Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-03-26

Ctlou The manufacturers, eager for
the big profits. rushed work ON the or
ders so that the material could DE de-
llvered before the outbreak of war.
Scmmes was commissioned also to pur-
chase in Now York or elsewhere scI-
going steamers designed for the de-
Tense OF the Confederate seab0ard. The
only reason he did not buy several was
that DE could not find vessels that came
up 90 requirements. Ship owners were
willing 10 sell TO him. Just as were tnt
makers Of war supplies.
10 seems strange that nothing was
done 10 check Semmes IN those trans
actions. but he was not molcstcd and
returned 90 Alabama. Tie was not the
only naval officer 10 resign from the
United States service and enter the
Confcdcrdcy. and the confederate chief
taius were embarrassed somewhat
when war began To- have plenty of
naval officers ready for commissions.
but no vessels 10 send them 20. Not one
vessel OF the United states navy was
taken over 90 the coufederacy, and
the rebellion opened with the north
able 20 blockade an the ports Of the
south aud leave enough warships 10
patrol the sea. The merchants of the
north were IN little danger Of having
their vessels iutcrfercd with. and the
great fleets OF clipper ships, whalers
htiN EfIfAAA NNl $50 N.Ai W. q Hf'NiN ''iA
their way just as 10 war had not begun.
THE SUMTER.
Semmes was the first man TO COM
maud confederate ship ~ war. IL
was "a poor apology for Warship-n
little i3l-ton merchant steamer named
the Uabaua. which was lying az New
Orleans when the war opened. Tho
name was changed 90 the sumter ana
"a small battery was rugged Up aboard
her II took Scmmes several months
to get the sumter equipped. and then
DE had great difficulty iu running the
bl0ckadc at the mouth OF the Missis-
sippi
Bur once free Of the blockading
SQUADRON he became the terror Of the
sea, and hlazcd his trail with fire. II
was ON June 80. 1861 that he got away
He made for the West indies, and on
July captured Jud burned the bark
Golden Rocket of the Isle uf Pines
Within the next few days he captured
seven moro merchant vessels of the
United states Some Of them ne burn
ed. some of them he put prize crews
on Then he put into Cicufuegos. lie
had To- got coal The sumter carried
only enough fuel o. supply him for lu
days The vessel was slow. and when
hc had 10 depend ON sail DE was uuahle
tp uft tho propeller Ihdt lnpeded
the anHHU of fIIn |E|Il. TIC NiN N 'N hHif
an remain I'm any one port long. for
oues al United states warship caught
him the sumter would be sunk
Wherever he went he was sure TO have
trouble with tho authorities lie was
classed 10y tne EoNerhllent as "a pl lI.t''.,
OF the sumter as ship OF war OF the
confodoracy Tie carried "a commits
sion from the president OF the coufed-
crate states. but foreign governments
were louth 10 harbOr him or his craft.
The sumter was "a sort OF lshmaellte
of the sea Tie got 100 tons OF coal at
Cfcufuccos and then went wInging 90
Cur4coa. Here DE had more trouble
getting coal From Curacao he ranged
along the north coast OF South Amer
frs. capturcd two New England ves-
soils. went as far south as Maranham,
RrayU. and from there proceeded 10
Nartiuiuuc. While hc was gDaling al
sd Pierre the United states steamship
froquois arrived ana blockadod him.
but be sIippcd ont of the harbor az
NIGHT and went across the Atlantic to-
,yHrd SpaIu. ON the way no captured
tnr.o more urIges At Cadi2 Doe had
tn Inv mn for rrpalrs. Before these
wore completed he was ordered TO