The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-13


crew and proceeded to London to con-
suit with the agents OF the Confeder-
acy in that city.
The Alabama.
The Sumter had been at sea less
than seven months and had captured
the Golden Rocket, Cuba, Machias, Ben
Dunning, Albert Adams, Naiad, Louisa
kflfam, West Wind. Abby Bradford.
Joseph Maxwell. Joseph Parkc. d.
Trowhridge. Montgomery. Arcade, Wig
liant. Eben Dodge, Neapolitan and In.
yestigator. Most of these vessels
Semmes had burned. 1t was not the
direct loss of these vessels that
amounted to SO much, but the alarm,
he spread was SO great that hundreds,
II not thousands, OF merchant vessels
were laid up or transferred to foreign
owners. a fleet OF warships searched
the seas for the Sumter, but failed to
capture her.
the Messrs. Laird, OF Birkenhead, were
building for the Confederate govern
ment a vessel designed especially for
commerce destroying. The utmost ef-
forts were made by the Representatives
OF tho United States to get the British
government to prevent this ship from
being turned over to the Confederates.
The vessel was named the 200. There
was a story that this name was given
to the craft because 2so Englishmen
shared in the building of the boat, but
this Is not correct. The name came
from the fact that the vessel was the
290th built by the firm.
1t was intended that Captain Bullock
should command the 29O, and Semmes.
after comforting with him, sailed on a
q ct NJ, no
he received orders to return to Eng
land and assume command Of the 200,
his success with the Sumter leading
tho Confederate leaders to believe he
could do more execution with the yes
sci than any other man.
1t was by ruse thar tho 900 got to
sea 1t was pretended that she was
going on a trial trip, and a lot OF
women We're invited aboard. When
the 200 was we'll off land the women
wero put on tug and sent back. The
zoe proceeded to the Azores, where a
supply ship was awaiting her with
armament and stores. There semmes
unfurled the Confederate flag on her,
christencd the boat the Alabama and
put her in commission. The officers
We're Soutlacrncrs, but the crew was
made up almost entirely of sailors
picked up In the streets OF liverpool
Never did the Alabama have moro than
half dozen Americans aboard OF her,
exclusive OF the officers.
A Torch OF the Sea. #.
The Alabama was as trim as a yacht.
She was of wood and could carry
enough fuel to supply her engines for
thirty days Her propeller could be
hoisted when steam was not cnl-
ploycd, and she was as fast under
sails as clipper ship "a She had
enough OF battery to make her for-
lnldable against anything except q
regular warslllp, aud her coal carrying
capacity gave her power to cover a
wide range of sea without putting into
port.alt was In August, 1869, that she
began iief ravages. Within a5#5few
weeks she had burned twelve whalers
and the whaling Industry In tho
Azores was destroyed. Then Semmes
3struckfterror in the North by hurrying
across the Atlantic to the neighbor-
thood OF New York, capturing and burn
Ing every American merchantmen he
encountered Between October and
= ne burned large number OF grain-
laden ships lie came wlthins1 90 miles
f&Ncw York IN order to send one OF
the captured vessels into New York
Bay With a threatening message to-
th'c Ghaiaber of Commerce, Before
ne lelt the neighborhoo1 Of New \ ork
ne had DESTROYED siSteen American.
vessels. 33 "a
ul' 20 the Newfoundland banks she
Mena hex $, TO break up tho fishing IN.
Bdustry there so far as American craft
were concerned. and before the war
+ shlpA sent after him could get onHhls
track ne was bound south. At Fort
sc france, Martinique, the United
states state. irisale San Jacinto blockaded
4nln' bur the captain OF the san
5Jaclnto through the rankest piece OF
istuP'al'S, allowed him to escape.
Y tender had been sent. from Eng.
sis.nu WIN q coal supply for tho Ala.
baFna, and, after coaling at Blnnauilla,
Semmes took IN position between
HaNtl and Santo Domingo to ounce
on measure laden clipper ships, He
"a sureu the blk steamship Ariel. but