The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-04
MADE THE CONFEDERATE SEALS.
Adventures Of Herman Baumgarten, En-
grayer, Who Died Recently In Washington

WASHINGTON, June Sherman Baum
garten, the official seal maker for the
| Southern Confederacy, died in this city
last week. He used to say that he had
made every seal used by the Confederate
Government, and that he was regularly
employed for that purpose. 1t was in
the spring of 1881 that. at the solicitation
of Senator Ben jamin, he joined fortunes
with the Confederacy.
Il first went to Montgomery, Ala which
was then the seat Of government, said
Mr. Baupgarten was armed with
letters OF Introduction to Alexander n.
Stephens, who Immediately offered me a
good salary. which l declined, agreeing
to do all the work--en graving-at q price
to be set by myself. My ofer was ac-
cepted, and l at once set to work en- gra wing
the great seal.
While at Montgomery practically COM
peted en- gra vim & all the seals for the sew
eral departments of the Government.
secured the services Of two experienc ed
en- gravers from New Orleans, but after
working two weeks, and earning $500 each
only worked six weeks when l sent for
my wife and child, and / was able to put
$500 in my wife's hands when she reached
me.
when the seat OF government was
moved from Montgomery to Richmond i? !
the special train. Immediately after reach
ing Richmond / set about establishing a
plant and soon had quite shop. After
finishing the seals l set about preparing
to make designs for stamps and money
on wood plates. eventually steel plates
the engravcr's art were turned out equal
ing the best work Of to-day"
Mr.. Baumgarten ran the blockade in the
closing days Of the struggle, In the latter
two years of the war the subject Of erect
gold was discussed. and Baumgarten was
sent to England to make the necessary
arran gements for doing this. He was
furnished with credentials to persons In
En- gland and drafts on the London fiscal
agent Of the Confederate States, amount
ing to more than 600, with which to
purchase machinery.
He went from Richmond to Wilmin gton
where the start to run the blockade was
to be made Presenting his credentials
to the officer in charge Of the port. he was
out at the first favorable opportunity.
After waiting an entire day, Mr.. Baum
earten approached the captain and asked
the reason for the delay. The captain
handed him pair Of marine glasses and
told him to take look The glasses re-
the harbor in semicircle.
do you think you'd try to get through
that?' asked the captain. We can only
20 under the most favorable conditions.
and I am ready, rather than be captured
The vessel had cargo OF cotton. and
most Of the bales were ranged upon the
decks along the rails. fastened together
with chains and forming buwark about
the height of a mans head being splendid
protection against ut, cannon shot M. Mr.
over the foreoastle; There the captain,
lifting a tarpaulin which covered the deck
displayed to tive astonished gaze Of Mr.
Baumga rten about six bushels OF coarse
gunpowder,, which the captain said wa,
If capture seemed inevitable"
At midnight the blockade runner started.
Bermuda was reached safely, but Mr..
Baumgar ten had to wait there for two weeks
to get a vessel to Liverpool, and this delay
proved disastrous to him in flnan cial
way
An uneventful voyage brought him to
Liverpool and thence to London. There he
presented his credentials and drafts and
sought to get down to business at once
The fiscal agent. however. was out Of funds.
and handing him GOO In gold as pocket
Hotel. where all his expenses would he
paid until news could be received from
Richmond.
What the fiscal agent next heard from
Richmond was the news Of the downfall OF
the Confederacy. This left the fiscal agent
and Mr.. Baumga rten in the lurch. but Mr..
Baumgarten was provided with a ticket to
Paris and a letter of introduction to Mr.
Slidell. then representing the Confederate
Government at the French capital. Mr.
SlicIell took care Of him until the President
issued the amnesty proclamation, when he
pulled out for home.
II got here in time. said Mr.. Baumgarten,
so be arrested on an average Of six tines
A day, and il had srrived two weeks sooner
Isuppose would have been torn to pieces