Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-01-29

with canister, but did not wish to sac
iifice any more lives. The Alabama
could not strike her colors The laws
Of her mizzen gaff were shot away, and
her peek hung in the spankerboom
top-lifts, the flag still flying. An old
English tar Skinned up the top-lifts
and cut off the tail of the flag, and
standing on the beam held it up for a
flag of truce. They then lowered .
boat, which came alongside the Kear
sarge. 1t contained four men, who
looked like Englishmcn. 'Who are
you ? asked Winslow.
"Officers of the Alabama"
Where is Semmes ?"
what do you wantr
ave came TO surrender.
GAS the Alabama was sinking they
were directed to return and assist in
picking up the crew. Winslow also re.
quested the Deerhound to render assist.
ance. She steamed up and lowering
her boats picked up number of men,
but the Alabama's boat containing the
four alleged officers, pulled straight to
the Deerhound and Jumping on board
sent their boat adrift without saving q
man. The Deerhound then immedia.
tely steamed up the channel, leaving
most of the Alabama crew to take their
chances in the water. Lord Lancaster
had secured Semmes and a portion OF
the English crew and abandoned the
rest, including the wounded, to their
fate"
"One officer OF the Alabama, Second
Lieutenant Wilson, from Georgia, /
think, acted the part of hero in this
crisis. / had noticed him during the
engagement, and remarked his active
efficiency, and now in the hour of dis
aster, undismayed by perils, he worked
manfully to save his wounded men
from watery grave; and when his
work was accomplished he came on
board like a man and surrendered up
his sword, proud in the consciousness
of having well performed his whole
duty. know not what has become
of him, but whether living or dead, |
take pleasure in bearing testimony TO
his gallant conduct, so much in con.
trast with that of his superiors who
sneaked away in the treacherous Deer
hound, abandoning TO their fate the
man who, up to the last moment, had
stood by them faithfully"
"Our prisoners received the kindest
possible treatment were furnised dry
clothing, and had their grog along with
the crew. Many of them had papers
with them, and | assisted in spreading
them out and drying them, and found
many discharges from the British ser.
vice, some OF the men-of-war's men,
discharged in the Crimean War, in '56,
57 and So. With the Alabama crew
was an old shipmate Of mine, John
Hughes, who told me that at 2 o'clock
that morning the Deerhound ran along
side and transferred large number OF
man IN tho cabin OF the Alabama, and
that when the engagement opened
these men rushed out and took charge
of the guns. In 1868 | was in Europe,
in the call ship Macedonian, and at
Portsmouth fell in with several Brit
ish sailors who served that day on
board the Alabama, and escaped in the
Deerhound. They were paid $40 fol-
their services, and were selected from
Her Majesty g shlpExcellent, on account
of their superior skill as gunners, and
were then in the British service. 1t is
not probable that this could be done
without the knowledge of the English
Admiralty.
"But to return to the scene OF action
During the engagement the hills
around Cherbourg and the Breakwatei
were crowded with people, and when
the Alabama went under they cheered
Justify, supposing it to be the Kear
sarge but as soon as the smoke clear
cd away we undeceived them. rar
up my flags, 16 feet to the fore, 10 feet
TO the mizzen, and &c feet at the gaf
end. The last flag / sent 10 Washing
ton with description Of the battle
written on tho head Of the flag. Thus
guilty decorated, in token OF our tri
umph, we defantly Haunted Ameri
can bunting in the face Of the hostile
monarchies of England and France.
Gas soon as we cast anchor at Cher
bourg the French Admiral rendered
the use OF their hospital for the wound
cd Captain Winslow paroled the Eng
lish Surgeon of the Alabama and sem
him ashore to get the place in readi
ness for the wounded British. He went
but we never heard of his stopping any
place. 1t was the last we saw OF him
| DR.. Browne, of our ship, then wen
ashore with the wounded. We had bul
two wounded men, John Dempsy and
VIM. Gone. Gone died, and the Kear
sarge crew have erected beautiful
monument over his grave.
aOn the 3lst of June the Alabams
crew were paid off in Cherbourg by
the Brazilian Consul who was also
acting Confederate Consul, and shortly
after The Kearsarpe sailed for America
| did not return with her. but went to
London IN obedience to a summons
from Hon. Charles Francis Adams
American Minister to the Court of st
James. ! there gave full account ol
the affair. all of which was reduced to
writing by the Minister'S Secretary,
and no doubt found its way to the De.
partment of State, and perhaps had
something to do in making up the &c
neva Award.
"On nv return to America was
summoned before the Secretary of the
Navy, Hon. Gideon wellcs, and again
underwent a critical examination, which
lasted several days, all of my state
ments being written out in full. Mr.
! Adams and Mr.. wellcs both treated