Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-07-17
THE ALABAMA"
The Confederate Cruisers
Last Engagement.
how She Was Sunk By The "Kearsarge'
OFF the French Coast.

From an account of 'Iife on the Ala
bama," by one of her sailors, in the Cen
tnry, we quote the following: 'We got
everything ship-shape and left Cherbourg
for our last cruise on a bright Sunday
morning, June 10th. We were escorted
by French armored vessel, and when
we got outside we could sec the Kearsarge
awaiting us, about four miles away.
Captain Semmes made us a short speech
which was well received, though it seemed
odd to me that an American should ap-
peal to an Englishman's love Of glory to
animate him to fight the speakers own
countrymen. But we \cheered, and the
French ship leaving US, we steamed
straight for the Kearsarge. There is no
doubt that Semmes was furried and COM
menced firing too soon. We were, l
should say, nearly mile away, and l do
not think a single shot told. The enemy
circled around us and did not return our
fire until within seven or eight hundred
yards and then she let us have it, The
first shot that struck us made the ship
reel and shake all over I was serving on
one of the thirty-two Founders, and my
sponger was an old man-o'-war's man,
who remarked, after look out of the
port, we might as well fire batter pud-
dens as these pop-guns: a few more biffs
like that last and we may turn turtle
He had scarcely spoken when shell
burst under our pivot-gun, fitting it out
of range and killing five of the crew.
what is wrong with the rife-gun? was
asked. we don't seem to be doing the
enemy any harm,' while with slow preci-
sion came the crash Of the heavy shell of
the Yankee. One missile that seemed as
big as haystack whizzed over our heads,
taking section of the port bulwarks
away, fortunately missing a man that
was handling shot. He only remarked
that he believed the Yankee was firing
'steam-b'ilers' at us. Another shell
list to port SO that our gun weighing
three tons raced in, pinning one poor
fellow against the port-sill. He died be-
fore we could get him clear. This was
the missile that sunk the Alabama.
She's going DOWN. was the cry, and all
was confusion. Another shell struck
about the water-l1ne, and the vessel reelcd
like q drunken man. The dead and
wounded were lying about the deck,
which was red with blood. Our officers
did their duty and the men at once be-
gan to get up the wounded. The cutter
and launch were in the water, and the
officers were trying to keep the men back
till the wounded were all in but certain
" many of them were left, for saw sew
eral on the bcrth-dcck when l went be
low, and the boats were then full anc
pushing off. When it was certain tha
the ship was sinking, all order was at al
end. | had e1O and watch in lock
er between decks, and l ran below, bu
they were gone.
"'All hands on dcck-ship's goin!
down. was called, and | had just 90
on the upper step Of the forward compan
ion-way when the water, entering th
berth-deck ports, forced the air up an'
almost carried me off my legs. Cas-
my eyes around for moment Old Gill
with his Bead crushed under the carriag
of the eight-inch gun, was lying there
his brawny hands clinching the breast {
| his jumper. Just as the water came Owe
the stern | went over the port bulwarks
was good swimmer, and had not bee
in the water FIVE minutes when q Frenc
! pilot-boat came running past, and
brawny fellow in petticoats and top-boo
: dragged me out of the water"