The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-04-15
THE ALABAMA"
The Confederate Cruisers
Last Engagement.
How She Was Sunk By the "Xearsarge''
OF the French Coast.

From an account of "Life on the Ala
bama," by one of her sailors, in the Cen
tury, we quote the following: 'We got
everything ship-shape and left Chcrbourg
for our last cruise on bright Sunday
morning, June 10Th. We were escorted
by French armored vessel, and when
we got outside we could see the Kearsarge
awaiting us, about four miles away.
Captain Semmes made us 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 Semmcs was flurried and COM
menced firing too soon. We were, !
should say, nearly mile away, and do
not think 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. was serving ON
one of the thirtytwo 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: few more bitfs
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 rifle -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
struck. us amidships, causing the ship to
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-llne, and the vessel reeled
| like 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
ly many of them were left, for saw sew
eral on the berth-deck when | went be-
low, and the boats were then full and
pushing off. When it was certain that
the ship was sinking, all order was at ar
end. l had e10 and watch in lock.
er between decks, and l ran below, but
they were gone.
"'All hands on deck-ships going
down. was called, and had just got
on the upper step of the forward compan
ion-way when the water, entering tht
berth deck ports, forced the air up and
almost carried me off my legs. cas-
my eyes around for a moment. Old Gill
with his head crushed under the carriage
of the eight-inch gun, was lying there
his brawny hands clinching the breast o.
his jumper. Just as the water came ovel
the stern went over the port bulwarks
] was good swimmer, and had not beer
in the water five minutes when French
pilot-boat came running past, and
brawny fellow in petticoats and top-boot
dragged me out of the water"