Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-03-11
Escape Of the Sumter from
o-tl ., Gibraltar

lFrvn the Gibraltar Chronicle Feb.
The Sumter has got away at last, was
very generally the first remark that struck
the ear of those who went into the main street
this morning-and, true enough, her place in
the anchorage knew her no more. The
evasion took place, it is said, at 6i o'clock
yesterday evening, in the dark interval be-
tween sunset and the rising Of the moon -
When the Sumter was sold by auction, some
time ago, it was understood that the Govern
ment of the United States would not recognize
the sale Hs.
Parties who had been previously in treaty
for the steamer withdrew their offer on being
made acquainted with this fact and she was
knocked down at the auction to gentleman
sent from England to purchase her. This
person was the envoy Of Liverpool fem,
who were the financial agents of the Com
federale Government, and the Federal Gov.
ernment coming to the very natural conclu-
SION that the Sumter had been purchased,
either on account of the Confederate Govern.
ment, or as a private speculation, for the pur-
pose of being lreighted with cargo to run
the blockade, instructed the commanders of
their cruisers to keep the most vgilant watch
upon the Sumter, and seize her should she
put to sea
| The United States gunboat Chippawa has
for the last month or two been as watchful as
q lynx, cruising at the entrance of the Bay,
and never losing sight of the Sumter. The
consequence was that the latter dared not
make the attempt to put to sea, even during
the long moonless nights of last month. Pflut
cOnuncture of circumstances that promised
success to the attempt occurred yesterday, and
the Sumter took advantage of the opportunity.
A hard southeast gale compelled the Chin.
pewa to leave the dangerous anchorage al
Algesiras, where heavy surf rolls on a dead
lee shore, and to take refuge in Orange Grove
Creek, at the head OF the Bay
Instead of the two steamers leaving then
anchorage abreast in race for the Straits
this move gave the Sumter couple of miles
start her anchorage being so much nearer tC
the entrance of the Bay The eastery gale
favored the Sumter in other ways She i.
light and goes well under canvas, but canno
trust her machinery, and, with the aid of thu
gale astern would probably have fore-reacheC
upon the Chippewa if her departure had beer
discovered and she had been chased. Blu
the strength of the gale, the thickness of tn,
atmosphere and the darkness OF the nigh
made it next to impossible that her movement
should be seem and, moreover, whether by
accident or design, another steamer, the Hope
with her funnel painted exactly like the Sum
ters, anchored near her.
The Sumteryesterday was warped alongside
the Britannia steamer. 1t was reported il
town that she had dragged her anchors ant
sustained serious damage from collision will
another vessel. Carpenters were sent from
the Shore and it was said that she would no
be ready for sea for week at least Man,
. hat l.. Its
and earpentering were all parts of an "artin
dodge to throw the Chippewa of her guard
II they were So the dodge would probabl,
have had the opposite effect of rousing suspi
cion and stimulating the Chippewa to extrl
vigilance. Darkness and the gale were tn,
real friends that favored the escape Of tn,
| Sumter