The privateer Sumter determined not to be captured.
The (N. P.) guardian, of the 5th, which the been received through a vessel which recently ran the effective blockade, furnishes the following information in regard to the privateer
Sumter:
‘
Our
Trinidad advices mention the arrival of the
Southern steamer
Sumter at that island.
Her officers were received with marked attention by the merchants and other inhabitants.
Although the officers of the
Sumter were not officially recognized by the authorities of
Trinidad, there was no obstacle interposed to the steamer being supplied with coal, stores, &c., &c. She took in seventy tons of coal while in port.
A British sloop-of-war came into the harbor of
Trinidad whilst the
Sumter was there, and, after making inquiries of her
Commander, advised him to leave the port as soon as possible.
She immediately got up steam and hurried off. Not long after her departure the
Federal steamer
Keystone State arrived at
Trinidad, and after a stay of ten minutes started in pursuit of the
Sumter.
’
The following particulars relative to the steamer
Sumter are extracted from a letter written by a gentleman in
Trinidad to a mercantile firm in New York:
‘
"The dread of privateers is so very great in this island that no one, for the present, feels safe in embarking in a speculation of any kind, and particularly now, after having had a visit of a week from the privateer
Sumter, after a successful cruise, taking eleven prizes in the Antilles, leaving five in Port Cabello and six in
Havana.
She brought with her the mate and part of the prize crew of the
Jas. Maxwell, from
Philadelphia, captured five miles off the coast of Laguayra, which she had just left, with 600 barrels of flour; balance of her cargo destined for Port Cabello.
Her object in bringing them here was to ascertain the fate of the privateersmen of the
Savannah, and to subject them to the same treatment if the gallows had been their lot; but finding nothing of the kind had transpired, they were liberated, with a written promise from each not to take up arms against the
South.
I had a long conversation with the engineer on board, who is a watchman, and ascertained from him that they were determined to lay hands on every American vessel hailing from the
Northern ports, and, when in danger themselves of being captured, to blow the whole thing up, rather than be made prisoners.
They are greatly embittered against the
North, and are quite sanguine of ultimate triumph.
She took a fresh supply of coal, and proceeded on her regular cruise.
Not a little surprising, however, was the appearance soon after of the
Northern steamer
Keystone State, eight guns, in search of the
Sumter; and not finding her here started off immediately, determined to capture her at all hazards; but in my opinion, if they come in contact with each other, it will be a death struggle on the part of both; and the
Keystone State being a paddle-boat, with her engines all on deck, would probably fare the worst, for in disabling her thus the other would have the whole control.
I think it a great mistake, on the part of the
Government, to send out such vessels on a cruise.
There is a great deal of sympathy manifested here for the
South, particularly by British subjects.
They were highly elated with the
Sumter.
She is certainly a beautiful boat, and, if captured, would be a glorious prize to the
North.
’
