Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-02-23
>EW ADVERTISEMENTS.
WANTED.
pepredntion. Of the snn.,er.


A letter from Gibraltar, dated January 20
says:
You will have already heard by telegraph oi
the arrival Of the Sumter IN this bay. On Fri
day night message was received here saying
that she had left Cadiz bus that her course was
not known. As the wind was favorable for the
passage of vessels through the Straits TO the
westward, it was thought not unlikely that she
would steam for Gibraltar, with tbe object Of
| inteTceptiBg the many Union merchantmen
homeward bound.
On Saturday morning signal was made from
the lookout on the summit Of the rock that the
Sumter was six miles to The eastward, capturing
two large Union ships The news, as may be
imagined, caused the greatest excitement, and
everybody rushed cut to catch a gIimse Of the
privsteer and her prey.
The seizure was accomplished simply enough
no defense could be made boats crew was
sent on board, the Federal flag hauled down.
and the thing was done The cruiser was eyi-
dently used to her work No time was lost in
searching the prizes, the few valuable effects
were removed, the match was lighted, and in
another moment the blazing ship was fast drift
ing away with the current. When evening
closed the flames were still visible, darling up-
ward in ttful flashes on the eastern horizon
The first ship taken was laden with sulphur,
consigned, as the master endeayOred to make
out, to Barring Brothers. but, as Capt Sommes
afterwards remarked, sulphur being the princi-
pal ingredient Of gunpOwder, and its eIports-
ton irom England being Just at this time pro-
hibited, 1t was considered as well to destroy it.
especially as the master had no papers to show
The other vessel taken, a large bark, proved
TO be laden with an English cargo, 50 she was
released and came here yesterday.
In the evening Of Saturday, the Sumter an
= IN l. n L, +
board, most anxious n see the celebrated craft
that mas led the Federal navy d dance over so
many miles Of ocean. When going alongside
/ could scarcely believe go poor 8 vessel could
have escaped so many dangers She is a screw
steamer, with three masts. 3 tunnel strangely
out OF proportion TO her size, and tai, blscls
hull so high out Of water that she gives you the
idea of beng insuficiently ballasted -Four 81
Founders Peeped from her sides, and large
s-inch pivot gun was on her main deck forward
Before she was lifted for her present work she
was passenger ship, runT- -ng between New Or
leans and Havana. Her unsightly appearance
arises from the alterations that have been made
in her decks
Ia order to afford more accommodation, and
to give more cover for the engines and guns a
light, temporary aush deck has been built over
what was originally the ten feet out Of water,
and at the same Sisne dwaTfs her mast and fun
mel. She is crank and leaky Her engines are
partially above the lower deck, and, with the
object Of preserving them from the effects Of
gunshot, they are surrounded BY cylindrical
casing Of six-inch wood, covered with halEinch
iron bars--a very poor protection against an
eight-inch shot Her officers and crew numbered
ninety in all The latter are a hardy, devil
may care set Of fellows, ready for any work
men who would stick at nothing They are Of
all nstions-even the Irish brOguC was among
them. The commander, Capt. Semmes, is a re-
served, determined-loOking man, whose lett hand
knows not what his right doeth. be received
me most cOurteously, and took me over his ship