Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-07-08
BEGINNING OF THE FIGHT.

BEGINNING OF THE FIGHT
On the morning of Sunday, June 10, at
lo30 the Alabama was observed steaming
Out of the Cherbourg harbor towards the
steamer Kearsage-
A lively scene was now exhibited. The
moment it was known that the Alabama
was lehving port, the people, who for some
davs had been on the qui vive began to
flock towards the entrance to the port,
and before the first gun was fired hundreds
were gazing from the high cliffs and emi-
nences which surround the port. The
first sound of cannon shot, distinctly heard
in this town, brought out all who had
been waiting for a certainty, and a crowd
of excursionists, having just arrived from
Paris, without the remotest idea that one
Of the iprettiest naYal contests of the age
- 2. 40 III l. e,iifur-ciiirtt
In a few minutes thousands of people
were gathered upon the hilltops looking
out upon the open sea, where the contest
ants were engaged in deadly strife.
At lilo the Alabama commenced the
action by firing with her starboard battery
at distance of about mile. The Kear-
sage also opened fire Immediately with
her starboard guns, and a sharp engage
ment, with rapid firing from both ships.
was kept up, both shot and shell being
discharged. In the maneuvering both YES
sells made seven complete circles at a dis
tance Of from a quarter to half mile.
Spectators describe the man9uvering Of
both the vessel as beautiful. They con-
tinued approaching each other until, to-
wards the end of the fight, a distance Of
but about five hundred yards separated
them. s.. .a
The Alabama fired much more frequent
ly than the Kearsage, and wasted a great
deal more powder and ball. Gen
orally her shots were evidently badly
aimed, wild and high. Evidently her forte
was to attack and awe into surrender IN
armed merchant vessels but from the
first the firing from her showed that she
was not competent to grapple with the
trained and disciplined crew of vessel 81
war.
Many of the shots, however, struck and
cut the rigging of the Kearsage, without
inficting, however, any serious damage
the shIill whistle of every one as it few
over their heads exciting the crew Of the
Kearsage and rendering them more than
ever determined to conquer.
One hundred and seventy-four rounds
were fred during the fight from the Kear-
sage, and it Is computed that the Alabama
fired at least twice that number.
At a quarter past eleven it was observed
that Captain Semmes had altered his
opinion in relation to the prowess and skill
of hir Yankee antagonist, and arrived at
the conclusion that :. discretion was the
better part Of Valor;' had, in short, as our
amiable President once elegantly expressed
it, decided TO turn tail and nn2 He
veered round and commenced steaming in
the direction of the French coast, eyidsnt-
" desirous of placing himself as speedily
as possible within the limits of the ma
rine league" which marks the boundary
between French territory and the onnn'''e-'-
ocean,
The Kearsage Immediately followed,
the Alabama continuing to fire her stern
gun. Finding that the Kearsage, who
was rapidly gaining on her, was superior
to hers, the Alabama slackened speed, and
it was reported that she had struck her
flag and seemed to be settling; but ler
boats were not lowered because, as was
afterwards learned, they had been shat
tered by the shot from the Kearsarge. No
white flag being seen from the Kearsarge,
she delivered another final brnadsid8
which did more damage than all the pre-
vious ones.
The firing then finally ceased. The
boat was under the command of an Eng
lish officer, belonging to the Alabama, who
informed Captain Winslow that the latter
was in a sinking condition, and asked for
boats to Orescue the men.
All the available boats of the Kearsage
were now lowered and manned, but before
a single man could reach her the Alabama
went downtown clear and straight to
the bottom of the ocean. She was at this
time about six miles outside the port, and
about five hundred miles distant from the
Kearsage.
The men, as she was sinking jumped !
overheard. Many were doubtless own
ed-how many Is not yet known.
ESCAPE OF sEMMEs. |
The Daily News Southampton corres-
pondent says .r ur.
Captain Semmes is at Ketways Hotel |
n Southampton, and the other officers and
men are about the town getting clothes
md necessaTies they are taken charge of
- NAAb JULIUS 1AOlL1G ltAG- .Ndllhlu f1tllA-
mes aud Chief Officer Lee went this after
loon to EmanGels, the tailor in the High
treet, to make purchases. The captains
land was bandaged, owing to wound he
eceived In action. The shop was crowded
endeavoringt to catch a glimpse
# the Confederate commander.
When he left the shop a crowd had
objected round the door, who made wav
or him and treated him with much respect.
lie seemed to be laboring under mental
nguish, and to feel most acutelv the COM
'lete defeat he had experienced. and the
leathIand sufferings which thatd defeat had
aused ... a
Captain Semmes is a thin, wiry-built
nan, with stern and determined air. He
J about fifty years ofage, with small red
,ointed face, and beard and moustache
q the American style. He had on a verv
Id naval officers cap, and an English ma
al heutenants jacket. He declined tosee
ny strangers at his hotel His first lieu
enant is fine looking young man. In
nswer to questions Captain Semmes said
hat he left all the property he possessed
nd upwards of sixty chronOmeters which |
c had taken from captured federal mer-
hantmen, in Cherbourg, previous to going
ut to fight the Kearsage
He says that he was completely deceived {
5 to the strength and armament of the
What he recollected of her
as that she was an ordinary vessel.
{ he had known that she was aniron-clad,
ld much more heavily armed than the
-labama, he would not have fought, as it
as madhess to do so. He said that the q
ght between the Alabama and Kearsage
rs tanght another lesson in naval warfare, u
lat of the uselessness of ordinary ships of
ar like the Alabama encountering an
on-clad and heavily armed ship like the n
earsage- aa - :
Is appears that Semmes and number /
his officers and crew escaped from the
labama inst as she was going down, and
at Mr.. Lancaster the owner ofthe steam .