The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-07-15
The Sinking of the Alabama


The English yacht Deerhoand, which wit
messed the conflict between the Xearsage
and the Alabama, belongs to a Mr.. Lancas-
tor, OF Lancashire. England. This yacht
was lying q, Cherbourg, France, having the
family OF its owner on board. On bearing
that the Alabama and Kearsace woro TO
have an engagement, this English seces-
sionist resolved TO steam out and see it,
She did so, and after the fight, stole Cap.
tain Semmes and thirteen of his officers aud
tweu,y six of bis crew, and ran them off to
Southampton, England.
The account of tho fight as given by the
Deorhouud, is as follows
The Alabama left Cherbourg barbor at
ten O'Clock on Sunday morning, snd the
kearsage was then several miles out to sea.
ward. with hor steam up ready for action.
The French plated ship Of war Couronne
followed the AabaLia out OF the barbor, and
stopped when the vessels were league off
the coast, her object being to see that there
was no violation Of tho law Of nations by
any fight taking place within the legal dis
TANGO from land.
The fight commenced ut ll:l0 A. NJ. and
ended at 1910. The Alabama opened fire
when one mile from the Kearssge. The
Alabama's guns were pointed for range
of two thousand yards hsr second sho,
went into the Kearsage. The firing became
general between the two vessels, at a dis
tanco of little over mile, and at no time
were the vessels lees than a quarter Of a
mile from each other. The Alabama fired
about one hundred and fifty rounds. some
single guns, and some in broadsides of three
and four, and the Kearsage fred about one
hundred rounds, the most eleven inch shells.
AT length the Alabsma's rudder was
disabled by one of her opponents heavy
shells, and they boisted sails but il was
soon reported to Capt semmes by one Of
bis officers that bis ship was sinking. With
great bravery the guns were kept ported
till the muzzles were actually under the
water, and the last shot from the doomed
vessel was fred as she went settling down
When her stern was completely undel
water, Captain Semmes gave orders for thu
men to save themselves as best they could
and every one jumped into tho sea and
swan for the boats which bad put off to
their rescue. Those of whom we're wounded
we're ordered by Captain Semmes to be
placed in the Alabama's boats and taken on
board the Kearsage, which was as far as
possible, obeyed.
| Capt. Semmes and those above mon
toned, wore saved in the Deorhound's boats
and when It was ascertained that the watel
was clear of every one that had life left ant
that no more help could be rendered. sb'
yacht steamed away for Cowes and thenc
to Southampton.
The crew of tho Alabama comprised il
Ilabous one h1pdred and fifty when sh
left Cberbourg. OF these ten or twelv.
were killed. during the action, and q number
we're known to be drowned. The surgeon
of the Alabama was an Epglshman, and as
nothing has been heard of him since he
went below to dress the wounds of somo OF
The sufferers, 1t is feared that he went down
with the ship.
"The wounded men on board the Deer.
hound were carefully attended to until hel
arrival here, when they wore taken to thu
Sailors Home in the Canute road. Severa
Of the men are more or less SCARED, but the
are oil about the town to-day, and the onl,
noticeable case is that Of man who wa
wounded in the groin, aud that but slightly
"Csptain Senmes and bis first Lieu.en
ant, Mr.. J. M. Kill, are staying at KeIwayi
Hotel, in Queens terrace where the galIap
commander 10 under the caro- of DR.. Ware
medical gentleman of this town, his righ
hand being slightly splintered by shell.
"When the men came on board the Deer
hound they had nothing on but their draw
ers and shirte, having been stripped tc
fight. and one of the men, with a sailors de-
voteduoss. insisted on seeing bis captain
who was then lying in Mr.. Lsnoaster's cabin
10 a very exhausted state, as be had been
entrusted by Captain Semmes with the
| ships papers, and to no one else would be
give them up. The men were all very anx
ious about their Captain, and we're rejoiced
to find that no had been saved.
The Deerhound. throughout the fight
was about mile distant.