National Republican., 1881-07-05
HOW THE ALABAMA SUNK.
Victory ofthe Hcnrsnrge-A MOODY Scene
on thc Confederate Cruiser's Deck

on VIC cNouteuerhNc NrutAcr'h Deck
The Kearsarge steamed away TO sea-
ward until about nine or ten miles from the
brcakwater, when she vccred and headed direct
for the Alabama. That stopped the chaT the boys
had been passing around about her having weak
cncd and turned tail, and each one seemed to
realize at last that this was to be childs play.
by this time about three miles interviewed between
the bclligercnts, which was rapidly being de.
creased. When within about n mile and n quarter
from the Kcarsorgo the Alabama veered present.
ing her starboord broadsidc, and opened the bnll
by firing her one hundred and ten. FOUNDER rined
pivot at an elevation for two thousand yards
range, followed simultaneously by n whole broad.
side. The guns were worked and served with the
utmost Tapidiy, and IN few minutes another
broads!de was poured in, when the Kearsarge,
being by this time about eight hundred yards
distant, presented her starbonrd battery and the
firing became general The spirit Of carnage had
begun to animate the crow aud the desire TO be
the upper dog in the fight stirred each man to
emulation. few broadsidcs passed when the
kearsarge under full head Of steam, forged ahead,
steering so as to pass the Alabama's stern and
rake her fore and aft and also get between her
aud the shore, This manmuvre was chcckmatcd
by port helm, causing both vessels to move In
circle revolving around common centre distant
from cNch other about five or six hundred yards
The firing, meantime, continued with unabatod
vigor The steady drectncsS Of the fire from the
kearsarge now began TO be felt Tho eleven.
inch shells poured into the i'll fitted Alabama with
sickening regularity and precision, dealing death
and destruction on every hand. Guns were dis.
mounted and their crews decmatcd by n single
shot Early in the action shell struck the blade
ofthe fan, breaking 1t or and iniuriug the ruddor
Another landed in the engine room and tore
things all to pieces damaging the machinery,
making a hole in the boiler, and flooding the
stoke hole with boiling water.
On deck the prospect was no moro cheering.
Men dropped dead, cut in twain by shot or she'll
while the gronns Of the wounded, struck by the
crashing or flying splntcrs, mingled with the NUT
tered curses Of the scamcn and the hoarsc orders
Of gunncrs md officers. At haf-pnst twelve
Mr. Kcll had ilb and forctopsails hoistcd, and at.
tempted to stand in toward shore, distant by this
time about five miles This was prevented by
her opponent ranging up aud pouring in n rnk-
ing fire OF shot and she'll Word was passed aft
almost Immediately that the vessel was sinking,
whercupln flag OF truce was suspended from
the quarter and the new officer, Sinclair, sent in
boat to surrender the vessel. During his alb
sccnce the whale. boat, dingy and three cutters
were launched, and preparations made to desert
tho doomed vessel Before they could be per.
fectcd, however, she settled by the stcrn her head
rising high out Of the water The mninmast
which had been already badly shattered by the
firing, went by the board, and few seconds suf-
hCod 10 engllph the shattered hulk Of the late
scourge of the seas. Struggling in the vortex
were many Of her crow, and the efforts Of Sin
ciair who had received permission from Captain
Winslow to return and rescue the survivors, were
soon ably seconded by the boats of the Deer
hound, two cutters nom the Kearsarge and
two French pilot boats who were near the spot.
The whale boat and dingy Of the Alabama, with
the boats of the D2orhound, well frcighted,
made quickly for the yacht which Immediately
steamed to the northward, bearing safely AWAY
from captivity Captain Scmmos aud n majority of
his "best bowers while the cutters transferred
their cargoes TO the, ,Kearsargc. one pilot. boat
turned over those she had redcucd to the same
shcltcring care, while the other one stood In for
shore and aided in the escape Of those who were
lucky enough to get on board Of her. The Kcar-
sarge picked mp and had transferred to her decks
a total OF five officers, siXy.threc men, and one
dead body. Semmcs, on board OF the Dcerhound,
reached southampton with thirteen of his officers
and near thirty of his crew and petty officers The
pilot-boat landed quite a number, aud the killed
and drowned were never accounted for.-W f.
HOCdrd IN the PRVdi,lphid HC6kly Times