The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-07-15
THE ALABAMA AND KEAR-
SAGE,
Particulars Of their Engage
ment.
English Accounts of the Affair.
From The London Times.

on Saturday night, by railway from Caen,
Mr.. Lancaster, Of HindIey Hall, Wigan.
was informed by the Captain of his yacht,
the Deerhound, which was lying in har>
Dor awaiting his arrival, that it was report
ed that the Alabama and the Kearsage
were going to fight each other in the NOR
uing. Mr.. Lancaster, whose wife, niece
and family were on board his yacht, at
once determined to 90 out in the morning
and see the combat.
The Alabama left Cherbourg harbor
about 10 O'clock on Sunday morning, and
the Kearsage was then several miles out
seward. with her steam up ready for ac-
ton. The French plated ship of war Cou-
rome followed tie Alabama out of har-
Dor, and stopped when the vessels were a
league off the coast, her object being to
see that there was no violation of the laws
of atoms by any fight taking place with
in tie legal distance from land The
comba: took place about nine miles from
Cherbourg One of the officers of the A.
ALBANIA names l:10 as the commencement
of the ac,ion, and 1910 as the period of
its cessation, making its duration an hour
and a half; while the time observed on
board the Deerhound, which is most like
ly to be accurate, that vessel being free
from the excitement and confusion neces.
sarily existing on board the Alabama, lin
tied the action to an hour, the last shot
being fired at 1910. The distance be-
tween the two contending vessels when
the Alabama opened fire was estimated
on board the Deerhound at about mile,
while the Alabama's officer tells me tina,
she was mile and a half away from the
kearsage when she fired the first sho. -
BE this as it may, it is certain that the Al
ALBANIA commenced the firing, and as i. IS
known that her guns were pointed for
range of 2 coo yards, and tha. the second
shot she fred, in about half minute af.
ter the first, went right into the Kearsage,
that may be AIKEN as the real distance be-
tween the two ships. The firing became
general from Doth vessels at distance of
a little under mile, and was well sustain
ed on both sides, MIR. Lancaster's express
ion being that at DO time during the action
were they less than quarter Of a mile
from each other. Seven complete circles
were made sin the period over. which the
fight lasted.
Ii was estimated on board the Deer
hound that the Alabama fired in all about
$50 rounds, some single guns, and some
in broaIsides of three or four, and the
Kearsaoe abou, 100 Guns. .he majority If
which were I1-inch shells. The Alaba.
mas were principally Blakely's pivot GUNS.
In the early part of the action the relative
firing was about three from the Alabama
to one from the Kearsace, bu. as it pro-
crossed the latter gained the ADVANTAGE,
having apparently much greater power
OF steam. She appeared to have an ad
vantage owe: the Alabama of about three
knots an hour, and steam was seen rush
ing out of her blowpipe all through the
action, while the Alabama seemed 10 have
very little steam on. At lenoth the Ala.
bama's rudder was disabled BY one of her
opponents heavy shells, and they hoisted
sails; but it was reported to Can't Sem.
mes by one of his officers that his ship was
sinking. With great bravery the guns
were kept ported ill the muzzles we're &C
tually under water, and the last shot from
the doomed ship was fired as she was set
Ting down. When the stern was com
ple'ely under water Capt. Semmes gave
orders for the men to save themselves as
best they could, and every one jumped in
to the sea and swan 10 the boats which
had put off to their rescue. Those of
them who were wounded were ordered by
Capt Semmes to be placed in the Alaba
mas boats and taken on board the Kear-
sage, which was, as far as possible, obey
ed. Capt. Semmes and number of 9th
GERS, were saved in the Deerhound's boats,
and when it was ascertained that The wa
ter was clear of everyone that had life left
and that no more help could be rendered,
the yacht steamed away for Cowes, and
thence to Southampton.
Throughout the action the Deerhound
kept about mile to windward of the com.
batants, and was enabled to witness the
whole Of it. Mr. Lancaster is clearly of
opinion that i. was the Kearsage's 11-inch
shells which gave her the ADVANTAGE. and
that, after what h has witnessed on this
occasion, wooden ships stand no chance
whatever against shells. Both vessels fired
well into each others hull, and the wards
and mas:s were not much damaged The
mainmast of the Alabama had been struck
by shot, and, as the vessel was sinking,
broke off and fell into the sea, throwing
soma men who varo in tho ma;pto, ;n+o