The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-07-18
ROWLEY'S GALLANT DEED.
How He Saved the War ship Kearsaree
IN the Fight With the Alamaba.

| IN the Fight With the Alamaba.
Augusta Me- letter in Boston Globe:
| 1T was beautiful Sunday morning 10
June, said Richard Rowley an inmate
OF the Soldiers Home at Togus, when
the Alabama steamed out of the harbor
OF Cherbourg. She had been busy since
we sent the challenge in making prepara-
| tlons Tor the coming conflict, and, as we
afterward learned from the prisoners.
they did not experience an idea but what
| they would be victorious. She was
| magnificent ship, and I can remember
with what excitement we made ready for
the deadly conflict. Captain Winslow
was as cool as cucumber, and gave his
orders with as much c-olness as if he
| had been safe in Boston harbor. Fol
| lowing the Alabama was a French iron
clad, and au English yacht, having on
board many ladies, who had come to see
| the fight. We took no particular notice
| of them at the time, but had occasion to
| remember them afterward. The Kear-
sarge Immediately put to sea, the Alab-
ama following, for Captain Winslow did
not propose that there should afterward
| be any question as to jurisdiction; the
| hight must take place In Neutral waters.
| when the kearsarge turned about and
headed straight for the Alabama. As we
| neared the Alabama she opened fire on
| us, but as her firing was SO wild we con.
| cluded she was firing at random. The
kearsarge did not fire shot until we
were within ZOO yards of the Alabama,
when the order was given to open fire. Up
| to this time we had experienced no damage
except cutting away some Of the rigging.
One big shell imbedded itself in the
kearsarge's quarter, close by the propel-
| Ter, which if 1t had exploded, would have
| blown away the whole stern. The next
| she'll that struck the vessel killed one
man and wounded number of others.
The shells were falling all around us
thick and fast. 1t was at this juncture
the Conflict was most exciting to me, and
an incident happened in which L was
personally Interested. We had been
| fighting some over an hour and a half
and 1t was evident that we were creating
sid havoc
ON BOARD THE ALABAMA
| and they were growing desperate. The |
gun Of which L had charge had been
loaded for another shot, and l was just
on the point OF sighting the piece when
100 pound rifle shell from the Alabama
struck the side of the gun, which broke
the force of the shot, and fell on the deck.
| The fuse was burning in if, and in an
other instant it would have exploded. !
| Had it done so, there is no doubt but
that would have been the end of the
kearsarge ard all on board. 1 never
| could understand why did SO, but L al
most mechanically rushed for the shell
and picking it up in my arms, carried
| 1t to the side of the vessel and threw it
| into the sea. In doing so my whskers
and mustache were burned to the skin.
| 1t exploded as soon as it touched the
water, throwing the spray high in the air.
cit was all done IN an instant, and I
| did not realize the danger or what had
done until it was all over. Captain Win
slow was standing on the bridge not ten
| feet away and witnessed the whole pro
ceedings, as also did most of the crew.
As picked up the shell I repeated a
| phrase, a favorite one of mine, whichiI had
always used when exposed to any danger:
Jesus, save me now.' / did not know
| that l said it, but l must have, for Cap
| tain Wlnslow says he heard me above the
roar and noise of the cannonade. A
solid silver badge which l have worn
| since was given me by the Secretary of
the Navy when L landed in Washington.
| Captain Winslow said that his heart
was III his mouth, for he had no idea
but what the shell would explode in my
arms before | could throw it overheard
He at once gave the orders to man the
rigging and give three cheers for Rowley
the Quartermaster. L hope I do not ap-
pear vain if [ say that was proud of the
distinction which Captain Winslow &C
corded me, although at the time l did
not realize that l had done anything
great. The cheers were given with a
will. L went back to my gun and put
shot into the Alabama which made her
shake from stem to stern. The crew of
the Alabama heard the cheers, and as
they afterward told us, they could not
understand it. From that moment
THEY LOST COURAGE.
| The Alabama was fast sinking, and
they had run up flag of truce. After
ward boat came alongside and said that
Captain Semmes had surrendered. We
only had two available boats to send to
rescue the crew. Before we could get
them aboard the Alabama began to set
t.e and the crew began to jump into the
sea. In short space of time she threw
her bow into the air and went beneath the
waves, the rebel flags still flying.
II know there has been some contro-
versy as to whether she sunk with her
colors flying. [ maintain that she did
| remember it as well as if it were yester-
day. We picked up what of the crew we
could, but great many were drowned.
Captain Semmes of the Alabama, jump
cd into the sea and was picked up by
The English yacth Greyhound and escap-
I'd in her. The Kearsarge then steamed
II Cherbourg harbor and began firing a
s ,lue with her heaviest gun, which awoke
the people for miles aroun l."