The exploits of the Florida.
No sooner is the Alabama at the bottom of the ocean than the Florida commences to fill the Yankee mind with dread. The New York papers are full of accounts of her exploits. The barks Greenland, Gen. Berry, Golconda, Zelinda, and the schooner Margaret Davis, have been burned by her since the 9th. The schooner Howard was bonded. The officers of the Florida are described so very gentlemanly in making their capture, but very saucy, one of them having sent his love to Abe Lincoln by one of the captured crew. The capture which has created most sensation is that of the Electric Spark, an 800 ton streamer, running between New York and New Orleans, with an assorted cargo worth $600,000. She left New Orleans Saturday, and was caught by the Florida the next day about 1 o'clock. It is supposed she has been taken to Nassau. The following is the statement of Capt Graham, her commander:‘ A vessel hove in sight on our starboard bow, which appeared to be a bark rigged vessel standing by the wind off shore, but afterward (at about 1:30) proved to be a long, low, rakish-looking steamer, with sharp cutwater, standing directly for our bows to cut us off. When she had got within about three miles or thereabouts, as near as I can remember, she hoisted the British flag, still approaching us with great rapidly, and when she had got within twelve hundred yards of us she hauled down the British flag and run up the rebel colors; at the same time she fired a rifle shot across our stern in the water. Seeing that there was no response to this, she fired a second shot across our lows, which passed sources our fine stay. The shot did no brunts and we still continued on our course, when the third and last shot was fired at the passengers began to complain, and cry out that the ship would be sunk if we did not stop her; so, seeing that there was no chance for escape from the pirate, much against my will, ordered the colors down, and had the engines stopped. In a few moments after, we were hailed by a boat from the vessel, which proved to be the Florida, Capt. Morris commanding. The officer in charge of the boat, Lt. Stone, stepped on board our vessel, and, in a very polite and gentlemanly manner, told me that he had orders from Captain Morris to deliver me and my ship's paupers, safely on board the Florida. I complied at once, as I had no other alternative, and went on board the Florida, where I delivered my papers to Capt. Morris, who then ordered me to return on board of my ship, and get my boats ready to transfer my crew and passengers, with all their baggage and personal effects, on board of the British schooner Lane, which he had just hailed, giving the captain seven hundred and twenty dollars in gold to take the passengers and crew of my ship, with trunks, &c, to New York. After this we all went on board of the schooner, which was bound for New York from Barracoa, W. I., with a cargo of fruit, and we safely arrived in New York about one o'clock this morning (Tuesday).
’ The officers of the Electric Spark describe the armament of the Florida as follows: She carries nine guns of heavy caliber, viz: One 120 pound rifle pivot gun; one 68 pound rifle bow chaser; one 68 pound stern chaser, rifle, and three 64 pound rifles on each side. Her decks are kept very neat, in man of-war fashion, and everything looks clean and trim to the outward eye, as far as our informant, Capt. Graham, could see.
The commanding officer of the Florida, Captain Morris, is described as rather an elderly man, of fine personal appearance, with hair and whiskers nearly white. Lieutenant Stone and all the other officers of the Florida, Captain Graham describes as being the most gentlemanly set of cut-throats he ever met. One of the junior officers told Captain Graham that he was a son of General Emory, now commanding at New Orleans under General Canby. He sent his respects to his father, with the remark "that he was as hearty as a buck, and as big a rebel as ever, " which message will be faithfully delivered, no doubt. The officers did not touch any private property of any description during the capture, nor would they allow the crew to abstract anything. Lieutenant Stone, of the rebel vessel, said to Captain Graham, "We will show you Yankees that we are not such barbarians as you try to make as out."
There were on board of the Electric Spark three United States officers, respectively a Colonel, a young graduate from West Point, and a naval officer. They surrendered their swords to Capt. Morris, but he would not receive them, but told them that they should keep them. He then paroled them, and presented each with his carte de visite and a button off his coat.
The officers of the Electric Spark say that when they were overhauled by the Florida they were making nine knots an hour, and were they in right trim they are confident they could make twelve knots an hour, but that the Florida would still have the advantage, as she was making fifteen knots, with but nine pounds of steam on a single boiler, when she caught the Electric Spark. Her officers boast that she makes fifteen knots an hour under canvas, without a pound of steam; also, that there is not a vessel, in the United States navy able to sail with her or bring her to.
