The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-31
RAPHAEL sEMMEs.
One of the Most Intrepid Men Who
Ever TrOd "A Deck.
From the Montgomery Advertiser.

thing of national pride on the career of
Raphael Semmes, sailor and hero, too. 1t
Is quite likely that no boat will be named
after the captain Of the Alabama, bug the
record of Semmes, romantic as it is filled
with daring exploits as it is, continues 10
be read with a thrill Of racial pride ia spite
of the hatred in which he once was ED
by the North and the terror he once in
spired.
semmes was born in Maryland In 1879.
He was appointed midshipman when he
was II, in 1926, but il was 1896 before he
entered the esrVice. He was made a lieu
tenant the next year and during the siege
OF Vera Cruz commanded a battery. He
received command of the United States
brig Somers, named after the gallant hero
of Tripoh, but the Somers went down in a
gale. Somers seems TO be an ill-fated
name for American war vessels.
Until the civil war broke out Semmes
was inspector of lighthouses along the
Gulf.
Raphael Semmes started in a once to
serve the Confederacy He made a trip
through the North and bought war ma
terial and hired mechanics skilled in the
construction Of guns and ordnance. Thou
sands of tons of ordnance and powder
were shipped South, and Semmes on his
return received command of the Sumter.
She was blockaded at Gibraltar, SO ne
sold her and went to the Azores to take
command of the Alabama
Then started a career which can scarce
~ be duplicated in the naval history OF
the world For two years the Alabama
sailed, sweeping the seas with a thorough
ness which amazed the world. With no
ports save England's open to him, he
made a cruise of nearly 5000 miles, and
his cruise was marked and chaTted by
burning ships.
The Alabama was no formidable YES
sci. Her tonnage was but 1000. Her speed
was thirteen knots, and her armament
was one S-inch gun aft 7-inch lOO-pound-
er forward and six 32-pounders. She cost
$3.50, $50. Her crew were mostly hardy
Americans thorough seamen and daring
fighters. The crew numbered eighty-iiVe
men,. The Alabama was furnished by an
English member of Parliament. But her
career of daredevil recklessness and her
final capture is a story that has no equal
in the annals of the sea, save in the Eigh-
teenth century exploits of the freeboot-
ers.
In September, 1862. the Alabama captur-
ed her first prize, the Ocmulgee, whaler.
The sea then was dotted white with sail
ing vessels from New England. They
proved easy prey for Semmes. He first
plundered a vessel and then burned her.
ed 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 fleet of pur-
suers.
Semmes kept a book in which he enter
ed the value of his prizes from the cap
tured manifests. The Confederate con-
gress voted to give hinf3 half the value of
each vessel burned. The prize money was
divided according to rank Only one of
the Alabama's officers ever realized a
cent, and he sold his hypothetical share
to British Spectator for per cent. of
It's supposed value.
Semmes' career filled England with Won
der. AS report after report came in Of
captures and fights as the little sea hor-
net darted here and there, and left in its
wake a long line of plundered ships and
burned vessels, the English were filled
with desire to gain privately from
Semmes' intrepdity and recklessness. A
syndicate was formed to buy captured
ships. 1t 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.
SO Semmes made his S000-mile cruise in
two years. He had captured single hand
ed siXty-three American vessels Fifty
three had been destroyed, niqe released on
ransom bonds and one made4into a tender
The Alabama had inaictd an incredible
loss on American shipping. Suspected
Alabamas had been sighted by war yes
sells from the North time and again, but
never the sight of the hull of the real YES
sci had been seen Merchantmen were
continually on the watch for this ubiqui-
tous vessel, and they trembled at the sight
OF every unknown craft. 1t was an evil
day for shipping. The inspector of the deep
swept the seas everywhera and there
seemed to be no safety whatever
But on June II. 1854, the Alabama was
sighted in the harbor of Cherburg, France,
The North thrilled with the news. and ali
manner of boats started in pursuit. The
kearsarge was at Flushing, England. and
Capt. Wnslow steamed for battle. The
Alabama was both steam and sailing yes
sci. Her screw could be hoisted out of
the water when she wished TO sail. and
each method of propulsion was entirely
Independent of the other.
Semmes might have escaped ~ flight.
But Semmes was an American, He ala
not know 1t, but his powder was aged and
damaged. His shells Were defective: thew
would not explode. His guns were old
and incapable. But Semmes knew his
hardened toughened crew; he knew his
own ability, and he would not finch. The.
Alabama opened with her starboard hat
terry. Semmes tried to close. but the bul-
Warks of the Alabama were torn awav
ana the pivot gun was disabled. The Al
ALBANIA began to leak. She hardly respond
ed 70 her helm The Kearsarge continued
with as deadly a fire as that Dewey serv-
ed the spaniards. An 1l-inch she'll ex
ploded in the engine room The Alabama
Salls were set in the hopes of reaching
the French coast, where thousands were
hned up to see the great duel.
All hands save yourselve was given
and the wounded dispa tched in the only
BOAT which was not shot TO pieces.
Semmes and his officers, in fun uniform
stood on deck. The Alabama was RAPIDLY
sinking. It's famous career was over
Semmes stepped to the edge of the deck
and threw his sword into the sea. Then
he followed
He was picked up by the English yacht
Deerhound and escaped to London. where
ne became hero. They presented him
with swords and toasted and feted him
continually. He made his way back to the
South through Mexico. He was made rear
admiral in command Of the James river
squadron, and guarded the approaches 10
Richmond until the close Of the war.