The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-02-28
THE KEARSARGE LOSHE.
THEOLD WARSHIP FOUNDERS
OFF RONCAD0R REEF.

She Was on Her Way From Port-au-
Prince to Nicaragua to Protect
American Interes ts There-All of
the Officers and Crew Saved-Her
Famous Battle With the Alabama
The most famous ship OF the United States
naval service-the old corvette Kearsarge-
has gone to the bottom. The story of her
loss was told to Secretary Herbert in q brief
cable message which he received from Lieu
tenant Frederick B.ainard, officer OF the
vessel, dated at Color. Lieutenant Brain
ard reached Coloa and Immediately sent
the message to the Secretary, In substance q:
follows:
.Kearsarge saifLd from Port-au-p Prince,
Hayti. January 80. Cor Bluehelds, Nicaragua.
Was wrecked on Roncador Reef February 2.
Officers and crew safe"
Immediately on receipt OF the cableeram
Secretary Herbert sent a message to Lieu
tenant Barnard directing him to charter
a vessel at Colon and proceed at once
to the assistance Of the shipwreoked
men. An answer came quickly from
Lieutenant Brainard that the mail steamer
City OF Para was available, and it is sup
posed at the Navy Department that the
vessel is already on her way to the relief OF
the shipwrecked men. Lieutenant Brainard
was directed 70 engage the mail steamer to
stop at the reef and take the men of, or
to secure any available vessel without de-
lay. Roncador Reef is about $50 miles
from Colon, days journey for the City OF
Para. II Is expected that the steamer will
nave Admiral Stanton and his mon in some
anxiety at the Naval Department over the
ss:sSr Of the shipwreokad people. There
is p:anty of proviG..-Es in the wreck OF
the Kearsarge, whicn is probably high
and d2y on the reef. Old Providence
Island is seventy-aye miles only from
Roncador, and could be reached
easily in small beats Or, il Il 1ere missed,
the Kearsarge's men could get to the Mos
quito coast, @ belt of the Nicaragua coast
line. it was On Rcnceaor Reef that the
steamer Aguan was wrecEed while the Hon.
Warner Miller and other Nicarauguan Canal
capitalists were on board.
The Kearsarge has been continuously In
the naval service for thirty-two years. She
was built in Kittery, Me-, in 1861, and was
commissioned the next year.
The Kearsarge was the flagship OF the
North American station, TO the command OF
which Acting Rear Admiral Stanton, who was
detached from the command OF the South At
taItic station for sa!uting Admiral Mel!o in
Rio harbor, was assigned.
The Kearsarge was one Of the historical
vessels of the American Navy. She it was
which. on Sunday, June 10, 1864, fought and
sunk the Confederate prlvateer Alabama of
Cherbourg, France.
The Alabama, which was commanded by
Captain Semmes. had captured or destroyed
a large number OF Union merchantmen.
Finally the pursuit of her became
so hot ON the American coast that
she sailed for the Cape Of Good Hope
and cruised in the Eastern seas. Subsequently
she returned, arriving in the English Chan
mel in June, 1864, and on the 11th OF that
month she entered the French port OF Cher
bourg to refit and supply herself with stores.
Within few days the Kearsarge arrived.
She was commanded by Captain Winslow,
former shipmate OF Captain Semmes-
The Kearsarge made q demonstration OH
tho uort which the commander Of the Ala
bama took to be challenge. He sent notice
to the United States Consul that he would
sail out and fight the Ksarsarge. The two
ships In appearance were not upequal!y
matched, but the Kearsarge had Q larger crew
and was better armed than the Alabama.
armor. The fight took place on Sunday,
June 10, off Cherbourg, all inhabitants OF
that place watching it from the neighboring
heights.
The result Of the battle is we'll known. Be-
fore the contest had lasted an hour Captain
Semmes found the ship sinking and gave Or
ders to haul down the flag. TIE boats were
got out and the wounded placed in them,
but before the Kearsarge could come to the
rescue the Alabama went to the bottom.
The boats ofthe Kearsarge saved many OF
the Alabama's crew. Others, including Cap
tain Semmes, were picked up by the English
Yacht Deerhound, which had been allowed
by the Captain of the Kearsarge to help IN
rescuing tie Alabama's crew.