The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-07
REFuGE OF LIS.
RON tAe Tribune.

PfOm he Tribune.
The career Of the late corsair alabama was
probably the most stupendous and systematic
fraud on record. l. She profcssed to be Rebel
or Confederate in origin and impulse, but was
built with money subscribed or contributed for
the purpose by British enemies Of our Union.
2. She was built as a peaceful merchantmen,
being all the time intended for no other use
than that TO which she as devoted. 3. She
stole out Of Liverpool, when she was built, on
pretense Of making trial trip, wholly uuarmed
end with ladies on board 20 cover the deception
~ A peremptory order from the Government for
} Der detention, based on proof furnished By our
Minister and Consul OF her true character, was
treacherously detnined on the way, so as to pre-
clude its reception In season 70 stop her; her
managers being meantime privately advised that
she must mt H. herself scarce. 5. Though called
Confederate, she never dared enter Confederate
pot; never was under the protection Of n Con
tederae shore battery and never had even a
tenth part Of her crew composed Of native or
even naiuralzed citizens of the Coufederacy.
8. She was British built with British money OF
Britt b timber and iron, armed wholly with Bri
tish guns, and manned by a British crew and
never hred cartridge that WIS not of British
materials and manufacture. Z. Though fugitive
from British justice and a fragrant vioator OF
British law, she has been everywhere welcomed
and feted in British ports, and has sailed over all
seas, robbing and burning our merchant vessels by
the help Of the coal, provisions, cartridges &c,
which have been ready for her in every British
haTbor. 8. Though calling herself National
ship of war, she has shrunk from encounters
with all such, save when off Galveston she de-
coyed the Hdttsrds (half her size) under her guns
by hosting the British flag and declaring her
self the British gunboat Petrei 9. She was, in
spite Of all pretenses, in tiP-top condition, as
one of her officers telegraphed TO Liverpool
alter the fight, "the Aiabdma was in first-rate
trim" 10. She was a sixth larger than the Rear-
sarge (l2OO tons to 1881 j had eight guns to our
seven and full crew Of $50 men, which was
at least equal and probably superior to our num-
Der, as she was enabled 10 work her guns much
faster than ours we're fired. IL. Semmes fought
the Ke0rSdrge only because he could not help
II. Mr.. Dayton had protested against the shell
ter and aid given 10 the corslir in friendly
barboT, and the French Government had felt
constrained TO order him out Of port. Yet there
lay the kedrsdTge off the mouth of the harbOr ;
and 10 get out, the Alabanra must fight SO she
made virtue of necessity and steamed out.
IL. She chose her own time and distance, OPEN
ing fire first and shortening the distance at
pleasure. If Semmes had chosen to lay his
vessel aoosrd OF the hedrSdrge, the msnGuvro
would have been welcomed Blu; he found il hot
enough where it was. l3, The Alqbamd was
thoroughly ridded, disabled, and demolished,
and Semmes was gud 70 surrep Jer his ship TO save
his life, and she went down " ith her flag struck.
He escE ped capture through British parlialty and
is this hour Tighitully Captain Winsow's prisoner.
The Deerho,5Id had no right TO steal away with n
part of our spolS >f victory, and did IL by de-
CeptioD. Ia. Semmes' pTeteDse that CaDtain
Winslow tried a. snk his craft or her crew after
she had surrendered is routed by the log of the
Deerhound, his virtual ally Is. Aud, as II he
had not yet lied enough, upon reaching England,
says one of his petty officers in a statement to
the NeUS:-
"csptain semmes anxiously asked what the people OF
England Thought of the South said that SGrery there
erSfcd but IN and that the North and South would
never again be united"
We never heard this matched hut once, and
then In Captain Marryafs tale, where a most in
veteTate and immeasurabe liir was dying, and,
being warned that the noise he was making was
the death-rsttle in his throat, gasped out" No
Ihdre kroien man hire SIR ,oeekS making that
Foise"-and there his voice failed him forever.