Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-07-22
RAPHAEL sEMMEs' CAREER.

RAPHAEL SEMMES' CAREER.
la times like this, with the past hap
PLY forgotten, even the North looks
with something of national pride on the
career of Raphael Semmes, sailor and
hero, too. 1t is quite likely that nc
ship will be named after the captain Of
ne Alabama, but the record of fSemmes
romantic as it is, filed with daring ex
PLOTS as it Is, continues to be read with
d thrill of +. cial pride in spite of the
hatred in which he once was held by
the North and the terror he once in-
spired.
Semmes was born in Marylaud
in 1909. He was appointed midship-
man when he was II. in 1926, but i,
was 1886 before he entered the service.
He was made lieutenant the next
year. and during the siege of Vera
Cruz commanded battery. He re-
ceived command Of the U. S. brig
Somers, named after the gallant hero OF
Crpoi, but the Somels went down in
4 gale. Somels seemed to be an i'll
f.teu name for American war vessels.
Until the civil war broke out Semmes
WAS inspector of lighthouses along the
.uf.
Raphael Semmes started in at once
10 serve the Coufederacy. He made a
rip through the North and bought war
material aid hired mechanics skilled il
he construction of guns and ordnance.
thousands of tons of ordnance and pow
der were shipped South; aud Semme3,
On his return, received command of the
sumter. She was blockaded at Gi6rsl-
tar, so he sold her and went TO the
Azores 10 take command of the Ala
bama.
Then arted career which can
scarcely be duplicated iu the naval his
,oly of the world. For two years the
Alabama sailed, sweeping the seas with
thoroughness which amazed the
world. With no ports save England's
open to him, he made cruise of nearly
$4,000 miles, and his cruise was marked
and charted by burning ships.
The Alabama was no formidable Yes
-el. Her tonnage was but 900. Her
spe ID was 13 knots, and her armament
was one S-inch gun aft, 7inch
100 pouuder forward and six 80 poun.
iers. Sac &C st $3.50, 900 Her crew were
no silly hardy British tars, but on the
decks were good Americans, thorough
seamen and daring fighters The crew
umbered eighty five eA. The Ala
bama was furnished by an English
INT mber of Parliament, But her career
of daredevil recklessness, and her final
capture is story that has no equal in
the annals of the sea, save in the eigh-
teenth century exploit OF the free
hooters.
In September, 1862, the Alabama
captured the first prize, the
Omulgee, q whaler. The Sea
then was dotted white with sal
Ing vessels from New England. They
proved easy prey for Semmes. He fIs'
D p.undered d V, ssel and then burn
ed her. The Alabama went every
where. She sailed and steamed up
close TO New York and there got news
papers from prizes. From these news
papers Semmes took the list of depart
ing vessels, and laid in wait for them
By means OF these newspapers be also
managed to elude the fleet of pursuers.
Semmes kept book, in which he en-.
tered the value of his prizes from the
captured mauifests. The Confederate
Congress voted to give him half the
value OF each vessel burned. The
prize money was divided according to
rink. Only one of the Alabama Off
GERS ever realized Al cent, and be sold
his hypothetical share to British specu-
lator for per cent. of the supposed
value.
Semmes' career filed Eugland with
wonder. As report after report cam"
10 of the captures and fights, as the H.
tie sea hornet darted here and there,
and left in its wake long line of plum
dered ships and burned vessels, the
English were filed with q desire TO
gain privately from Semmes' intrepi T.
ity and recklessness. A syndicate was
formed to buy captured ships. 1t was
pro ,csed to land them on the Hotten-
tot coast. As surety good Euglish
gold was given Semmes and his crew,
but the syndicate got no priz
So Semmes made his $4,000 mile
cruise in two years. He had cap
tured, single handed, sxiy-thre e
American vessels. Fifty three had
been destroyed, nine released on
ransom bonds and one made into a
tender. The Alabama had inflicted
incredible loss on American shipping.
Suspected Alabamss had been sighted
by war vessels from the North time
and again, but never the sight of tie
hull of the real vessel had oeen seer.
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 spectre OF the deep
swept the seas everywhere, and there
seemed to be no safety anywhere.
But on June II, 1864, the AlAoama
was sighted in the harbor OF Cner,
bourg. France. The North thrilled
with the news, and all manner OF ships
started in pursuit. The kearsaree was
at Flushing, Eugland, and Captain
Winslow steamed for battle. The Ala
hama was both steam aad sailing yes
sci. Her screw could be hois,ed out ol
the water when she wish. L to sa'', a
each me. nod OF propulsion was eniir'iy