The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-18
The Dashins sumser-Hsw She Duped shs
IrsaRi'.

A letter from GiSrc. L. dated Jan. 20, gives
most interesting account OF the dashing
cruisers doings In the Mediterranean
You will have already heard by telegraph
Of the arrival Of she Sum tor i'll this bay. On
Friday night = message was received here
saying that she had left Cadiz. but that her
course was not known. As the wind was
favorable for the passage CT vessels through
the Straits to the westward, 1t was thought
not unlikely that she would steam for q or al
tar with the object OF intercepting the many
Federal merchantmen hOmeward bound. On
Saturday morning signal was maze from the
lookout on the summit Of the ro7k that the
sum ier was six titles 10 the eastward, cap.
turing two large Federal ships The news, as
may be imagined, used the Creates excite
ment and every body rushed ou, to catch Il
ghmp pse OF the privateer and her prey
The seizure was accomplished simply
enough NO de ence could be made. boats
crew was sent on board, the Federal flag
hauled down, and the thug was done Tpe
cruiser was evidently ussa to her work. No
time was lost In searching the prize, the fe W
valuable effects were removed, the ma tch
was lighted, and in another moment the
blazing ship was fast drifting away wa h the
current When evening closed the flames
were eth visible, darting upward in fuui
flashas CT the Q ,stcrn horizon. The first ship u
taken r7as laden with sulphur consigned us
the n aster ecdeavorsd to make out, TO Bar :
ing Brothers, but RS Ccpt. Semmes afte-wsy a
remarked. e1iphrr being tue principal ingre-
dent CT gnnpcw der, end ats exportation from
England being mat 81 this time prohibited, IL
was considered ma wsn to destroy It, esp.
ctai1y "a the master had no papers to show,
The other vessel taken, q large Dark, proved
to be laden E-ith an English cargo, SO she was
released. ent c,me In here yesterday In shs
evening o1 Saturday the Sumter anchored in
this hey. On Sunday went ON board, mos
anxtcrs TO zee the eiebrated craft that has
led .he Federal navy dance over SO many
miles cf ocean. Whsn going alongside,
could scarcely believe that 90 poor a vessel
could have escaped 20 many dangers She is
strangely out Of proportion TO her size, and
. tall, black hull, SO high out OF water tha,
abe gives you the Idea OF being insunicien Il
ballasted. Four 81 po onders peeped from hsr
main deck forward Before she was fitted
for her present work she was a passenre !
ship. running between New Orleans and
Havana. Her unsightiy appearance arises
decks.
In order TO a6ord more accommod alton. ant
give more cover 70 the engines and guns. .
light. temporary aush deck has been bull
the ship. This raises her an sdditionI ter
feet out OF water. md at the sams tim.
dwarh her masts and funnel. She 10 cYant
ana ieaky. Her smgines are partially above
the lower detk. and, with the object Of pre-
serving thsn from the snscD Of xunshot
they Are earrounded by q cylindrical casina
| Of six.tnch wood covered with half.tnch II OF
hArs-A very poor pr0tectton against ~
| sigat.tnch shot Her ofnesrs and crew mum
| devil ms. care sst Of fellows. ready for an,
work-msn who would sssck ~ Roshlng =
| Thsy are Of al EAttons-evsn the Irisl
/ hroGus WAS among thom.
/ served, Aessrminsd looking mao, whose Lei
| hand knows aOa what his Hehs doeth. He n
/ ceaved ne ncse courteously, AID took me owe