The morning call., 1894-02-10
THE LOSS OF THE KEARSARGE

Comm ander Heyerman will be held to
strict account for the loss of the Kear-
sarge. 1t is. to say the least, very unfor
innate business. The ship was on hel
way from Port au Prince. Havti. to the
coast of Nicaragua, and within $50 miles OF
land when the accident occurred. That
portion of the Caribbean is not difficult
sea to navigate. 1t abounds with reefs
called GAYS. but they are all down in the
CHARTS, and mariners know where 20 look
out for them 1t would seem that there is
no excuse for vessel running her nose on
the Roncador if the sailing-master is care
full to take regular observations.
SO ends another Of the memorial ships
OF the war. We should not think much of
the Kearsarge as warship to-day. Her
displacement was only 1850 tons, and she
was built to steam eleven knots. She was
wholly unarmored. Her battery was
mostly Anticipated. But small and slow
and defenseless as she would seem to mod
ern shipbuilders, she. rendered woman
service at time when that service was
sorely needed. In the three years the war
had lasted the Alabama had practically
swept the American merchant flag from
the ocean. The Alabama was welcome in
British and French ports, ana had no diff
Guilty In revictualing and refilliDg her coal
bunkers and magazines. She had an ad-
mlrable crew, consisting Of men of all
nations they were at times nsubordinate
but they could fight. and Semmes made it
his business TO see that they were well fed
and well clothed.
The North ragged at the impunity with
which this single craft captured merchant
man after merchantmen and raised the
rate of insurance on American bottoms to
such point that ii was almost as expen-
sive to escape the Alabama as to be cap
tured by her, The Kearsarge was placed
under the command of Captain John A.
WinSlow, one of the most enterprising and
gallant officers of the navy. He was from
North Carolina, but was loyal to the back
bone. Many San Frauciscans will remem-
Der him as rear-admiral, commanding the
Pacific feet in 1S71-72. The Alabama was
known to be in European waters. Win
slow accordingly sailed for Flushing, and
there learning that Semmes was at Cher
bourg steamed for that port. Two stories
have been told of the motives which actu-
ated Semmes' behavior; one is that be was
tired OF preying on defenseless vessels and
wanted TO show that he could fight; the
other is that he knew Winslow and felt
certain the KearssrRe would not let him
escape. Whatever the truth may be. he
sent word to his antagonist that he would
accept battle.
The story of the fight is familiar to
schoOlboys. A few features are some
times forgotten. There is no doubt that
she'll from the Alabama penetrated the
stern post OF the Kearsarge and would
have done much damage If it had exploded.
1t did not explode. however. The shell
was not properly loaded, the fault of the
discipline of the ship. The fight was won
by the superior Runnery of the crew of the
kearsarge. 1t must also be remembered
especially by sal0rs-that naval authori-
ties have never excused Semmes for
throwing his sword into the sea instead of
surrendering it to CAPTAIN Winslow, whose
property it was. and for escaping on an
Engl ish vessel after surrendering.