The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-05

Alpion 10 spread perFor un ocean anu inland seasl Emerging from the Delta of the Mississippi in the twenty-year old craft the Sumter. Raphael semmes soon asserted the mastery of the Gulf of Mexico and swept from on its waters the merchant marine of the United States. After composing much destruction the gallant sea captain boldly shot across the ocean and en- tering Gibraltar there abandoned the rotten hull and worn-out boilers of the Sumter.
 Repairing to England. Capt. semmes prepared for another cruise this time in the light, fast, shrewd craft, on which had been bestowed the glorious name of his adopted State-Alabama. It was in her Clyde-buiit ribs. and with the few and gallant spirits who had joined him notable among whom was the distinguished John Mcintosh that Raphael Senmes now winged his way.
 But after a most glorious cruise of twenty-two months continuously, sweeping all the seas and all the oceans, and which left the commerce of the United States. prostrate and overcome. the wayworn and weary Alabama finding no rest. for her hither- to swift moving wings other than . reluctlantly permitted stay of twenty four hours in neutral ports, again sought the Atlantic Ocean.
 After many bold and desperate escape from ten-fold superior forces, she entered the harbor of Cherbourg for repairs, whitfer in three days the Kearsarge followed her.
 A battle followed. Both vessefs were apparently about equally match ed in armament and size. but the hull of the Alabama was foul. her seams gaping. her machinery impaired. and her powder weakened by two years constard exposure with sea air. The Kearsarge was practically iron-ciad. protected by chain armor skiilfuiiy concealed. When the Alabama sank, Capt Semmes flung his bright sword into the sea, and then plunged into those famous Norman waters. from whose depths he. with forty of his offIcers and men. was rescued by the crew of the British pleasure yacht, the Deerhound.
 In February 1885, he was commits stoned Rear Admiral being then in. command of the Confederate fleet in the James River.
 When Richmond was evacuated April End. he blew up his ships and organized his officers and seamen into a brigade with which he joined the Army of Gen. Johnston. and was paro1- ed on the 2sth of April at Greensboro, N. C.. when Johnston's army surrend- cred.
 Admiral semmes returned to his home in Mobile, and opened e law ofice On Christmas eve 1865. he was arrested and carried to Washington where he was confined in the Marine Barracks for nearly four months. and then released. No charges upon which to trv him were ever preferred, and no official statement was ever made of the ground of his arrest.
 A few weeks after his release. Semmes was elected Judge of Probate for Mobile Co. but was prohibited by the War Department from exercising the functions of his office. his politi- cal disabilities not having been re- moved. They never were removed. He devoted the remainder of his life to the practice of law, and the great admiral whose fame had once filled the four quarters of the globe. and had given rise to the great international question settled in the Geneva Arbi- tration, plodded over legal points and argued cases petty and large. doing hts duty right nobly and so living his life as to leave his memory as rich heritage to his children and to his peo- pie.
 He died at Point Clear. Ala. August 30th. 1877.