The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-04-05
SINKING OF THE ALABAMA
An Account Of the Greatest Naval Pish
Of Modern Times.
A COMPARISON OF The TWO SHIPS.
The Fate OF the kearsarge Rcvives
the story OF the Famous water
Duel Outside Cherbourg Barsor.
Yankees Were sCooI as Posts.-

That is her sure title to fame. Her other
services were great, but they are scarcely
to be considered by the side of the wor
she did in just one hour of pleasant
summer Sunday ON the French side OF the
"silver streak" when she fought and won
the greatest naval duel the world has
seen in recent years. Many months be-
fore she had been sent out on that very
Grand, to find and take or sink the rebel
cruiser that had been doing a pirates
work in all the waters Of the globe. At
last, touching at Flushing, she got word
that the prize she sought was 10 Cher.
bourg harbor, coalng and reftting. She
FASTENED thither with all speed, arriving
on June IA, 1864; and, to his grim delight.
her captain, John Acrum Winslow, learn
ed that the Alabama was still there.
Though short OF coal and in need OF much
refitting, the kearsarge at once made her
best preparations for battle. and waited
outside the harbor for the coming OF the
foe. The latter, fairly cornered, put ON q
bold front, as well he might, having a
bigger ship, in better trim. Indeed, he at
once sent out note to Winslow, challeng
ing him to fight, and telling him that il
the Kearsarge would wait there day or
two, the Alabama would come out. The
challenge was not necessary. Winslow
had come there to fight, and for nothing
else.
After five days of further preparation,
Semnes brought his Alabama out to meet
her fate. 1t was a clear, calm Sunday
morning, the 10th of June. Semmes had
widely advertised his intention, and
host of spectators came out to see the
fight. Special trains brought a crowd
from Paris, and an enterprising photo
grapher took his camera to the top Of
Cherbourg church tower to get views OF
the encounter. An English yacht, the
Deerhound, owned and sailed by man
named Lancaster. first came out to re-
connoitre, found the Kearsarge grimly
waiting beyond the breakwater, and scut-
tied back again. Presently the Alabama
came escorted by the French warship
Couronne and attended by the Deerhound
more jackal than hound. The Couronne
brought the Alabama ont fully beyond
the limit OF French waters, then turned
and steamed straight back, not lingering
for moment to see what would happen.
But the Deerhound, for reasons to be-
seen, kept as close as prudence would
allow to the Alabama. Now the Kear-
sarge, seeing the Alabama coming, head.
ed for the open sea, as If to run away,
though steaming too deliberately for
flight. She wanted, for one thing. to be
sure the fight would be outside OF French
waters, and, for another thing, to have
it 80 far outside that the Alabama, get
ting worsted, could not flee back to safe
ty. These points well assured, she turned
sharply around and faced her formidable
foe.
How did these antagonists compare ?
The Alabama was nearly six feet longer
and one foot deeper than the Kearsarge,
while the Kearsarge was the wider by one
foot. The Alabsma's tonnage was 1850,
the Kearsarge's 1881. The Alabama's
engines were OF 600 horse power, the
Kearsarge's of 800. The Alabama had
one Finch rife, one S-inch smoothbore,
and six 32-pounders, while the Kearsarge
had one 30-pound rifle, two ll-inch
smoothbores and four 32-pounders. As to
the crews there is some dispute. The
Kearsarge had 1853, officers and men-alI
but eleven of them native born Yankees
The Alabama had nearly, If not quite, as
many. And the Alabama's men were all
veterans, while most Of the Kearsarge's
were volunteers. On the whole, so far a.
size, strength and equipment went, the
two ships were pretty evenly matched
When lie turned to meet the enemy,
Winslow put on speed. His shells were
timed to five seconds, and he wanted close
action. At the distance Of mile the Al
ALBANIA began firing as rapidly as possible,
'to brighten the Yankee greenhorns,"
Semmes said. The Kearsarge waited
until the proper range was reached, and
then replied, in most deliberate fashion.
At little more than 600 yards apart, the
two ships began steaming slowly round
and round, in great circles, firing as at
first, the Alabama rapidly, wildly, the
Kearsarge calmly, but with terrible effect.
Twenty minutes after he began trying to
brighten" them, Semmes exclaimed !:
"Confound those Yankees They're cool
as posts!" So they kept on for just an
hour, from 10 80 to :57 a. IN. They
had now just completed the seventh great
circle. Then the Alabama headed back
for port. The Kearsarge intercepted her.
Down came the Alabama's flag. They
can't have struck, )" said Winslow, we're
scarcely hurt, and surely they're not
beaten yet" But they were. Those
awful li.inch shells, sent into her hull
with the deliberate accuracy OF target
practice, had made Of the Alabama q
hopeless wreck. Semmes soon raised the
white flag, though he continued firing
after it was up. Then he sent a boat to
the Kearsarge, announcing that he had
surrendered, and that his ship was sink
ing, and asking for help to save his men
from drowning, which help was quickly
given. In the meatime, Semmes himself,
with bags full of gold, chronometer,
watches, coin and other spoils Of his ma
rauding cruise. tumbled his precious self