The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-04-28
A FAMOUS NAVAL DUEL.
Recalled by the Recent Disaster 10
the Kear0arHe.


The Alabama put into the harbor Of
Cherbourg, France, in June, 1894, to ef-
feet some necessary repairs. The Kear-
sarge, then in commanded Capt. John
A. Winslow, appeared off the hsrbor
on June IA. The Kearsargc, says the
New York Times, cruised of the en-
trance to the harbor, but did not make
the mistake of anchoring in the port,
as that act would have given the con-
federate vessel start of twenty-four
hours whenever she might choose to
leave, it being an international law
that beligerent vessels anchoring in q
neutral port must not leave within
twenty-four hours of each other. The
Tuscarora had made that error short
time before, and when she started in
pursuit of the Sumpter from Southamp-
ton harbor she was promptly ordered
back to her berth by the British au-
thorities, and . naval force sufficient
to enforce the mandate was in readi-
ness.
Capt. Winslow made demonstrations
which were equivalent to challenge,
and, knowing the character of Semmes.
he had little doubt that it would be ac-
cepted, and set about preparing his
ship for action. The heavy anchor
chains were gotten up out of the chain
locker and suspended along the sides
of the vessel so as to protect the vital
parts Of the ship. This chain armor
was concealed by deal boards, which
vyoro M i1o1 ovov ~
The word was passed through the
ship on Sunday morning, June 10, that
the Alabama was coming out. The
decks of the Kearsarge were cleared
for action and the drum beat to quar-
ters. The two ships were almost even
ly matched as to size, the Kearsarge
measuring 1851 tons and the Ala.
bama 1,016. In weight of metal
thrown in q broadside, the Kearsarge.
though mounting one gun less than
the confederate vessel, had distinct
advantage, the Kearsarge throwing
4S0 pounds to the Alabama's $50. The
battery of the latter vessel consisted
Of six thirty-two Founders, 100-pounder
rifle, and one eightrinch shell
gun.
The Alabama was the first to open
FIRE. The Kearsarge reserved hers un-
til the enemy was 1000 yards distant,
then gave broadside from her star
board battery. The big eleven-inch guns
Of the Kearsarge did terrible eexecu-
ton on the decks Of the Alabaspa, and
finally one of them planted shell in
the Alabama which reduced that YES
sci to sinking condition and made
necessary.
Capt. Winslow then gave his atten-
ton to the rescue of the Alabama's
crew. The confederate admiral was
picked up by the English yacht Deer
hound. which conveyed him to Eng
land.
Semmes claimed that the powder Of
the Alsb anna had become ''caky" and
had lost its strength, and that the
fuses of his shells were defective. One
Of the Alabama's shells buried itself in
the sternpost of the Kearsarge, but
failed to explode. Had the fuse acted.
It is said that the Kearsarge would GER
tainly have been disabled by the loss
If her rudder. The shell is now in the
navy museum in Washington.
Since that memorable encounter the
Kearsarge had been almost constantly
IN service. She had had few occasions
10 visit navy yards, and had displayed
her pennant in nearly every important
aarbor Of the world. She had the rep
atation of being always ready for duty,
md lately had been busily employed
IN protecting American interests in the
West Indies and searching for dere-
lcts on the North Atlantic.
As q fighter she had outlived her use-
'ulness. Her two eleven-inch guns
lad been replaced by eight-inch rifles
# the muzzle-loading type. Her speed
n later years was much less than it
vas when the vessel fought the Ala
,ama. Then she was credited with
ourteen knots an hour. Her original
,oilers were taken out several years
20, and q set which was intended for
he Nantasket, much smaller vessel,
vas substituted. They were not near-
y 80 good as the old zones. Capt.
elmer says that in the period he COM
handed the Kearsarge he was unable
0 get much more than eight knots out
4 her.
The vessel measured two hundred
nd ten feet four inches in length and
lad . beam of thirty-three feet ten
nches. She was bark rugged, having /.
,een converted from ship, which was
er rig when she fought the Alabama.
he was built in the navy yard at
N. H., 1T cost Of e372,-
14.90.
Young America.
Rev. DR.. Mel edith, the weu-knowa
clergyman, tries to cultivate
riendly relations with the younger
,embers of his hock. In recent talk
. his Sunday he urged the chill