New-York tribune., 1877-09-01

UIDtc, Wltu CItW, Wulic Luo
were kept below. At night all of them. Of course,
were confined. The officers and crews Of captured
vessels were also allowed to take with them all Of
their private property, but none Of that belonging
to the vessel
The gentleman already referred to says that very
erroneous idea prevails in tho North that tho crew
Of the Alabama was composed of English and South
men. On the other hand, during the most of the
time they were almost exclusively Yankee sailors
from captured vessels In some instances the entire
crews of whalers desired to enlist under Admiral
Semmes. The Admiral was accustomed to tell them
that the United States would hang them all if they
caught, but the reply generally was that they
did not care they would take the chances of that.
When the Georgia ran the blockade at New-Or-
leans ali officer who on board OF her
says she had only nine Southern men on
board, and the remainder of her crew OF
between fifty and sixty was made up almost en-
tirely of Yankee sailors.
The same gentleman tells an amusing anecdote of
Semmess experience the port of Bahia, in Brazil.
He sent an officer to inform the Governor OF his in
tention of leaving but the Governor unwilling
to give his consent, and replied that, according to
the regulations of the port vessels not allowed
to leave after o'clock in the afternoon. The Cap
tain of little Portuguese man-of-war which was in
the harbor volunteered his services TO prevent the
departure of the Alabama When Semmes was in
formed of this ne was greatly excited. He does,
does he r. he exclaimed. as he paced up and down
the deck. "D-n him, III spoil his paint for him."
Shortly after, the Alabama weighed her anchor and
got under way. Sailing around very close to the
little Portuguese man-of-war, she saluted her flag
with twenty-one guns and when the smoke cleared
away the Portuguese vessel, which painted
white, was as black as a collier. There no inter
ference with the sailing Of the Alabama.
When in Mobile in s74 formed the acquaintance
of Admiral Semmes, who was at that time practic-
ing law in that city. Captain j. g. Hester, the Gov
ernment detective, had arrested some prominent
citizens of Sumpter County and taken them to Mo-
bile for examination. The excitement Of the Demo-
Gratis of the State very great, and the recogni-
tion between Hester and Admiral semmes in the
courthouse was dramatic. Semmess law Office was
on a cross-street, not far from the Custom House.
Like the Offices of most Southern lawyers, it had
little about it that was attractive. The floor
BARE the books were not plentiful and the furniture
was meagre.
The Admiral was rather insignificant in personal
appearance, short in stature, quite erect, with
small sharp grey eye and hair and beard that would
have been gray. had il not been dyed. The latter
consisted of fierce moustache and imperial, which,
with his overhanging eyebrows, gave to him rather
n ferocious aspect He was dressed in loose. light
costume, and his wide pantal0ons did not hide the
fact that he was very bow-legged. In conversation
the Admiral was courteous and pleasing He spoke
without reserve of his former acquaintance with
j. G.. Hester. and of some of his experiences upon
the Sumter and Alabama. At that time the dIstrl-
button of the Geneva Award had recently been
under discussion in the Senate, and the Admiral bad
followed the debate with great care having appar-
emily read every speech that had been made upon It,
He insisted strenuousy that the Alabama was not
prIyaeer and called attention to the fact that II
had been recognized "A regular vessel of war by at
least one Republican Senator. remember distinct
ly that taking copy of The Congressional Globe he
turned to speech that had been delivered by Sena-
tor Edmunds and criticised very severely some OF
the interpretations of International law which the
Senator had made.
do not think the Admiral was very successful as
a LAWYER Gentlemen who practised at the bar with
him in Mobile told me that, while in private he 'gas
very genial in his intercourse with lawyers, in Court
and III the transaction Ofbusiness generally he dis
plaved too much of the imperiOus quarter-deck de-
meanor To make him popular. He was very extreme
in his politics. did not approve of the liberal tenden-
ces of some of the Democrats OF Alabama, and was,
on one or two occasions the candidate of the Bourbon
wing of the party for local offices. am not sure
whether he was elected to be Judge of Probate of
Mobile or not but it is my impression that he was.
4. L. W.