The Western Democrat

From the Bermuda Royal Gazette, July 7th.

STEAMER FLORIDA

THE C. S. WAR

Capture of six Federal vessels—Destruction by fire of three of them—Capture of upwards of $500,000 in silver bars.

The whaling schooner Varnum H. Hill of Provincetown, Capt. Freeman, arrived here on Saturday afternoon last, with 54 seamen put on board of her by Capt. Maffitt of the Confederate steamer of war Florida to be landed at Bermuda, being the nearest port.

We subjoin such particulars in reference to the three large ships captured and destroyed as we could obtain from their respective crews. The names of the vessels were the Southern Cross, the Red Gauntlet and the Benjamin Hoxie.

The ship Southern Cross, 990 tons burthen, of Boston, Mass., from the Pacific side of Mexico, where she left on the 21st March bound to New York, laden with logwood, was fallen in with by the Florida on the 6th of June, and after the Captain, his wife, three mates and crew, had been removed from her she was set on fire and destroyed. The Captain of the Florida did not fire at the Southern Cross as he saw a lady on deck.

The ship Red Gauntlet, 1200 tons burthen, of and from Boston, bound to Hong Kong, laden with coal, ice, provisions, &c., was fallen in with on Sunday, the 15th of June. The Florida took from the Red Gauntlet a full supply of coal, some provisions, a full set of new sails, &c., and after removing her crew set fire to and left her.

The ship Benj. Hoxie, of Mystic, Conn., about 1300 tons burthen, from San Francisco which place she left on the 13th January last, having since called at Mazatlan and Altamira, Mexico, bound to Falmouth, England, laden with logwood, hides, 30 tons of silver ore and about $500,000 in bars of silver and $7000 to $8000 in gold, became a prize to the Florida on the 16th June. The Captain, officers and crew, numbering in all 30 persons, were removed, and after all the silver bars and the specie had been taken from her, she was destroyed by fire on the following day. The silver ore which went down with the vessel was valued at $500,000.

Three of the crew of the Southern Cross, five of the Red Gauntlet and three of the Benj. Hoxie volunteered on board the Florida at the rate of $22 per month, a bounty of $50 and a proportion of any prize money.

We are pleased to learn, from information received, that the crews of the prizes, whilst on board of the Florida, were made as comfortable as they could be under the circumstances. The F. is reported to be a fine ship of her class; she carries six broadside and two pivot guns, one forward and the other aft, with a crew numbering about 110 men all fine looking with the exception of the volunteers from prizes. The Captain and officers are very much respected by their men.