The Washington herald., 1914-06-23

nized him, having seen him two years
before at Gibraltar. Near him was Lieut.
John Mcintosh Kell. executive officer OF
the Alabama. clinging to some gratings
Both were taken into the boat In an ex.
hausted condition.
An Interesting statement concerning the
rescue was made by Capt E. P Jones,
of the Deerhound, TO the effect that Capt.
Semmes was cautioned to lie down in the
boat in order that he might not be seen
from one of the Kearsarge's boats that
was in the vicinity; that Lieut.. Kell put
on sailors cap bearing the word Deer
hound and took an oar. to pass for one
OF the yachts crew: that when a question
was asked from the Kearsarge's boat. IL
Capt. Semmes had been saved. Lieut.
kell promptly replied: He is drowned -
Whether in the circumstances the res
cued officers could properly be taken from
the Deerhounds boat is point involving
various fine points Of international law
The boat being part OF the yacht and the
yacht a neutral ship. the situation would
seem TO favor the contention that they
could not have been.
All the persons seen in the water hav-
ing been rescued, Mr.. Lancaster. under
standing that the persons rescued by him
were entitled TO the protection Of the neu-
trail flag flying on his yacht. ordered his
vessel to head away from the scene of
battle toward England. His captain con-
suited with Lieut. Kell as to the law in
the situation and was assured that the
kearsarge had no authority to stop the
yacht. and that Mr.. Lancaster was under
no obligation TO deliver the rescued men
to the Kearsarge.
Landed ON English Sou.
When the rescued men from the Ala
Deerhound and thanked him for what he
had done for them he declared he would
have done the same for the KearsarEe's
men In the same circumstances Later
he wrote in defense of his course that
ne couldn't see that drowning men were
enemies of anybody. He Acknowledged.
however, that in leaving the scene Of ac-
ton so quickly / was animated with a
wish 10 save from captivity Capt Semmes
and the others we had rescued" an in.
in no way limiting his legal
rights. he held.
Il have been educated in the belief
that an English ship is English terri
tory he wrote. and am therefore
unable to discover why was more bound
10 surrender the people of the Alabama
whom 1 had on board my yacht than the
owner OF a garden on the south coast of
England would have been II they had
swum TO such a place and landed there"
The Deerhound had left the scene OF
battle on Cherbourg at l o'clock June 10
n less than an hour after the sinking OF
he Alabama and had landed Capt |
'emmes and his men at Southampton me |
'ame evening. |
On landing on British soil Cant. |
'emmes and his brother oficers pre-
ented figures that completely disguised |
hem. They had stripped on most of |
heir clothing on jumping into the sea |
rom their sinking ship. and had been |
tut scantily supplied on the yacht.
When a group Of the younger on
ers presented themselves late in the
vening at the door of a popular hotel
n Southampton. the proprietor looked
hem over with distrust and declared
hat his house was full. They had then
zone to a small house near the water
ide, frequented by shipping men, and
here had received a royal welcome.
When the next day England rang with
raise of them. the hotel man who had
urned them away was much chagrined.
The Alabsma's commander had been
lightly wounded in the right hand in
ne battle and was much exhausted
Then taken from the water, but HAD
ecovered his strength before reaching
outhampton. He proceeded on land
ne to hotel. and the next day took
p his residence at MIllbank, near
As soon as the presence of Capt.
emmes and his men in England was
nnounced in the press, the commander
the Alabama was deluged with let
'rs and kilograms of sympathy for
he loss of his ship and OF congratula-
on for the gallant showing he had
ade in the battle. Offers of financial
IL needed, came from many
Ugh quarters. One was from Miss !
iadstone. sister of William z. Glad
one, then chancellor Of the ex- I
iequer. A British clergyman. F. W.
remhlett. whose acquaintance Capt. +,
,mmes had made two years before,
listened to Southampton and insisted
at Capt Semmes become his guest at {
9 home at Belsize Park. London
This invitation was subsequently ac-
pied. and Capt. semmss. who was near
'rvous breakdown. made a tour Of the !
ntinent with his clerioai friend be-
re returning in the autumn to the q
'nfederate States, via Havana, Mata- 5
oras. Mex. and Texas.
(The diplomatic duel over the escape
Capt semmes will be described June
J.
Tomorrow, Gen. Hunters Campaign Z
Western Virginia.
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