The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-07-23
Raphael Semmes.
From the Montgomery (AIa.) Advertiser.

Raphael Semmes, sailor and hero, too 1t
is quite likely that no boat will be named
after the captain of the Alabama, but the
record of Semmes, romantic as it is, filed
with daring exploits as it is, continues to
be read with thrill of racial 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 Maryland in 1909
He was appointed midshipman when he
was II, in 1926, but it was 1886 before
he entered the service. He was made
lieutenant the next year, and during the
siege of Vera Cruz commanded battery.
He received command of the United States
brig Somels, named after the gallent hero
of Tripoli, but the Somers went down in
gale Somers seemed to be an il-fated
name for American war vessels.
Until the Civil War broke out Semmes
was inspector of lighthouses along the Gulf.
Raphael Semmes started in at 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 ordinance. Thous-
ands of tons of ordinance and powder were
shipped South. and Semmes, on his re-
turn, received command of the Sumter.
She was blockaded at Gibraltar, so he sold
her and went to the Azores to take COM
mand of the Alabama.
Then started career which can scarce
ly be duplicated in the naval history of
the world For two years the Alabama
sailed, sweeping the seas with thorough
ness which amazed the world. With no
ports save England's open to him, he
made Il cruise of nearly so, 600 miles, and
his cruise was marked and charted by
burning ships.
The Alabama was no formidable vessel.
Her tonnage was but 1000. Her speed
was 3 knots, and her armament was one
8-inch shotgun aft, a 7-inch 100-pounder
forward and six-32 Founders. She cost
$3.50, 00O Her crew were mostly hardy
British tars, but on the decks were good
Americans, thorough seamen and daring
fighters. The crew numbered eighty five
men. The Alabama was furnished by an
English member 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 eight
eenth century exploits of the freebooters.
In September, 1862, the Alabama cap
tured her first prize, the Ocmulgee, Il
whaler The sea then was 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 pursuers.
Semmes kept book, in which he en-
tered the value of his prizes from the cap
tured manifests. The Confederate Con-
gress voted to give him half the value of
each vessel burned. The prize money
was divided according to rank. Only one
of the Alabama S officers ever realized Il
cent, and he sold his hypothetical share
to British speculator for 3 per cent. Of
its supposed value.
Semmes's S career filed England with
wonder. 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 long line of plundered ships and
burned vessels, the English were filled
with a desire to gain privately from
Semmes' intrepidity and recklessness. A
syndicate was formed to buy captured
ships. 1t was proposed to land them on
the Hottentot coast. As surety good
English gold was given Semmes and his
crew, but the syndicate got no prizes.
So Semmes made his IS, 600 mile cruise
in two years. He had captured, single
handed, sixty three American vessels.
Fifty three had been destroyed, nine re-
leased on ransom bonds and one made into
a tender. The Alabama had inflicted an
incredible loss on American shippers. Sus-
pected Alabamas had been sighted by war
vessels from the North time and again,
but never the sight of the hull of the real
vessel 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. This spectre Of the
deep swept the seas everywhere, and there
seemed to be no safety whatever
But on June II, 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 Captain Winslow
steamed for battle. The Alabama was
both a steam and sailing vessel. 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 by flight
But Semmes was an American. He did
not know it, but his powder was aged and
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 he would not finch. The
Alabama opened with her starboard bat
terry. Semmes tried to close, but the bull
warks Of the Alabama were torn away and
the pivot gun was disabled The Alaba-
ma began to leak. She hardly responded
to her helm. The Kearsarge continued
with as deadly fire as that Dewey served
the Spaniards. An 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 to see the great duel.
"All hands save yourselves r was
given, and the wounded despatched in the
only boat which was not shot to pieces