The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-02

driven for protection under neutral flags one
Salf or the enemy's commerce. which at the be-
ginning of the war covered every sea- This is an
achievement of which you may well be proud;
and grateful country will not be unmindful or
1t. The name OF your ship has become house
hold word wherever civilization extends. Shall
TINT name be tarnished by defeatl The thing is
impossible. Remember that you are in the Eng
lish channel the theater OF so much OF the naval
glory of our race and that the eyes OF all Europe
are at this moment upon You. Tho flag that
hoatsover you is that OF a young republic who
bids defiance TO her enemies whenever and
wherever found. Show the world that you
know how TO uphold it. Go to your quarters.
News of the coming combat spread
through Cherbourg. Paris and all Europe.
and when the Alabam. came creeping out
of her neutral harbor she was accompanied
by the French irOnclad frigate Couronne
and little steamer bearing the flag OF the
royal yacht squadron. Arrangements had
been made to telegraph to. the world
another conquest for the Alabama. whose
former victories had been q good deal like
that OF the big bully who stole the little
boys sweets and then boasted OF his
sprowess. --s. ~
TIE Kearsarge, ready and anxious for the
fray. as soon as the Alabama was seen COM
Ing. tired up and ran outside the nentral
waters. Captain WInsiow had long head;
he didn't propose TO fight a battle which he
meant to be to the death with a sneaking
enemy which he knew would getOn neutral
water If possible the instant the tide of
battle seemed to turn against it. Seven
miles out. at IL o'clock In the morning of q
day that was as fair and on a sea that was
as calm as mill pond under June sun,
the Kearssrge turned her nose around as
though to scent the enemy. The Alabama
promptly saluted her with O full broadside
from her starboard battery and at the same
time slowed up her Engines. The shot cut
some of the Kearsarse rigging. but did no
other damage. Three broadsides in all were
fired before the Kearsarge spoke. The fine
"English gunners." of whom the rebel
have lost their grip. for the solid shot
hurtling through the air flew far wide of
the mark.
COMING TO CLOSE QUARTERS.
Captain WInslow was determined not to
lOso any of his ammunition, and steamed
for close quarters. which the Alabama tried
to avoid. When the KearsarGe got within
nine hundred yards of the pirate she
turned loose with her starboard battery
and set her machinery In motion. 80 that
she could take position from which to
rake the Alabama. Both vessels " ere under
: full head of steam. and as the Alabama
sheered OF so as to keep her broadside
trained On the koarsarge both vessels were
forced into circular movement, steaming
in opposite directions round q common
center, this center shifting with each revO-
luton. BOyntOn says: Had the action
been fought parallel lines. with the
Alabama heading in shore. she would have
reached the line OF jurisdiction. and thus
in circles. she was five miles from the shore
when. at the close of the action, she at
tempted to run into Cherbourg."
The Alabama kent up a rapid firing at
the Kearsarge. but her aim was wild and
the damage she did was inconsiderabie.
Not man was hurt aboard the Kearsarge
in the first eighteen minutes of the fight.
Admiral Porter says: The superior train
ing of the Kearsarge's crew was evident
from the beginning of the action, their
guns telling fearfully on the hull and spars
of the confederate. On the seventh rota-
tion on tho circular track the Alabama set
her foresall and two libs with head in shore.
Her speed was now retarded, and by wind.
ing her. the port broadside wac presen ted
to the kearsarge with only two guns bear
ing, being able TO shift but one gun from
the starboard side. At this time the Ala
bama was completely at the mercy of the
kearsarge. and a few more well directed
shots brought down the confederate flag.
Fifteen minutes after the action CON-
menced tho spanker gaH of the Alabama
was shot away and her flag came down,
but was immediately hOisted at the miZZen.
The kearsarges shot told fearfully on the
Alabama's hull. killing and woundinR
mum bers OF men in different parts OF the
ship. Slxty.fve minntes after the com.
mencement of the fight the Alabama was
discovered TO be sinking, an eleven-inch
she'll having entered her side near the
water line. making a huge aparture through
which the water poured in torrents For q
moment Semmes had an idea of escaping.
and crowded on steam and sail, heading
the Alabama for the French coast. but the
fires In the engine room were coon extin-
guished and be was obliged TO surrender"
The pirate commander asserted that the
kearsarge fred on him five times after be
hauled down his colors. but all the other
evidence went to show that Semmes 6ed.
When the spanker gaff went down. carry
ing the rebel stars and bars with IL, Cap
tain Winslow was not sure whether the
colors had been struck or not. so ordered
the kearsarge tQ reserve her fire. just
then the Alabama run up the white flag
and opened broadside with two of her
port guns. Naturally, the Kearsarge talked
back emphatically. AT the same time she
steamed down and put herself across the
Alabamas bow in position to rake her. but
seeing that the white flag still streamed on
the breeze. the Kesrsarge again reserved
her fire. While the Kearsarge rested for n
moment, uncertain whether the enemy
meant what its white fiag said or whether
it was usingit TO mako another sneak. the
Alabamas boats were lowered snd filled
with wounded: one of them pulled along
side the kearsarge and turned over the snf-
ferinR men TO the conquerors. In less than
twenty minutes the Alabama PLUNGED into