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IIUIUIUI IU OLUUUIIIOSee Local/State, B1111 miuucioiSee World, AtONORTIMONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2001NavarreadmiralThe descendant ofa Civil War raider‘without equal’ isseeking the truthBy BILL KACZORAssociated Press WriterNavarre — it’s liketraveling back in time for Oliver Semmes III when he watches cannons, dinnerware and other artifacts being recovered from the wreck of a Confederate warship commanded by his- great-great grandfather.Adm. Raphael Semmes — described by the U.S. Naval Historical Center as a commerce raider “without equal in American naval history” — was captain of the CSS Alabama until it was sunk by the USS Kearsarge on June 19,1864.“I think we all sometimes feel like we’d like to live in the same environment that our ancestors, our predecessors, did,” said the rebel raider’s descendant.Semmes, 71, spent a week in his great-great grandfather’s environment this July. For the third summer he visited the site in the English Channel off Cherbourg, France, where divers and archaeologists have been excavating the wreck. A French minesweeper found it at a depth of about 200 feet in 1984 and diving began in 1990.“I have sort of ambivalent or conflicting emotions,” Semmes admitted at his Navarre home overlooking Santa Rosa Sound.“On the one hand, I feel that we ought to leave the site undisturbed as a memorial,” he said. “On the other hand, these artifacts should give enrichment and pleasure to the people in the various museums where they’ll be displayed.”Some artifacts will go on display Sept. 21 for the first time in the United States at the Museum of Mobile to help launch the Alabama city’s tricentennial celebration. The excavation is supported by the French and U.S. governments and two privateAPPlease see RAIDER/A9Oliver Semmes III, at his home In Navarre, removes a sword that was given to his great-great grandfather, Confederate Adm. Raphael Semmes (above right), by naval officers and other supporters In Britain after his ship, the CSS Alabama, was sunk by a Union cruiser during the Civil War.Apostrockkey (U.S.By JOI-AssociateWAS seems 1 nificam about 1 Alaska, down 1 spruce closed i Whe will irr Fort Gi Nex sional; istratio holes 1 fiveint Ats— prc debate will cc 1972 A withR menta the Co Th( either avoid imodifiallowiiEviadminflashpClinto:as theExpTheP northc would interct to sim
Newspaper Details
Northwest Florida Daily News
Fort Walton Beach, Florida, US
Mon, Sep 10, 2001
Page 17
Full Page
Clipped by
Dorothy B.
PA, USA 24 Jun 2020
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