ESCAPE OF THE SUMTER FROM GIBRALTAR.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1872, 23 May 1863, Page 3

ESCAPE OF THE SUMTER FROM GIBRALTAR.

, [From tho European Times, l*eb. 26.] The following details of the escape of tbe Confederate steamer Sumter from Gibraltar, are from tbe Gibraltar Chronicle, of tbe 7th inst: — "When the Sumter was sold by auction some time ago, it was understood that the Go* vernment of the United States would not recognize the sale. Parties who had been previously in treaty for the steamer withdrew their offer on being made acquainted with this fact, and she was knocked down at the auction to a gen- . tieman sent from England to purchase her. This person was the envoy of a Liverpool firm, who were the financial agents of the Confederate government ; and the Federal government coming to the very natural conclusion tbat the Sumter had been purchased either on account of the Confederate government, or as a private speculation, for the purpose of being freighted with a cargo to run the blockade, instructed tbe commanders of their cruisers to keep the must vigilant watch upon the Sumter, and seize her should she put to sea. Her escape last night adds one more to the proofs that the American contest bas already furnished, that it is impog« sible for any single steamer to prevent another leaving a port, and the latter has only. patiently to wait that concurrence of favouring circumstances wbich ensures ber eluding the vigilance of her enemy. The United States gunboat

Chippewa, has for the last month ur two been as watchful as a lynx, cruising at the entrance ofthe bay, and never losing sight of the Sumter The consequence was tbat tbe latter dared not make the attempt to put to sea, during the lorg moonless nights of last month. But a conjuncture of circumstances tbat promised success to the attempt occurred yesterday, and the Sumter. took advantage of the opportunity. A 'hard south-east gale compelled the Chippewa to leave the dangerous anchorage at Algesiras, where a heavy surf rolls on a dead lee shore, and take refuge in Orange-grove Creek at thd bead ofthe bay. Instead of the two steamers ' leaving their anchorage abreast in a race forthe Straits, this move gave the Sumter two miles start, her anchorage being much nearer to the entrance ofthe bay. The easterly gale favoured the Sumter in other ways ; she is light and goes well under canvas, but cannot trust hei machiuery, and with the aid of the gale astern would probably have forereached upon the Chippewa if her departure had been discovered and she had been chased. But tbe strength of the gale, the thickness of the atmosphere, and the darkness ofthe night, made it next to impossible that her movements should be seen ; and, moreover, whether by accident or design, another steamer, the Hope, with her funnel painted exactly like the Sumter's, anchored near her. The Sumter yesterday was warped alongside the Britannia steamer. It was reported in tbe town tbat she had dragged her anchors, and sustained serious damage from collision witb auolher vessel. Carpenters were sent from tbe shore, and it was said she would not be ready for sea for a week at least. Many believe that the anchor dragging, collision, ana carpentering, were all parls of an ' artful dodge' to throw the Chippewa off her guard. If they were so, the dodge would probably have had the opposite effect, of rousing suspicion and stimulating the Chippewa to extra vigilance. Darkness and the gale were the real friends tbat favoured the escape of the Sumter. We last heard of her off Cape S parte), which she was passing under a press of sail and steam at half-past ten iast night, .when met by the Pactolus steamer. No doubt the telegraph wire has started American cruizers from Cadiz and Lisbon to intercept the Sumter, but the sea is a wide place, and by keeping a little out of the usual track she will probably run ihe gauntlet of her foes in safety. We have spoken of this vessel as the Sumter, tha name by which she is best known. Her proper , designation is the Gibraltar, and her new owners doubtless hope she may prove like Gibraltar, ratber hard to take." To this account it only remains to be added, that the vessel in question arrived at Liverpool un the 13th.