Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-07-28
SINKING OF THE ALABAMA.
Scotch yiew---Graphic Portrait
of SemmeS and his Crew.
Liars and COWards.
tptom the Edinburs Mercury, June 2sthl

.
From the Ednburg Mercury, June 2sthl
The circumstances connected with I
the sinking of the Alabama--circum- |
stances which the commander OF the
Kearsarge, in his sailor like brusque-
ness, has shorn Of much OF the iaise
glory Impaired to them by the pro-
Confederate Press of this country--are {
well known to the reading public;s SO
also are the fulsome batteries ana OYER
done compliments pail to Capt Senmes
and what arc described as "his gallant
and heroic crew" The Captain has
had applied to him by certain organs OF
opinion, and even by officials in Her
Maiesty's service and pay, terms OF |
the must extravagant praise" chival-
rous," "noble, heroic, " "gallant,"
&c, being among the number--and his
cresy have shared in the honors thus
heaped upon him. This to pirate,
who during the past two years has
burned and sunk hundreds of British
and other merchant vessels, and de-
stroyed property to the value OF be-
tween E3,000,000 and $4,000, 900, and
has neyer once attacked or come in tie
sody Of vessel Qf his oacn cai'bre, ercept
under false coIors, and pih a lie IN he
mouth of his oficiols, is rather more
than honest and brave men are dis
posed to bear. It amounts to an orna-
menting and decorating of vice ut the
expense of virtue; it suggests con-
founding of chicanery, deceit, and plum
der of the worst description with true
courage and genuine spirit and worth !;
it, in word, gives glory to men who,
had they attempted to do on land what
they have done Oh sea, would have
been hunted to death as highwaymen
and murderers of the most insuferablc
kind, and not entitled to live. That
we are not using language one whit too
strong, let those who are disposed to
make themselves acquainted with al
the facts read "The Cruise Of the Ala
bama, from her departure from Liver
pool until her arrival at the Cape Of
Good Hope" pamphlet just publish
ed "by an officer on board an officer
let us say, who is a keen Confederate
who loved and glories in his work, who
has the highest admiration Of Capt
Semmes, and who will therefore not b'
suspected of willingly doing him, hi
crew, or his cause injustice. That pam
phlet we have read with the utmos
loathing-loathing that a vile, lying
drunken, debauched and frcquentl,
mutinous crew, such rs that of the Al
ALBANIA, as here described, should excit
the sympathy and command the regard
of a portion of the British people
loathing that scheming, skulking, d'
ceiving and unscrupulous fellow sue
as Capt. Semmes is here shown to be-
most approvingly, no doubt--should
a disordered state of the public mint
be characterized as either spirited {
brave, not to talk Of "chivalrous {
"noble;" and loatlring too, that at
time like the present, when, were til
conduct pursed by the supporters {
the Alabama adopted by other nation
our whole mercantile marine might /
swept off the face of the seas, thei
should be found in Britain men read
to vindicate her conduct and the stra
agems by which she succeeded in a
most every instance In capturing h
prize. The fact is, if We are to belize
this pamphlet, every one OF the hui
dreds Of unprotected merchant vesse
captured, burned, and sunk by Car
Semmes during his two years cruis
wore captured by deceit, by hoistil
false flags, chiefly those of Gre
Britain, and by telling the most atr
cious lies and in not single instant
as we have already said, did the Sc
roic" captain attack vessel, large
small, with or without guns, till
hands had first cntrapped and decciv
1t by the falsest representations as
his own character and aim. Take
few extracts, culled at random, as pro
of this, the Italics and small capita
being our own
Sept. 0-Captured barque Alert, of N
Bedford. Engaged all day in transferri
stores for ships use. Set on fire barq,
Ocean Rover and Alert, and schooner st
light Oyerhauled and captured school
Weather Guage, Of Province Town Ste
In chase Of a barque, and which, on boa
We hoisted American colors, and passed
the United States steamer lroquois. To
prizes pe had captured zoe h0tsted Eng
colors, and exchanged them for ConfeoIe'
as soon as the boarding officer gained the
ssPs deck. ...
Sept. IA, 1850 A. M-Gave chase t
sail on lee-bow. 2:30 A. NJ, fired gun
her 10 heave to. Darkness prevented
from knowing who she was, so | went
board to examine her papers, and which
Yankee, was to signal it and heave to
til daylight. What l did on boarding
resset tods the course usually adopted tax
prizes Pulling under his stern saw il
the whaling ship Benjamin Tucker, Of
from New Bedford. Gaining the quar-
deck, 1 pas ,celconled 10Th outsiretc
hands. In answer to my questions.
Captsin told me her name, port Of regis
10, &C., of all which | was previo,
aware. then told him that he was a p
TO the Confederate States steamer Alaba
ordering him to put his elothesin one trr
allowing the mates and men one bag eac
all navigation books and instruments b,
left behind. At daylight sent the cap
and crew with the ship papers and lugs
to the Alabama. then examined the 8