New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-22

close TO the wind. She was TO have en-
zines. two Of the horizontal type. each OF
: 80 horsepower and propeller that conIu
. lac taken up and lowered into position
Z again. neither operation requiring more
! than fifteen minutes. Her condensing en-
/ gine would make her independent of ports
/ so far as fresh water was concerned Ana
how mystifyng!-hcr main deck was
/ pierced as If for guns. Nj in all, mo. -W
| was an interesting craft.
! So thought Mr.. Adams. who was con-
stantly receiving reports about the progress
! Of the ship lie mentioned his suspicious
regarding the future Of this beautiful YES
sci TO the English Foreign Office He filed
afidayits which he thought left no doubt
| of the character and purpose of the ship.
The government seemed TO act with marked
slowncss At last, on July %, 1862, the law
officers Of the crown rendered an opinion.
II was that the vessel was clearly intend
ed for use against the United States ana
recommended immediate seizure.
BY a remarkable coincidence, on the day
that the crown officers announced their
decision NO. 900" sailed out of the MeTsey.
Flags were flying and on her deck were
groups Of ladies and gentlemen chatting,
lonce Of the woodwork in the officers quar-
ters. her swiftness, the weather, the lace
Of foam racing past on the surface OF the
blue waterfall the topics when are sup
posed to be Of interest when one Is among
the favored few on the trial trip OF me
vessel The ruse of trial trip was not
carried very far. The ship had travelled
only a short distance down the Mersey
when she was met by tug in midslreahl
Whether the ladies and gentlemen were
astonished at the sight OF the tug ana the
courteous reouest 10 leave the ship and 90
aboard the smaller craft is not recorded
II is set down, however, that they went
ashore on the tug and that the last look
they took of the gem Of Lairds yard re-
vealed her slipping out OF sight In the dlrec-
ton Of the sea.
Nevermore did mo. go" return to Eng
lands great seaport. She sailed away
bound for Terceira, one OF the Azores.
where she met a transport laden with war
material and where, also, Captain Raphae!
Semmes and her other officers boarded her.
NO 29O" and the transport were dashed
together in the lee of one OF the group OF
islands outside Of the marine league form
ing the zone of neutrality and the arma-
ment and stores were transferred. on sun
day. August %. under a cloudless sky, In
balmy airs, while riding easily on the
broad rolling Atlantic, the Stars and Bars
were broken out, and the famous Alabama
was put into commission by authority or
the Confederate States government.
The officers and the crew looked over
their new vessel with a great deal Of pride,
noted the fine lines tested her speed which
had been found to be from ten to twelve
knots under canvas alone, ara fifteen,
the speed of many modern transatlantic
liners, under favorable conditions when
the propeller was shipped and the engines
were running. They became enthusiastic
about their ship as they cruised up and
down in the neighborhood Of the Azores,
acquainting themselves with their duties
and keeping a sharp lookout for sails OF
the enemys mercantile marine. Theirs was
a rowing commission. Their field was the
world. and, living upon the supplies Of
their prizes and their own supply Of fresh
water. they had little use for any port eX-
cent for an occasional supply of Goals.
Eleven DAYS passed before any prey fell
into their net Then they captured ship
within one hundred miles OF the point
where the Stars and Bars had nrst been