The Portland daily press., 1895-04-06
THE GOLDEN ROCKET OF BANGOR.
ssBlack Republicans State of Maine''
Furnished Semmes's First Prize.

Interesting Diary of Events on the Con-
federate Privateer Sumter-Escaping
from the Brooklyn and Iroquois-Cor-
diality of the British.
Just before the adjournment Of Cungre )
the President sent to the Senate the nol :
nation of member of the Semmes family
of Louisiana to position in the United
States navy. On that same day the MEM
bers of Congress received the copies of the
first volume of Naval Records of the Re-
bellion," largely devoted to tae story Of the
Sumter, the original privateer of the Con-
federate navy. commanded by Raphael
senmes. The most entertaining feature of
the volume is the diary of Commander
Semmes kept from day 10 day as the Sum-
Ter cruised about destroying the commerce
of the United States. War history written
on the spot has the advantage of that com
posed years after hostilities have ceased.
It may not be SO accurate in giving both
sides. 1t certainly possesses a vividness
that the other does not. 1t also reveals the
real spirit and bitterness of The contest.
The smell of powder clings TO it.
The Sumter was outfitted at New Orleans.
Semmes says she was a staunch, well-built
stsam propeller of sol TONS" She had been
known as the Hayana.and had run as a
packet between Cuba and New Orleans.
The war had not begun when SemInes COM
menced to turn the Havana into a COM
merce destroyer. Semmes had been in New
York on Especial business He returned
South on the 4th of April. and Immediately
the Transformation of the Havana into the
Sumter was under taken.
Il took her in band, - ne says, removed
her upper chains and other top hamper and
set mechanics at work upon her, making the
necessary alterations of hull and spars,
cabins, &C., and strengthening her main
deck, constructing additional coal bunkers.
magazine and shell room. &C., to adapt her
to war pur urpoSes.'
While the Sumter was being turned into a
privateer the United States had stationed
men-of war at the mouths of tie Mississippi
to prevent her exit. Two or three false at
tempts were made. The Sumter steamed
down toward the Gulf. only to find The
Brooklyn waiting for her. The final result
Senmes tells follows:
Sunday, June Coolies Memorabilia At
1890 A. NJ. a boatman pulled under our
stern and informed us that the Brooklyn
was nowhere to he seen, and that the pass
was all clear. We Immediately got under
way and steamed down the pass. The pilot
becoming alarmed, expressed his unwilling
ness to take us out. as he had not been ont
of the pass for three months, and would not
r1n ashore for anything This was really
provoking. However. I hoisted my jack for
pilot, and as good luck wonld havs it, as
ran by the pilot station bold fellow
jumped on board of me, and his wife waved
him on to his duty as we passed, and we
continued on our course rapidly for the bar.
In the moan time we had some tine befure
discovered the Brooklyn some seven or
eight miles to the southwark of the bar. un-
der steam.and hurrying up to prevent our
escape. We dashed by the Erenen ship OH
the bar. which considerately Stacked a bow
warp to let Us pass more conveniently, and
hauling close ronud her head spars to the