The times., 1898-07-17
SEMMES' CAREER.
He Captured Sfxty-tbree Northern
Vessels in Two Years.

From the Montgomery Adyertiser)
In September, 1862 the Alabama cap
tured her first prize, the Ocmulgee. a
whaler. The sea was then dotted white
with sailing vessels from New England.
They proved easy prey for Semmes He
first plundered vessel and then burned
her. The Alabama went everywhere. She
sailed and steamed up close TO New York.
and there got newspapers from prizes.
From these newspapers Semmes took the
list Of departing vessels and laid in wait
for them. BY means of these newspapers
he also managed TO elude the feet of pur-
suers.
Semmes kept a book in which he enter
ed the value Of his prizes from the cap
Iured manifests. The Confederate con-
gress voted 20 give him half the value OF
each vessel burned. The prize money was
divided according to rank. Only one of
the Alabama officers ever realized a
cent, and he sold his hypothetical share
TO a FS-itish speculator for per cent OF
It's supposed value.
semmes' career filled England with
wonder. As report after report came in
of captures and fights. as the little sea
hornet darted here and there and left in
its wake long line of plundered ships
and burned vessels the English were
filled with desire to gain privately from
Semmes' intrepidity and recklessness a
syndicate was formed to buy captured
ships Il was proposed TO land them on
the Hottentot coast. As a surety good
English gold was given Semmes and his
crew, but the syndicate got no prizes.
80 Semmes made his IS 000-mile cruise
in two years. He had captured single
handed siNty-three American vessels.
f1fty-three had been destroyed. nine re-
leased on ransom bonds and one made
into tender. The Alabama had in
hicted an incredible loss on American
shipping. Suspected Alabamas had been
sighted BY war vessels from the North
time and again. but never the sight ot
the hull OF the real vessel had beer. seen.
Merchantmen were continually on the
watch for this ubiquitous vessel. and
they trembled at the sight of every un-
known craft. 1t was an evil day for
shipping. This specter of the deep swept
the seas everywhere. and there seemed
10 be no safety whatever
Bun on June 4, 1864. the Alabama was
sighted IN the harbor Of Cherbourg.
France. The North thrilled with the
news, and all manner OF boats started in
pursuit. The Kearsarge was at Flush
ing, England. and Capt Winslow steam
ed for battle. The Alabama was both
steam and sailing vessel. Her screw could
be hoisted out of the water when she
wished 10 all, and each method of nro-
puision was entirely independent of the
other.
semmes might have escaped by flight.
But Semmes was an American He did
not know it, but his powder was aged
ana damaged; his shells were defective:
they would not explode. His guns were
old and incapable. But Semmes knew
his hardened, toughened crew; he knew
his own ability. and 10 would not finch.
The Alabama opened with her starboard
battery. Semmes tried 10 close. but the
buiwarks Of the Alabama were torn awav
and the pivot gun was disabled. The
Alabama began 10 leak She hardly re-
sponded TO her helm. The Kearsarge con
tinued with as deadly a fire as that
Dewey served the Spaniards. An IL
inch shell exploded in the engine room
The Alabama gave the death shiver.
Sails were set in the hopes Of reaching
the French coast. where thousands were
lined up 10 see the great duel.
'All hands save yourselvesr' was
given, and the wounded dispatched in
the only boat which was not shot to
pieces, Semmes and his officers, in full
uniform, stood on deck. The Alabama
was rapidly sinking; its famous career
was over. Semmes stepped to the edge
of the deck and threw his sword into ths
sea. Then he followed.
He was picked up by the English yach.
Deerhound and escaped to London.
where he became a hero. They pre-
sented him with swords and toasted and
feted him continually. He made his wav
back TO the South through Mexico. II,
was made rear admiral, in command OF
the James River squadron, and guarded
the approaches to Richmond until the
close Of the war.