The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-06-28 00:00:00

DESTRUCTION OF THE ALABAMA.

It appears that Captain Semmes accepted the
challenge of the Ki arsage to fight, although aware
that his adversary carried 50 more men than hie own
vessel, and was • larger ship with heavier guns.
Ceptain Semmes was not, however, •Orarn that the
Kaareaire was chain-plated under her outside planking.
Shortly after the action commenced, a shot from the
Kaareage d three men on board the Alabama, cut-
ting them to pow*, and a mooed shot wounded three
more men and killed another, while • third shot carried
sway the blade of the Alelamea's fan nod part of the
rudder on her deck, disabling • gun and cawing much
damage. Below and forward her compartment/1 were
all carried away, and the Sr. room was filled with water.
The Alabama fought under sail, first using her starboard
battery, and afterward. her port battery. She continued
the enprement until the muzzles of her guns were '
under water, and one part of her deck was covered
with dead and wounded. When found in a sinking
state the Alebatue c, axed fig htine, and lowered tier
harts, in which the dead and wounded en re pl seed.
Shortly afterwards the Alab,ma seek, the officers and
crew jumping into the as, einn the Keargagen boat.
came up to as let in waving the crew. The officer irt
toonimaud of the boat. inquired for Sensuics, and was
told that be was drowned, whereas he Wad alma', been
picked up by the yacht Deerhoulid, and stowed away,
the yacht havine them AI/441W off with all speed, ex-
pecting the Ktareseee would attempt to capture thoae
on hoar& Before the Alabama left Cherbourg to engage
the Ktantage, Captain Senile, a sent on •I ore an iren
chest containing specie, zloty chronometers, and other
valuables. The engagement dem ihed by the owner
of tie yacht Deerhound as a toot brilliant affair, the
fighting being se.ere and at • short di-tattoo. The
41.1mittes runs were served meet rapidly, but doing
less executioo. The Kearsaze, however, is said to have
sustained much damage, her side, being torn imen,
showne the chain peoing. The officer* of the Alabema
regulate their beg in killed and wounded at from :10 to
40 men. Captain Semmes is very unwell. through
being in the ender a canal ler•ble time, and in eon-
sesinenee of the wound in its hand.
SOUTH aII*TON, M0041.y aftrrllolll.—The steam yacht
Deerhound arrived here last night with Ceptain Seemel
and wine other of the offieera and arise of the Cr.. of
the Confederate war bte.mrr Alabama. The billowing
is a statement of one of the petty officers of the
Al .barn• t—The Alabama arrived at C'herbourz on the
12th hilliest, 70 d•ys from C 11,4 Town. The Kearssge
anived off Cherbourg on the 13 b instant. Challenges to
fight were reciprocated by the commanders of the
Alabama and Keare•ge. The former having taken in
real, and undergone some refitting, steered nut of
Cherbourg at Sam. on Saturday. She was escorted by
the French iron-clad Courenne, which wee appointed to
a.e the Alabeina clear of the limits of the port of
Cherbourg. The engagement took ;dime about 12 mile.
from the eort. Toe first shot was fired by the Alabama
at the Kearssge, at 10.30 p.m. The latter bad a chain
rattle triced along her aide. to break the force of the
shot from the Alsbema. The Alabama was about 1000
pude from the Kearsage when she fired the drat shot.
Being the fastest ship, she was alas to steam round her
Wit/X.l6b ;irdnorkeania..ge The...rudder and tcrew
of the Alabima acre shot away, and she was rendered
heirloom; her velours Imre also shot away. The mei.n
lasted from 10.30 em. until noon. At the eonelusion
of the action nine badly woundad men of the Alabama
were gent on board the Kear.age. The crew of the
Alabama ahen she went into action were 140 men all
enlo. After the action the Kearsage appeared in •
diabled esindition. Four nien were killed, •nd
ten wounded on board the Alabama. C.ptain
Semmes is at Kelway's lintel here, sod the
other ofileers and teen are shout her. getting clothes
on 1 necesarice They are taken charge of at the
Sailors' Home. Captain Semmes and Chief...Meer Lee
lire now at EninlMOUrrr, the tailor, in the Higowtreet,
making purchases. His hand la bandaged over, tieing
to a wound he reoeived in action. The shoo is crowded
with people, ereleavonring to catch a glimpse of the
Confederate commander. A dent Well from Cherbourg
in tie Receive Star says :—" The Kearmige ham
suffered no damage of impel-tam:a ; none of her °Meer,,
were killed or wounded, and only three of her
seamen were wouuded. The Kearsege captured 68
officers and crew of the Alabama Captain f3emrnes
ee,eed several shops at Southompton this mornieg, to
procure a personal outfit."
ElieTtletereide, Honeay (evening).—ceptale
has found it nemewery to cell in eurgieal meets for a
wound in the left hand, which is injured by a splinter
from a ehell. A. great number of visttors have called
and left their cards, het the captain politely declines
11*,-ing itnyotie at present —Ti e ezeitemerit prev•iline
here treclay has in no way diminished. This afternoon
Capeaie Semmes, in proceeding up the to•n, no coin'
pktely b seined by crowds of people, who eolleeted
...end the eanlag-, awl vociferously obeered him along
the ',trees. A great banquet to Captain &Mated AM
his offieers in honour of their bravery is already spoken
of by •onits of the leading citizens.

Ccitious BclzTlno FACT.—Mr. E. J. Lowe, the
astronomer of Highleld MAWS. near Nottingham, by
means of an earthquake pendulum, witnessed " •
senble movement of th• earth from W.N. W. to E. 5.13,"
on the evening of the Sunday before It. succeeded by
"an almost conetant moveruelit," though less
" mniuble," for the space of two boors during the fol-
lowing midnight.
As there continues to be • belief that gentlemen have
• right to be presented at levees in virtue of their be'ng
Volunteer officer', we may siate positively, and from
the but Kiurce of information, that no such risht
exists. Voloateer officers moat be eligible for preemie-
tion for other reason, than their Volunteer mak.

rh. otatter vole decided io the bprinft of 18030.—Coorl
Journal.