The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-07-21
HOW THE ALABAMA SUNK,

Victory OF the hearsarSe-A Bloody Scene
on the Confederate Cruisers Deck.
The Kearsarge steamed away to seward
until about nine or ten miles from the
breakwater. when she veered and headed
direct for the Alabama. That stopped the
chaf the boys had been passing around
about hez having weakened and turned tail,
and each one seemed to realize at last that
this was to be no child's play. By this time
beligerents, which was rapidly being de-
creased When within abouta mile and
quarter from the Kearsarge the Alabama
veered, presented her starboard broadside,
and opened the ball by firing her one hun
bred and ten-pounder rifed pivot at an ele-
walton for two thousand yards range, fol-
lowed simultaneously by whole broadside.
The guns were worked and served with the
utmost rapidity, and in a few minutes an
other broadside was poured in, when the
Kearsarge, being by this time abont
eight hundred yards distant, pre-
sented her starboard battery and the
firing became general. The spirit of car
mage had begun to animate the crew and
the desire to be the upper dog in the fight
stirred each man to emulation. A few
broadsides passed when the Kearsarge, IN
der full head of steam, forged ahead, steer
ing so as to pass the Alabama's stern and
rake her fore and aft, and also get between
her and the shore. This maneuvre was
checkmated by port helm, causing both
vessels to move i'm a circle revolving around
a common centre distant from each other
about five or six hundred yards. The fir
ing, meantime, continued with undated
vigor. The steady directness of the fire
from the Kearsarge now began to be felt
The eleven-inch shells poured into the ill
fated Alabama with siekening regularity
and precision, dealing death and destruc-
ton on every hand. Guns were dismounted
and their crews decimated by single shot.
Early in the action a shell struck the blade
of the fan, breaking it off and njuring the
ruddsr. Another landed in the engine
room and tore things all to pieces, damag-
the machinery, making hole in the boiler,
and flooding the stoke-hole with boiling
water.
On deck the prospect was no more cheer
ing Men dropped dead, cut in twain by
shot or shell, while tine groans of the wound
ed, struck by the crashing or flying splinters.
mingled with, the muttered curses of the
seamen and the hoarse orders of gunners
and officers. At half-past twelve Mr.. Kell
had jib and foretopsails hoisted. and at
tempted to stand in toward shore, distant
by this time about FIVE miles. This was
prevented by her opponent ranging up and
pouring in a raking fire of shot and shell.
Word was passed aft almost Immediately
THAT the vessel was sinking, whereupon q
flag Of truce was suspended from the quar-
boat to surrender the vessel. During his
absence the whale boat, dingy, and three
cutters were launched, and preparations
made to desert the doomed vessel Before
they could be perfected, however she set
tied by the stern. her head rising high Out
of the water. The mainmast which had
been already badly shattered by the firing,
went by the board, and few seconds suficed
to engulf the shattered hulk of the late
scourge of the seas, Struggling in the
vortex were many of her crew, and the eff.
forts of Sinclair, who had received per.
mission from Captain Winslow to return
| and rescue the survivors, we're soon ably
seconded by the boats of the Deerhound
two cutters from the Kearsarge and two
| French pilot boats, who were near the spot
The whale boat and dingy of the Ala
bama, with the boats of the Deerhound
well freighted, made quietly for the yacht,
| which Immediately steamed to the north
ward, bearing safely away from captivit!
| Captain Semmes and q majority of hi
chest bowers" while the cutter transferred
| their eargoes to the Kearsarge, One pilo
boat turned over those she had rescued tc
the same sheltering care while the othe
one stood in for the shore and aided in the
escape Of those who were lucky enough tt
get on boaad of her. The Kearsarge pickle,
up and had transferred to her decks a tota
Of five officers. sixty three men, and on
dead body. Semmes, on board Of tn
Deerhound, reached Southampton Wit
thirteen of his officers and near thirty o
his crew and petty officers. The pilot boa
landed quite q number, and the killed an
drowned were never accounted for.-W
3, Hoacard IN the Philadelphie Week.
! Times.