THE PEATS OF THE SUMTER.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1718, 22 April 1862, Page 5

THE PEATS OF THE SUMTER.

Acoounts brought by the West ludia, mail state that great interest was excited at St. Thomas and all the West ludia Islands by the movements uf the Confederate steamer Sumter. On the 23id ultimo, an American schooner arrived at St, Thomas from Martinique, with des-

, patches for the Amerioau Consul from the United States steamer Iroquoisi. stating that the Sumter was in the por of St. Piorre, and as, in the event of a chase- the Iroquois required more coals, the schooner was laden with coals, and at midnight same day was towed out for Martinique by the United States steamer Dacotab, also sent in hopes of the speedy capture of the Confederate vessel. The Northerners were greatly excited, and thought there would now be short work in her capture, being watched so closely by one vessel, and another sent to assisc; but, to their chagrin, the Iroquois arrived on the 25th, reporting her escape. It appears that the Iroquois arrived at St. Pierre, Martinique, on the 16th of November; the Sumtor had just coaled, provisioned, and also landed several prisoners taken out of Northern vessels, and was ready for sea ; the .Iroquois remained standing on and off the port closely watcbing the Sumter. On the 23rd a French steamer sailed in the evening, and the Sumter availing herself of the darkness, went out at the same lime, but in an opposite direction, and the Iroquois reports chasing the Frenchfirst, when, finding the mistake, tbe Sumter had gone off entirely. The American ship Montmorenci, from Newport, with 1,718 tons of coal on board for the Royal Mail Company, arrived at St. Thomas on the 28th of November, and Captain Brown, the master, reports having been boarded and captured on the 25th by the Sumter, but, in consideration of the cargo belonging to British subjects, the vesssl, which had been ordered to be burnt, was released, the roaster being compelled to give bonds for 20,000 dols., payable three month* after the establishment of peace between the Uuited aud Confederate States. Tbe register of (he Montmorenci bears the following endorsement :— "This ship MontraoreDci, of Bath Maine, was this day captured by the Confederate States steamship Sumter, in lat. 18 30 N. and long. 58 40 W. ; but, having on board a neutral cargo, belonging to English subjects, she was released upon a ransom bill. " R. Semmes, Cmmander C. S. Navy. " Confederate Slates steamship Sumter, November 25, 1861." It was also reported that an American vessel, laden with molasses, had baeu captured and burned subsequently to the above. The Sumter was seen only a short distance from St. Thomas, on the 28th of November; and the Iroquois, which had been in the harbour four days, proceeded to sea on the afternoon of the 28th of November, to search for her, without even taking in coals, whioh she said she was so short of as to prevent her chasing the Sumter when escaping from Martinique. The United States frigate Macedonian was also in port ; the Powhattan and Keystoue State had returned to the States — both having been sent to the West Indian islands to endeavour to catch the Sumter — the latter having steamed 15,000 miles without even seeing her once. A letter dated Martinique, November 16, says:— The Sumter has taken two prizes — the brig Joseph Park, of Boston, from Pernambuco, bound to Boston, via Turk's Island ; and the schooner Daniel Troubridge, from New York, bound to Demerara. These two vessels were burnt at sea, and the crews landed here by the Sumter."