Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-07-22
HOW THE ALABAMA SUNK

The Kearsargc steamed away to SEES
ward until about nine or ten miles from
the breakwater, when she veered anc
headed direct for the Alabama. That
stopped the chaff the boys had been
passing around about her having weak.
ened and turned tail, and each one
seemed to realize at last that this was to
he no child's play. By this time about
three miles interviewed between the bel
ligeients, which was rapidly being de-
creased. When within about mile
and quarter from the Kearsarge the
Alabama vcered, presenting her star
board broadside, and opened the ball
10y firing her ITO FOUNDER rifed pivot rs
an elevation for 1000 yards range, fol-
lowed almost simultaneously by whole
bloalside. The guns were worked and
served with the utmost rapidity, and in
few minutes another broadside was
poured in, when the Kearsarge, being
by this time about 800 yards distant,
presented her starboard battery, and the
firing became general. The spirit OF
carnage hal 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 Kear-
sarge, under full head of steam, forged
ahead, steering 30 rs to pass the Ala
bama's stern and rake her fore and aft,
and also get between her and the shore.
This lnaneuver was checkmated by o
port helm, causing both vessels to move
III circle, revolving round common
center, distant from each other about
800 or 600 yards. The fire 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 i'll
iatcd Alabama with sickening regularity
and precision, dealing death and de-
struction on every hand. Guns were
dismomted and their crews decimated
by single shot. Early in the action q
shell struck the blade of the fan, break
ing ii short off and injuring the rudder.
Another landed in the engine-room and
tore things all to pieces, damaging the
machinery, making hole in the boiler,
and flooding the stoke-hole with boiling
water.
On the deck the prospect was no more
cheering. Men dropped dead, cut in
twain by shot and shell, by the crash
ing and flying splinters, mingled with
the muttcred curses OF the seamen and
the hoarse orders OF gunners and officers.
At 1890, Mr.. Kell had iib and foretop-
sails hoistcd and attempted to stand in
toward shore, distant by this time about
five miles. This was prevented by her
opponent ranging up and pouring in a
ranking fire of shot and shell. Word
was passed aft almost Immediately that
the vessel was sinking, whereupon o flag
of truce was suspended from the quarter
and the new officer, Sinclair, sent in q
boat TO surrender the vessel. During
his absence the whnle-boat, dingy, and
three cutters were launched, and prepa-
rations made to desert the doomed YES.
sci. Before they could be perfected
however, she settled by the stern, hel
head rising high Out of the water. The
mainmast, which had been already bad
ly shattered by the firing, went by the
board, and few seconds sufllced to in
gulf the shattered hulk of the late
scourge Of the seas. Struggling in the
vortex were many of the crew, and the
efforts of Sinclair, who had received per
mission from Capt. Winslow to return
and rescue the survivors, were soon ably
seconded by the boats OF the Deerhound
two cutters from tho Kearsarge and two
French pilot-boats, who were near the
spot. The whale-boat and dingy of thu
Alabama, with the boats of the Deer
hound, well freighted, made quickly fol
the yacht, which Immediately stcamet
to the northward, bearing safely avn!
from captivity Capt. Semmes and ma