THE STORY OF THE ‘ALABAMA’S’ ESCAPE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 216, 18 June 1872, Page 3

THE STORY OF THE ‘ALABAMA’S’ ESCAPE.

The following epitome of facts connected with the sailing of the Alabama from our shores may serve to refresh the reader’s memory: It was on June 24, 1862, that our Government first received information from Mr Adams that the Alabama was being built for warlike purposes, and that she was probably designed for the Confederate service. The Custom House officers at Liverpool were at once ordered to watch her closely, and the American Consul at that port was requested to produce any evidence lie could get as to the destination of the vessel. It was not until July 21 that the Consul obtained any evidence sufficiently reliable to ground an information upon. Ho embodied this evidence in some affidavits which ho placed in the hands of the collector at Liverpool. These affidavits were transmitted, on July--22, to the Board of Customs in London, with a request that immediate instructions should be sent by telegraph to Liverpool, as the ship might leave at any moment. The Board of Customs on the same day took the opinion of the official advisers, who decided there was not sufficient evidence to warrant a seizure of the Alabama. The Board, however, were not satisfied with this opinion, and suggested that it might he desirable to consult the law officers of the Crown. The papers were placed in their hands on July 23, and a period of five days elapsed before their opinion was given. Early on the 29th, Lord Russell, acting upon this opinion, telegraphed to Liverpool to stop the ship, but it was too late, that morning the Alabama haring left the Mersey on her pretended trial trip. The Alabama went to Porto Praya, in Terceira, whero she was armed and equiped forservice. Any vessel of war could have captured her on her way thither ; yet the Tuscarora lay idle at Southampton all the time that Messrs. Adams and Dudley were making their inquiries.