The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-20
TIE TINI RICHMOND va SUNDAY ApRII 90 1918

any cost. and on several occasions they
reached the scene OF II capture lust
Il few hours after the Sumter had
left. Well knowing that Union spies
reported every movement or his ship.
Captain Semmes rcfrained from enter
Ing neutral port. except when abso-
lutely necessary, as he knew that
within twenty-four hours Union
squadron would know of his presence
blockading him.
The Sumter's narrow escape from
capture after leaving St Pierre, Mar
Unique. shows how carefully her ad-
Versaries laid their plans II toxic her
captain Scmmes had been given per-
mission by the French authorities TO
coal and repair. and work was i'm
mediate1y commenced. Within an hour
AFTER the permission was granted. i
swift schooner left the port TO notify
the nearest Union ship Of the Sumters
whereabouts. and, long befora the re-
pairs We're completed. the unttel
states Ship Iroquois. large man-of-
war. under command of Captain Pal.
mer, u. s. NJ, arrived OFF shore, ana
proceeded to cruise up and down the
harbor within 200 yards OF the sum
Ter. Captain Semmes protested TO inc
Governor against this unwarranteu
act. and the commander OF the Iro-
quois was ordered to anchor In port
or 20 Withdraw TO the high sea. AS
intcrnatioaa law would require him
10 remain at anchor twenty-tCur houF.
after his adversary had sailed, Cap
tain Palmer chose to withdraw from
the harbor and attempt to patrol the
entrance, so rs TO prevent her getting
to sea.
8 Willy Trick.
Before leaving, however, he made
arrange ments with the captain Of u
schooner in port 10 burn certain li;5h.s
IN case the sumter started oot. So that
he might be warned as 20 the Jirec-
ton she would take. Tho wi,y Sem.
mes suspected just such scheme
might be made. and awaited himself
of 1t TO make good his cscap.. Chous-
ing darh night, he qu.e-lY got up
anchor. and, taking good care that
the Union schooner could note his
course, he steered the Sumter out OF
the north passage. Immediately Il rcd
rocket followed by green fred To-
ward the north went up from the
the Iroquois
Rightly believing these signals in
Dictated that the Sumter Was attempt
ing to escape through tho northern.
channel Captain Somm.s doubled an
his tracks. and quietly sailing through
tho western passage. WAS we'll bcycnd
danger before the lroquois caught On
10 the deception. Even then they re-
fused TO believe the sumter had es-
capped. and sent spy into the inrcr
harbor to see IL She had not tGker
down her masts and gone there.
During her long cruise in the Gu!i.
the sumter had had no chance TO dock
and. as her speed WAS now greatly
reduced on account of the sea moss
and barnacles on her bottom, Captain
Semnes determined to cross the At
lantic and go into some European port
for a grand overhauling and docking
before setting out on another pro-
tracted cruise. Ascertaining that the
Spanish government was friendly, he
ran into Cadiz. Spain. where he made
arrangements for the work. lie also
planned 10 send large number o:
prisoners on shore to the Union con
sui, whom he addressed on the sub
ject The consul did not desire to ad-
dress Captain Scmmes. rs an officer,
and sent his reply on board, the Sum
ter by a boatInan, which action result
ed in the following spirited rcjoinder
from the captain:
&C. S. 8. sumter,
"Cadiz. January Z. 1862. -
Sir: Your note of this morning
having been sent off TO me by Il COM
mon boatman. l cauld not learn the
name OF the writer without breaking
the envelope. Having done so and as
certaininG 1t was from yourself. de-
cline TO receive 1t. as being Improper
~ addressed. My address is as fol-
lows: Commander r. Semmes, G. $
Navy, Commanding {. :. : sumter
II have the honor TO be, etc,
Raphael Semmcs,
Commander. G. : Navy. /
"E : Eggleston, L. s. Consul
rs th-. prisoners were afterwards
landed at Cadiz. it is safe to presume
that Mr.. Eggleston addressed the cap
tain properly.
Captain Semmes shifts Flag.
Leaving Cadiz. the Sumter sailed
for Gibraltar, where, after being un-
able to get enough money TO fit her
out as lie desired. Captain Semmes
paid off his crew and proceeded to
London 10 await the completion OF the
famous Alabama. the command OF
which had been promised him.
Although the sumter was laid UP
At Gibraltar. the Confederate naval
commissioner did not intend TO aban-
trary, 10 fit hor out later for another
cruise. She was left in charge OF
Midshipman Andrews. Mate Hester
and a skeleton crew. Just hero it may
be interesting to note the sad fate or
Midshipman Andrews. who was a
most promising young officer Octo-
Der - 1862. Mate Hester, While in
toNicated. attempted to break into one
of the storcrooms, and when arrested
by Midshipman Andrews. shot him to
death. Hester was Immediately seized
by sergeant Stephenson. OF the marine
guard. and placed in double irons un-
I'll Commodore Barron, the naval com
missioner at Paris, directed that he
be turned over to the Gibraltar au-
thorities for trial
Testers lawyer attempted to prove
at the trial that Mdshipman Andrews
had been in communication with the
Federal cruisers in the bay, and in
tended to turn over the sumter to
them To prevent this, he stated Hes
ter killed the midshipman The ma
rincs disproved the assertion. how
ever and Hester was convicted OF
murder. but whether or not he re-
ccivcd his just punishment is not
known. Just about this time another