The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-07-13
rn. Pirate Alaba ma sunk.

O'Clock on Sunday morning, ana the hearsage
was then several miles out seaward with her
steam up ready for action. Inc french plated
.h;n.ocwar Couronne followed the Alabama
ant of harbor, and stopped when the vessels
we're league off the coast, her object being to
see that there was no violation OF the laws of
nations by any fight taking place within the
legal distance from land. The combat took
plscc about nine miles from Cherbourg. One
Of the officers of the Alabama names II 30 as
the commence luent of the action, aud l24O as
the period of its cessation. making its duration
an hour and half while the time observed
on board the Deerhound, which Is most likely
to be accurate, that vessel being free from the
excitement and confusion necessarily existing
on hoard the Alabama. limited the action to an
hour. the last shot being fred at IL 30. The
distance between the two contendng vessels
when the Alabama opened FIRE was estimated
on board the DeerhOund at about mile, while
the Alabama's officers says she was mile and
half away from the Kearsage when che fired
the first shot Be this as it may, it is certain
that the Alabama commenced the firing, and
A Il is known that her guns we're pointed
for a range of 1900 yards, and that the second
shot she fired, in about hall minute after the
first, went right into the Kea,sage, that may be
taken as the real distance between the two
ships. The firing became general from both
vessels at distance of little under mile,
and was we'll sustained on both sides; Mr..
Lancaster's impression being that at no time
during the action were they less than quarter
Of q mile from each other. Seven complete
circles were made in the period over which the
6gh lasted.
IL was estimated on board the Deerhound
that the Alabama fred in all about $50 rounds,
some single guns, and some in broadsides OF
s sSr fRa the @ers Se
Aiabamab were principally Blakely's pivot
guns In the early part Of the action the
relative firing was about three from the Ala.
bama to one from the Kearsace. but as it pro.
gressed the latter gained the advantage, hav.
ing apparently a much greater power Of steam.
She appeared to have an advantage over the
Alabama Of about three knots an hour, and
steam was seen rushing out Of her blcwpipe
oil through the action, while the Alabama
the Alabama's rud6er was disabled by one of
Der opponents heavy shells, and they hoisted
sails: but it was reported to Capt. Semmcs by
one of his officers that the ship was sinking.
With great bravey the guns were kept ported
till the muxzles were actually under water, and
the last shot from the doomed ship was fred as
: she was setting down. When the stern was
completely under water Capt. Semmes gave
orders for the lncn to save themselves as best
they could, and every one jumped into the sea
and swan to the boats which had put Oft to
their rescue. Those of them who were woun-
ided were ordered by Capt. Semmes to be placed
in the Alabamus boats and taken on board
the Kearsage, which was as far as possible,
obeyed. Capt. Semmes and number of off.
GERS, were saved in the Deerhound's boats,
and when 1t was ascertained that the water
wA0cl eas Of everyone that had life left, and
that no more help could be rendered, the yacht
stesmed away for Cs YES, AMI thence to South
ampton.
Throughout the action the Deerhound kept
about mile to windward Of the combatants,
: and was enabled to witness the whole Of it.
Mr.. Lancaster is clearly of opinion that it was
the Kcarsaee's lI.inch shells which gave her
the advantage, and that, after what he has
witnessed on this occasion, wooden ships stand
no chance whatever against shells Both ves-
sells fired well into each others hull, and the
yards and masts were not much damaged -
The mainmast of the Alabama had been struck
by shot, aud as the vessel was sinking broke
of and fell into the sea, throwing some men
who were in the maintOp into the water Some
tremendous gaps were visible in the bulwarks
OF the kearsage. and it was believed that some
of her boats were sablcd. She appeared to
be temporarily plated with iron chains, &C.
As far as could be seer, everything appeared
to be well planned and ready on board the
kearsage for the action. 1t was apparent that
Capt. Semmes intended to fight at long range,
and the fact that the Kearsage did not reply till
the two vessels got nearer together, showed
that they preferred the short range, and the su.
perior ste aiming power Of the latter enabled this
70 be accomplished 1t is remarkable that no
attempt was made by the kearsage to close
and board the Alabama. and whom the Ala
b una hoisted sails and made as if for shore, the
Kearsage moved away in another direction, as
though her rudder or screw was damaged and
out Of control. Great pluck was shown on
both sides during the action. On board the
Alabama all the bammocks were let loose,
and arrangements had been made for sinking
her rather than that she should be captured.
As far as is known. not relic Ofthe Alabama
is in possession of her successful rival. When
she was sinking. Capt. Semmes dropped his
own sword into the sea to prevent the p,ssibil-
ity of its getting into their hands, and the gun
ner made hole in one of the Alabana's boats
and sank her for the same reason.
Before leaving the Deerhound, Capt .Semmes
presented to Mr.. Lancasters son one OF his
officers swords and pistol, in remembrance of
the occurrence and the kind treatment he and
his men m d received on board the yacht The
men stated that the best practice generally on
board the Alabama during the action was
shown by the gunners who had been trained on
board the Excellent in Portsmouth harhor.
The spectacle presented during the combat is
described by those who witnessed it from the
Deerhound as magnificent The presence of
the Deerhound on the scene was a providential
circumstance, as in all probability the men
saved by her would otherwise have been
drowned.