and officer, a deep sea line and lead, two hams, and all the poultry, an unfortu- I nate cat being the only livingthing left on board the Martaban. At live p.m. the Alabama proceeded up the Straits under steam, about five or six miles off Malacca. At daybreak of the 25th, Captain Pyke was called on deck and ordered to produce the keys of his trunks, which were opened and the contents -turned out. The rupees, a small toy pistol, a marine binocular, and some papers were taken possession of. The bags of the officers were also searched. Captain Pike and his officers avc re required to sign a paper, stating that they Avould not serve agviinst the Confederate States until regularly exchanged.' The officers and crew of the Martaban Avere then embarked in one of the Alabama's boats, under the charge of two officers and proceeded toAvards the shore. One of the Confederate officers landed to communicate Avith the authorities, and in about an. hour he returned. Avhen the persons belonging to the Martaban were put on shore. It is understood that Captain Semmes sent a letter to the authorities at Malacca, stating that be Avas sorry to burn a vessel under the English flag, but he had his reasons for it. Captain Pike and his crew received every attention at Malacca, and arrived here on the morning of the 29fch. Captain Semmes has committed a bold act in capturing and destroying a vessel sailing under a British register, and his conduct savours much of downright piracy. There are several American vessels at present in the Straits of Malacca, somo of Avhich Avill no doubt -fall a prey to this reckless marauder. It is a disgrace to civilisation that he should be alloAved to pursue his mad career unchecked. Intelligence has been received that ihe Alabama, in addition to the British barque Martaban, has since burned the American vessels Highlander and Sonora, both bound to the rice ports. <*~