The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-08
THE KEARSARGE.

THE Merchants week COMMITTEES has en-
gagged the steamer Planter from Charlest on
TO carry excursion parties from the city to
where the Philadelphia lies of Tybee. The
Planter will make three round trips daily
from the foot Of Drayton street. She is a
Thoroughly worthy boat and is the only au-
thorized excursion boat of the association.
THE SHIP THE KEARsARGE FOUGHT.
The Alabama was built for speed rather
than for battle. Her lines were
symmetrical and fine, her material of the
best. In fifteen minutes her propeller
could be hoisted, and she could go through
every evolution under sail without any i'm
pedtment. In less time her propeller could
bs lowered; with sails furled and yards
braced within two points Of a headwind,
she was perfect steamer. "Her speed, in :
pedendent, was from ten to twelve knots
combined. aud under favorable circum-
s seen knos sas SSSa m resdT f fI
sea. she drew fifteen feet Of water. She was
brigantine rugged, with long lower masts.
which enabled her TO carry an immense
spread Of lower canvas and TO lay close to
to the wind. Her engines were 800 horse
power, with a condensing apparatus.
Her armament consisted OF eight
guns-one Blakely 100>poundar rified gun,
pivoted forward; one 8-inch solid shotgun
pAfObCd hOuLG buS lu1luHdhJs duu Blk OK
Founders in broadside. The crew numbered
1870 men and 81 officers.
SOME ALABAMA POETRY.
1t was popular belief on board the Ala
bama that Capt. Semmes had bsen parson
This fact inspired many curious sailor dit
ties. such for instance. as the following:
o, our captain said, when my fortunes made
I'll buy a church to preach in,
And fill 1t full of toots aud horns,
And have 1OllX Methodist ~
And III pray the Lord from night to morn
To weather old Yankee Doodle,
And III run hinfaut sunday school
With part OF the yankee Doodle.
THE ARRIVAL AT CAERBoURG.
On June IL, 1854. the Alabama, after
cruising for some time along the coast of
Brazil and straits Of Java, entered the port
OF Cherbourg and at once applied for per-
mission to 20 into dock. There being none
but national docks the Emperor Napoleon
III. had first to be communicated with be-
fore permission could be granted, and he
was absent from Paris. 1t was during this
Interval of waiting that the federal
steamer kearsarge steamed into
port, for the purpose, it was
understood, of taking on board the prison.
ers the Alabama had landed from her two
last prizes. Capt. Semmes. however, OBJ
Jected to this. ION the ground that the
Kearsarge was adding to her crew in a
neutral port" The authorities conceding
this objection valid. the Kearsarge steamed
ous OF the harbor without anchoring. After
she left the harbor Capt. Semmes said 60 bis
chief executive officer, John NJ. kell of
Georgia:
II am going to fight the Kearsarge; what
do you think of itp
THE CHALLENGER.
AS re suit of the discussion that ensued
a
the confederate agent that If Capt. Wins
low would wait outside the harbor he
would fight him as soon as he could could
coal ship.
The next morning Sunday, June 19), be-
tween 8 and 10 o'clock, the Alabama
weighed anchor and stood out of the vest
ern entrance of the harbor, the French
day was bright and beautiful, with light
breezs blowing.
CAME TO SEE THE FIGHT.
The report of the fight had been noYsed
abroad, and many persons from Paris
and the surrounding country had
come down to witness the engagement.
As the Alabama rounded the breakwa ter
Capt. Semmes discovered the Kearsarge
about seven miles to the northeast. When
everything was ready for action on board
the Alabama Capt. Semmes mounted a gun
carriage and made the following address:
SEMMES TO HIS CREW.
"Ofiicers and seamen OF the Alabama:
You have at length another opportunity of
meeting the enemy-the first that has been
presented to you since you sunk the Hat
teras. In the meantime you have been all
over the world. aud it is not too much to
say that you have destroyed and driven for
protection under neutral flags one-half of
the enemy's commerce, which at the begins
nt7g of the war covered every Sea. This
is an achievement OF which you may well
be proud, and grateful country will not
be upmindful of it. The name OF your
ship has become a household word where
ever civilization extends Shall that name
be furnished by deteati The thing is i'm
possiblel Remember that you are in