Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-02
HOWTHE ALABAMA SUNK.
Victory of the Kearsarge-A
Bloody Scene on the Con-
federate Cruisers Deck.
'. 3. Howard in the Philadelphia Weekly

W. E. Howard in the Philadelphia Weekly
Tines
The Kearsarge steamed away to sea-
ward until about nine or ten miles
from the breakwater, when she veered
aud headed direct for the Alabama.
That stepped the chaf the boys had
been passing around about her having
weakened and turned tail, and each
one seemed to realize at last that this
was to be no child's play. By thi
time about three miles interviewed be.
tween the belligerents, which was
rapidly being decreased. When with.
in mile and a quarter from the
Kearsarge the Alabama veered, pre-
sented her starboard broadside, and
opened the ball by firing her one
hundred and ten pound riAed pivot at
an elevation for two thousand yards
range, followed simultaneously by a
whole broadside. The guns were
worked and served with the utmost
rapidity, and in few minutes anoth-
er broadssde was poured in, when the
Kearsarge, being about this time three
hundred yards distant, presented her
starboard battery and the firing be-
came general The spirit of carnage
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, under full head of steam,
forged ahead, steering so as to pass the
Alabama stern and rake her fore
and aft, and also get between her and
the shore. This maneuver was check
mated by a port helm. causing both
vessels to move in a circle revolving
around common centre distant from
each other about five or six hundred
yards The firing, meantime, contin-
ued with undated vigor. The steady
directness of the fire from the Kear-
sarge now began to be felt. The elev-
en.inch shells poured into the ill-fated
Alabama with sickening regularity and
precision, dealing death and destruc-
tion on every hand. Guns were dis
mounted aud their crews decimated
by single shot. Early in the action
she'll struck the blade of the fan,
breaking it off and injuring the rud
del. Another landed in the engine
room and tore things to pieces, DANA
ging the machinery, making a hole in
the boiler, and flooding the stoke-hole
with boiling water.
On deck the prospect was no more
cheering. Men dropped dead, cut in
twain by shot or shell, while the
groans OF the wounded, struck by the
crashing Of the flying splinters, min
gled with the muttered curses of the
seaman and the hoarse orders of gun
ners and officers. At half past twelve
Mr.. Kell had jib and ioretopsails
hoisted, and attempted to stand in
towards shore, distant about this time
about FIVE miles. This was prevented
by her opponent ranging UP and pour
log in raking fire Of shot and shell.
Words were passed aft almost iInme-
diately that the vessel was sinking,
whereupon a flag of truce was sus-
pended from the.quarter and the new
officer Sinclair, sent in a boat to sur
render the vessel. During his abb
sence the whale boat, dingy, and three
others were launched, and prepar, :
tions made to desert the doomed yes
sci. Before they could be perfected,
however, she settled 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 in "a few seconds sufficcd
to engulf the shattered hulk of the
late scourge of the seas. Struggling
in the vortex were many of her crew,
and the Efforts of Sinclair, who had
received permission from Captain
| Winelow to return and rescue the sur
vivors, were 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
Alabama, with the boats OF the Deor-
| hound, we'll froighted, made quietly
for the yacht, which Immediately
steamed to the northwarl, bearing
safely away from captivity Captain
Semmes and a majority of his best
bowers" while the cutter transferred
their cargoes to The Kearsarge. One
pilot boat turned over those she had
rescued to the same sheltering care
while the other one stood in for the
ehore and aided in the escape Of those
who we're lucky enough to get on board
other. The Kearsarge picked up and
had transferred to her decks total Of
| FIVE officers, sixty-three men, and one
dead body. Semmes, on board of the
Deerhound, reached southampton
with thirteen of his officers and near
thirty Of his crew and petty officers
The pilot boat landed quite a number
and the killed and drowned we're
never accounted for.
Il