New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-10

In times like this with the past happily FOR.
gotten even the North looks with something OF
National pride on the career OF Raphaei Scihihes,
sailor and hero too. 1t Is quite likely that no
boat will be named after the captain OF the
Alabama but the record Of Seinmes. romantic as
II is. flied with daring exploits as IL IS. con'ih-
ues to be read with thrill or racIal priue III
spite OF the hatred in which he once was heid by
the North ana the terror he once inspired
SeInmes was born in Mary land in lSo3 lie
was APPOINTED midshipWan when he was sever
teen in lS2G but Il was 1886 before he entered
the service. He was made a lieutenant the next
year and during the siege Of Vera cruz con-
Ynanted Il battery. He received command OF the
United states brig Somcrs. named after the Sal-
liant hero Of Trpoli. but the Somers went down
In a galr. Somcrs seems TO be an Hl-'ated name
for american war vessels.
Until the civil War broke out Scmmes was in
spector # lighthouses along the gull.
Raphael Scinmes started in at once 10 serve
the Confodcracy. lie made a trip through the
North end bought war material and hired mo
chanics skilled in the construction OF guns ana
ordnance. Thousands Of tons of ordnance ana
powder were shipped South. and Seinin"s on lll'
return received command Of the sumter IN"
was blOckadci at Gibraltar. 50 he sold her and
went to the Azores 10 take command Of the Ala
bama.
Then started a career which can scarcely be
DUPLICATED in the naval history of the world. For
two years the Alabama sailed. sweeping the
seas with thoroughness which amazed tne
world with no ports save EnSlands open 10
him he made a cruise OF nearly eighty thousand
miles. and his cruise was marked and charted
by burning ships
. The Alabama was formidable vessel Her
tonnage was hut 900 Her speed was thir-
teen knots and her armament was one S-inch
shotgun AFT. 1-inch 100 FOUNDER forward and
six 81 poundcrS. She cost S2lDWO Her crew
were mostly hardy British tars but on the
decks were good Americans. thorough scalnen
and daring fighters. The crew numbered eighty
five men. The Alabama was furnished 10y an
English member OF Parliament But her career
Of daredevil rccklcssness. and her final capture.
IS story that has no equal in the annals 81
the sea. save IN The eighteenth century exploits
In September 1862 the Alabama captured her
first prize. the ocmulsce. whalcr. The sea
then was dotted white with sailing vessels from
New-Encand. They proved easy prey FOR
Scmmcs. lie first plund"red vessel and then
burned har. The Alabama went everywhere.
She sailed and steamed up close to NcW-York
AID there got new papers from prizes. From
these newspapers S.mm"s took the LIST of do
parting vessels and laid in wait for ih"m By
means Of these newspapers he also managed to
eludo the feet Of pursucrs.
Semmes kept book In which he entered The
value ot his prizes from the captured m1nif"sts
The Conf dorate Congress voted 10 CIV" HIN hIlf
the value ~ each vessel burned. The iril" money
was divided according g. rank. only ono Of tAc
Alabamas officers ever realized cent ard he
sold his Hypothetical share to a British sp"cu-
lator for > per cent ~ its supposed value.
Semme,'s career filed Eueland With wonder.
As report after report came IN ~ captures and
fights. as the little sra hornet dnrtcd here AMI
there. and left in IT'S wak" a long lirc of plum
&C., go shus ana ,uIn'' ''Ss'', me rhS ~" "rir
c.',u "'.' ~, =" h'',' TI'"''' '"'"
.iI'.'''S 'nI'f'I.'! ana ''i'.'SSN,9r. - ~
proposed To land them on the lI0ttrntot coast.
" ~ ~'D' ','.T''. N"', W N''"
oeil''neS an" "'S crew "u' '"' S9'"''"'' S'' no
- pc -, -,o,, -,
90 H'ilI''A 'nan" MS '''''-'lllr ''".7. III wv
years lie hai captured slnFl'- hAiIrl s.Ny-
three American vessels. Fiiy-'hrrc hai n'"n
destroyed. Nlne released on rams lin u.ni+ hrl
one mad into a tender Tho Alabama hli inc
Nicted an incfcdipie loss on Amer AN shi'iinf-
suspected AldUJFndS ma! boon siGft'i lF Naf