Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-03

Before Semmes took command of her
she had been a merchant steamer named
the Habana something less than five
hundred tons. The manner in which,
after arming and fitting her out at New
Orleans, Semmes managed to get by the
powerful blockading squadron at the
mouth of the Mississippi river forms one
among his many notable achievements
in this wise. The vessel was slow, of
great draft. and formed a conspicuous
mark, very different indeed from the low
lying. speedy craft that formed the block
ade runners of commerce. Once, when
Semmes was coaling the Sumter at St
Pierre, Martinique, the United States ship
Iroquois arrived and biockaded him.
but he slipped out of the harbor at night
Finally, at Gibraltar. three vessels, the
kearsarge, the Tuscarora and the Inc
cornered him. and he determined to pro-
coed TO England to dispose of the Sumter
But the career of the Sumter in the
service of the Confederacy was by no
means ended. She was. as has been said,
bought by Fraser, Trenholm & Co.,
through their English agents. and the
task of running her out of the harbor OF
Gibraltar was successfully accomplished
by Capt E. c. Reed. who was placed in
her command. A fleet Of United States
warships searched the seas for the elu-
sive craft, but failed to trace her move
mentS or whereabouts.
Capt. Reed. with whom l was init
mately acquainted" said Mr.. Morgan,
had the reputation of being one CT the
bodest and most successful blockade rum
ners. He took the Sumter, whose name
was now changed to the Gibraltar, to
Liverpool, where she was repaired, and.
taking on board four fifteen-inch rified
Blakely guns. which were the largest
rif1ed guns in the world at that time, she
sailed for Wilmington, n. c. The great
draft of the vessel made Reed fear that
he would not be able to safely pilot her
over the bar at night In this dilemma
he adopted course Of action which, for
holiness and sang froid. is porbaby I'M
surpassed in the annals Of warfare.
I'm broad daylight he sailed right up
TO the Federal fleet. running up signals
as he did SO. The signals meant nothing.
nor were they intended tO-the flags were
simply hoisted haphazard. Now. the
blockading squadron was lined up in two
with patrols sailing up and down. Reed
had the sublime effrontery to pass the
flagship and ask where he was to an
Choir. Thinking him a United States
transport in command of a captain sin
gularly dense and ignorant of the rules
and regulations. he was told to come
around and anchor astern a man-of-war.
But Reed never stopped. He steamed
on straight ahead, still running up the
confusing signals Not until he was al
most under the protecting guns of Fort
Fisher did those on the blockading fleet
seem to recover from their bewiderment
Then a shower Of shells was sent after
him. but he gained his port in safety.
Reeds run out in the Sumter. or, as
she was now called. the Gibraltar, was
scarcely less sensational than his entry
into the harbor. He carried rich cargo
of cotton and landed the precious bales
safely in Liverpool, where their proceeds
wera placed to the credit of the Con-
federate government. Reed commanded
the famous blockade runner to the close
Of the war"