The daily gazette., 1877-09-01
Admiral Semmes.
DEATH OF THE MAN WHO RAN UP
A BILL Ut COSTS FOR
ENGLAND

ENGLAND.
Admiral Semmes died at ten minutes
past o'clock yesterday, at Point Clear,
Alabama. n
Raphael Semmes was born in Charles
county, Maryland, in 1910. of Irish and
Scotch parentage. He entered the United
States navy as midshipman, April l,
1926, and was promoted lieutenant July
o, 1887. He served in the blockade of
Vera Cruz, and as volunteer aid to Gen.
Worth in the Mexican war. He removed
with his family to Alabama in 1841. and
settled on the Perdido, removing in a
few years to Mobile. When the late war
broke out he was stationed in Washing
ton as a member of the lighthouse board,
being then commander In the navy. On
February Is, 1861, be resigned his COM
mission, which was at once accepted, and
on the following day he left for Mont
gomery, He was sent North to purchase
| arms, and succeeded in shipping south
large quantities of powder. On return
| ing to Montgomery he was placed at the
head of the lighthouse bureau. On April
2lst lie assumed command of the con-
] federate steamer Sumter, with which he
ran the blockade of Pass pOutre on
June 80, and was on the high seas with
orders to injure the commerce of the
| United States. On July ) Commander
Semmes captured his first prize, "The
Golden Rocket" off the west coast of
Cuba, and succeeded in taking seven
prizes in two days. The Sumter cruised
six months during which she captured
seventeen ships. Her career was ter
minated at Gibralter, where Commander
Semmes, was compelled to leave and sell
her, because the dealers refused to supply
him with coal. On August %, 1862, he
assumed the command of the steamer
"290," or the Alabama, at Terceira, which
was armed with eight guns and manned
with a crew of sixty men.
After a wonderful ireer of two years
during which the Alabama did great
damage to the commercial marine of
the United States, the steamer was
sunk in an action with the United
States steamer Kearsarge, off Cher
bourg, June 10, 1864. Commander
Semmes was rescued from drowning.
together with a number of his men,
by steam yacht. the "Deerhound," "
owned by John Lancaster, of Lancash-
ire, England. Commander Semmes
returned to the South, on resching
Richmond he was appointed rear
admiral and assigned TO the command
OF tn eJ ames-river squadron. On the
evacuation of Richmond, he destroyed
the fleet and escaped, with his men,
to Danville, Va, where his command
was organized as brigade OF artillery.
He reported to General JOS. e. John
ston, at Greensboro, and he was parol,
ed on May 1, 1865, returning 10 his
home in Mobile. On December Is
he was arrested at his residence and
sent TO Washins ston, He was kept a
close prisoner for nearl four months,
when he was released by order of
President johnson. He returned to
Mobile and shortly sitter made a lee
turing tour through the South. His
audiences were generally disappoint-
ed, as instead of lecture on his ad-
ventures it was contined to a discus
sion of scientific subjects in connec-
tion with navigation. In 1869 he
published in this city 'Memoirs cf
Service Afloat During the War Be
tween the States" which though pub
lished ia excellent style, had but lin
tied sale and eutailed a loss upon the
author. He was also the author OF a
work entitled "SerVice Afloat ana
Ashore ID lring the Mexican War;" Ad-
miral Semmes was fine looking man
of medium size. While strict dlsci-
plinarian, he was pleasant and agree
ab with his officers, and was popular
with his men. He was naval oflcer
of great ability and courage.