Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-02-09
CONE TO THE BOT TOM
KearSage Strikes on Rom
Cador Coral Reef.
WAS STANTUN'S FLAGSHIP.
Story of Her Famous Fight With the
Alabama in Chsrbourg Harbor.

NEW YORK, T. - Colon special to
The Herald g,v,s tn Glowing account
of the wreck of the corvette Kearsarge on
Roncador reef The disaster occurred at
Up. m. last Friday. The Kearsargs was
nnder both sail and steam at the time,
and was going about 10 knots when she
struck.
A heavy sea was running, and as the
character of the Gays In these waters was
well known 10 the Kearsarge's officers. IL
was evident that safety lay in forcing her
as far up on the cay as possible before she
began to break up
Accordingly she was at once lightensd
by heaving her guns overheard. One of
the first to go was her splendid 1l-inch
after pivot, the gun that did such terrible
execution on the Alabama in their fa-
nous fight in 1854 Next the masts were
cut away, not only to tighten her, but
also to procure material for constructing
RATS.
1t would have been madness to attempt
to make landing in such sea In the in
tense darkness of a tropical night, and
therefore there was nothing to be done
but to wait till morning A terrible night
was passed, the waves pounding heavily
over the stern and weather side az she
swung more and more broadside on.
On Saturday morning line was gotten
ashore and all hands were finally landed
safe on the cay. Owing TO the manner
In which the waves had swept the decks
and filled the holds only a little fresh
water and small quantity of provisions
could be saved. Three boats were got
ashore but little injured.
As there is almost no water on the reef,
and about 200 men were oamped there
with a trifling supply. one Of the boats
was Immediately put IN order to go to
Old Providence for relief. Lieutenant u.
X. Brainard and Naval Cadet Stitt, with
picked crew of volunteers, left the cay.
On reaching Old Providence, and hnd-
ing there nothing capable of taking of
the shipwrecksd Grew. they came on to
Colon for assistance.
When they left Roncador cay. the Kear-
sarge was breaking up fast.
Had Long Been In Service.
The Ksarsarge went into active service
in January, 1852, and her first mission was
a chase after the Confederate steamer
Sumter. which was reported at Cadiz,
Spain. Captain Pickering, her CON-
mander, had orders To search for the
Sumter until she was captured or other
wise made away with. The Sumter was
discovered at Algeciras, across the bay
from Gibraltar. and there the Kearsargs
kept watch over her.
On Sept. 49, 1862, il was learned that the
Alabama was off the Azores, destroying
United States whalers, and the Kearsargs
put off In search of her, but found the
bird had flown. She returned TO keep an
eye on the Sumter, her watch being ended
by the sale Of the steamer by the Con-
federates.
1t was not until June IA, 1894. two years
after her original search, that the Kesr-
sarge caught up with the Alabama, which
was found in the harbor Of Cherbourg,
France. The Kearsarge was under COM
mand of Captain Winslow when the
Ksarsargs ana Alabama battled. The
ships were pretty evenly matched in size,
the Keararzs being 1881 tons and the
Alabama 1915 tons by the old system Of
measurement.
The only shot that struck the Kearsarge
that could have done any damage was a
shell which lodged in her stern post, and
did not explode. 1t was Sunday and the
Kearsarges crew were in their sunday at
tire when the word went out that the
Alabama was leaving the harbor and
French jurisdiction. Each vessel headed
for the other
The Fight with the Alabama.
The Alabama opened the ball The
Kearsarge men stood by their guns, while
her captain steadily bore down on the
enemy holding his fire until within 1000
yards, when the starboard battery planted
a solid shot In the Alabama's frame
Then the firing grew hot, the Alabama's
being rapid but inaccurate, while the
Kearsarge gunners were deliberate and
deadly. The Alabama, after a time, be-
gan to settle at the stern, and her COM
mander put about, evidently intending
TO escape into neutral waters.
The Kearsarge then poured a deadly
volley into the disabled ship At this last
broadside white flag was shown over
the stern of the Alabama, and q small
boat was dispatched to the Kearsarge
with an officer, who declared the sur
render OF the Alabama and begged for
assistance. The Alabama was sinking
fast and her decks were encum bersd with
dying aud wounded men. Her small
boats were shot away, and unless help
was promptly rendered all must drown.
While the Kearsargs yet remained some
distance away from the wreck, the shat
tered hulk plunged out Of sight, sinking
stern foremost in 275 feet of water.
An English yacht, which had been
watching the battle, steamed up, and AZ
the request Of Captain Winslow com
menced to rescue the Alabama's crvw,
who were floating around on spsrs and
bits OF wreckaRe. She picked up Captain