The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-06-16
MADE CONFEDERATE SEALS.
Washington Correspondence New
York Sun.

"dSIaIH@tON.
Washington Correspondents New
York Sun.
Hermon Baumgarten. the official
seal maker for the Southern Confed-
eracy, died in this city last week. He
used to say that he rad made every
seal used by the Confederate govern
ment, and that he was regularly em-
ployed for that purpose. 1t was in the
spring of 1861 that, at the solicitation
CT Senator Benjamin, he Joined for
tunes with the Confederacy.
Il first wen to Montgomery, Ala.
which was then the seat of govern
ment." said Mr.. Baumgarten. I was
armed with letters of introduction to
Alexander FL. Stephens, who i'm
mediately offered me a good salary,
which | declined. agreeing to do all
the work-ngraving-at a price to be
set by myself My offer was accept
ed, and l at once set to work engrav-
ing the great seal
While at Montgomery | practically
completed engraving all the seals for
the several departments of the govern
ment. | secured the services of two
experienced engravers from New Or
leans, but after working two weeks,
and earning $500 each, they threw up
their jobs and left. l had only work
ed six weeks when I sent for my wife
and child, and | was able to put 81
u in my wife's hands when she
reached me.
When the seat of government was
moved from Montgomery 10 Richmond
| accompanied the officials, travelling
on the special train. Immediately af-
ter reaching Richmond, l set about es-
tabliShing a plant and zoe had quite a
shop. After finishing the seats | set
about preparing to make resigns for
stamps and money on o. plates.
Eventually steel plates were obtained
and beautiful specimens of the engrav-
er's art were turned out, equaling The
best work of today"
Mr.. Baumgarten ran the blockade
in the closing days of the struggle.
III the latter two years of the
war the subject of erecting minis
for the coinage of silver and gold was
discussed, and Banmgarten "a sent 10
England to make the necessary ar
rangements for doing this. He was
furnished with credentials to persons
in England and drafts on the Lon
don fiscal agent of the Confederate
States amounting to more than e.
OOO, 900, with which to purchase ina
chinery.
He went from Richmond to Will
mington, where the start to run the
blockade vas to be made. Present
ing his credentials tothe officer in
charge of the port, he was put aboard
a blockade runne due to get out at
the first favorable opportunity.
After waiting an entire day, Mr..
Baumgarten approached the captain
and asked the reason for the delay.
The captain handed him a pair of
marine glasses and told him to take a
look. The glasses revealed fourteen
Yankee gunboats lying off the harDor
in a semi-circle.
do you think you'd try to get
through that?"asked the captain. 1--WE
can only go under the most favorable
than be captured, to blow up the ship
and all on board"
The vessel had a cargo of cotton,
and most of The bales were ranged
upon the decks along the rails, fasten-
ed together with chains and forming
a bulwark about the height of a mans
head, being a splendid protection
against a cannon shot. Mr.. Baumgar-
| ten was led to a spot Immediately over
| the forecastle. There the captain, lift
| ing a t%arpaulin which covered the
| deck, displayed to the astonished gaze
| of Mr.. Baumgarten about six bushels
| of coarse gunpowder, which the cap
tain said was to be used in blowing
| everybody to hell if capture seemed in
evitable."
At midnight the blockade runner
started. Bermuda was reached safely,
but Mr.. Baumgarten had to wait there
| for two weeks to get a vessel to Lfv-
erpool, and this delay proved disas-
trous to him in a financial way.
An eventful voyage brought him
to London. There he presented his Gre
dentials and drafts and sought to get
down to business at ance. The fiscal
agent, however. was out Of funds,
and handing him E200 in gold as
pocket money directed him to put
UP at the Queen Hotel, where all MS
expenses, would be paid until news
could be received from Richmond.
! What the fiscal agent next heard
| from Richmond was the news OF he
downfall of the Confederacy. This
| left the fiscal agent and Mr.. Banmgar-
| ten in the lurch. but Mr.. Baumgar-
| tenten was provided with ticket to
| Paris and a letter of introduction to
| Mr.. Slidell, then representing the
| Confederate government t the French
| capital. Mr.. Slidell too care of him
until the President issued b amnes-
ty proclamation. when he pulled out
for home.
81 got here in time" said Mr..
Baumgarten, ito be arrested on an
average of six times a day, and X
had arrived two weeks sooner | sup
pose | would have been torn to pieces"