Omaha daily bee., 1894-02-11
RONCADOS HALLOWED HULK
Distinguished Record Of the Kearsarge, Now
Stranded on a Reef.
THE DUEL WITH THE ALABAMA
The Piratical Craft of the Confederacy
Sent Co the Bottom I'm Short Order
A Battle Famous In Naval
Annals.

Kearsarge' on Roncado reef in the Gulf OF
Mexico will be received with feelings akin to
the death OF a distinguished leader in the
civil war. Dispatches intimate that 1t Is
possible to save her from destruction, and
instructions to use all efforts to that end
have been sent by the Navy department to
the officers. But the odds are against sue
cess. Rough weather, so common in trop-
zeal seas, and the age of the ship. leave scant
hope that the Kearsarge will again float the
stars and stripes she so illustriously de-
Tended in the past.
The distinguished services of the kearsarge
in the rebellion divides the honors of war
with the Hartford, which, with Admiral
Farragut, led the fleet which silenced the
forts around Mobile Bay and cleared the
lower Mississippi of rebel distractions, and
with the Monitor, which wrecked the Mer-
rimac at Hampton Roads. The kearsarge
was built at Kennery, Me-, in 1861, and was
constructed of wood. At the time she was
deemed a good vessel and was manned by
a fine set of officers during the entire period
of the rebellion.
PURSUIT OF THE ALABAMA.
The battle which made her and her of
fcers famous was the duel with the Ala
bama off Cherbourg, France, on Sunday
morning, June 19, 1864. The Alabama was
an English built confederate cruiser, COM
manded by Captain Raphael Semmes.
She had captured and destroyed a
number Of union merchantmen and
had become the terror of the
seas. To send her to the bottom was
the ambition Of every union commander,
and the pursuit of her finally became so
hot on the American coast that she sailed
for the Cape of Good Hope and cruised Oil
eastern seas. Subsequently she returned,
arriving in the English channel in June,
1864, and on the 18th of that month she
entered the French port of Cherbourg to
reit and supply herself with stores.
Within a few days the Kearsarge ar
rived. She was commanded by Captain
Winslow, a former shipmate of Captain
Semmes. The Kearsarge made a demon
stration off the port which the commander
of the Alabama took to be a challenge. He
sent notice to the United States consul that
he would sail out and fight the Kearsarge.
No challenge had been sent by Captain
Winslow, such an act being in violation of
an order of the Navy department, but
when he learned that Semmes intended TO
fight he Immediately began preparations
for the conflict. On the Saturday night
preceding the battle certain of the officers
of the Alabama met sympathizing French
friends at supper, discussed the impending
fight, expressed confidence of an easy victory
and proclaimed their intention to either sink
the federal ship or gain another corsair.
FINE A FOR A FIGHT.
Sunday dawned a fine day, with the at
mosphere somewhat haZy, a little sea and a
moderate westerly wind. The Kearsarge had
been waiting for the Alabama all the week
and speculation as to her probable advent
had been almost suspended. Suddenly at
1920 the crew, which had been dispersed
to await divine service at II o'clock, heard
the officer of the deck, who had been scan
ming an advancing vessel with his glass,
shout out one word:
"Alabamai'
Instantly the men were called to quarters
and the ship cleared for action. The con-
federate ship was escorted by La Couronne,
a French ironclad frigate, and by a fore
and aft rigged steamer, flying the
English yacht 1ag-the Deerhound. The
Kearsarge steamed away and began the
sanding of the decks, an act which always
creates sober thoughts in a sailors breast.
When a distance Of seven miles from the
shore was gained the Kearsarge turned
quickly round, steering directly for her OPP
ponent and receiving the first broadside
at a range of about 1880 yards. This
broadside cut away a little of the rigging,
but the shot chiefly passed over or fell short.
The kearsarge continued to advance, re-
ceiving a second and third broadside with
no worse consequences than the first.
THE KEARSARGE OPENS FIRE.
When about 800 yards away, fearing an
other broadside-the last being nearly rak-
ing-the Kearsarge sheered and opened with
her starboard battery. Both vessels We're
now broadside to broadside, each under a
full head of steam. One shot of the first
broadside of the Kearsarge cut away the
spanker gaff Of the enemy and brought his
ensign to the deck. The firing of the Ala
bama was rapid but wild, while that Of the
Kearsarge was deliberate and precise, and
almost from the outset productive of death.
destruction and dismay to the enemy. Tho
northern crew fired very much as if en-
gagged in ordinary target practice.
1t was easy to see when the shot and shell
took effect on the Alabama, then nothing
restrained the cheers and enthusiasm of Cap
tain Winslow's crew-shouting as each mis-
sile took effect:
That's a good one!'
Give her another!"
That's for the pirates!'
After an exposure to an uninterrupted
cannonading for eighteen minutes without
casualties, a sixty-eight-pound shell fell and
exploded on the quarter deck, wounding
three of the crew Of the after pivot gun.
With these exceptions not an officer or man
of the Kearsarge was injured. On the other
hand. the effect of the 11-inch shells
upon the crew of the Alabama was terrific;
many were dashed to pieces by the direct
shot, and others mutilated by splinters.
THE SURRENDER AND ESCAPE OF
SEMMES.
Semmes finally CALLED his officers aft and
ordered a surrender to avoid further loss of
life. The colors were struck and the Kear-
sarge ceased firing. Two of the Junior Of
ficers of the Alabama, however, swore
they would never surrender to a ID
Yankee, but would rather go down with the
ship and rushing to the two port guns
opened fire again. Captain Winslow there
upon discharged another broadside, which
went crashing through the Alabama's bull
warks, carrying death and destruction.
A white flag was then displayed over the
stern and an ensign hoisted in distress,
union down, which induced Captain Win
slow the second time TO cease firing, al
though, according to the rules of naval war
fare, he would have been justified in sinking
the Alabama. A crowd of 90 900 people, the
inhabitants OF Cherbourg, witnessed the en-
tire engagement from the neighborlnG
heights.
After the battle the English ship, the
Deerhound, was hailed by Captain Winslow
and requested to assist in saving the
drowning. The DeeThound rescued Captain
Semmes and most of his officers. with a few
of the crew, and then steamed off for
southampton. Captain Winston refused to
believe that the English ship was playing
him false. although several of his officers
suggested that she was endeavoring to get
away, and that a shot should be fired tc
bring her to. No shot was fired and the
Deerhound finally disappeared with the
great prize-Semmes.
THE ALABAMA A TOTAL WRECK
The Alabama sunk soon after in ffty-fve
fathoms of water, at a distance OF four and
AA-A