The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-05-09
A FAMOUS NAVAL DUEL
Recalled by the Recent Disaster to
the Kearsarge.
IN. Memorable Encounter That Freed
Sorthern sIerchzntneB from
Foe That Wrought Havoc
Among Them

Foe That Wrought Havoc
Among Them.
The Alabama put into the harbor o.
Cherbourg. France, in June, 1864, 70 ef-
feet some necessary repairs The kear-
sarge. then in command Of Capt John
A. Winslow, appeared of the harbor
on June Il The Kearsarge, says the
New York Times, cruised OF the en-
trance 10 the harbor, but did not make
7he mistake Of anchoring in the port,
as that act would have given the con-
federate vessel a start Of twenty-four
hours whenever she might choose TO
leave. IL being an international law
that beligerent vessels anchoring IN
neutral port must not leave within
twentv-four hours Of each other The
Tuscarora had made that error a short
time before. and when she started in
7,ursuit Of the Sumpter from SOuthamp-
ton barber she was promptly ordered
hack 10 her berth by the British au-
thorities. and naval force sufficient
70 enforce the mandate was in readi-
ness
lTlL- ~ 4l4E4Of AAAAAAL AAA---Af-a-' -
which were equivalent 10 a challenge,
and. knowing the character Of Semmes,
he had little doubt that il would be ae-
ceptcd, and set about preparing his
shin for action The heavy anchor
chains We're gotten up out Of the chain
locker and suspended along the sides
Of the vessel 50 as 20 protect the vital
parts Of the ship. This chain armor
was concealed by deal boards, which
were nailed over it.
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 20 quar-
ters The two ships were almost even
IL matched as 70 size, the kearsarge
measuring 1,03I tons and the Ala
bama 1.0l6. In weight Of metal
thrown in a broadside, the Kearsarge-
though mounting one gan less than
the confederate vessel, had a distinct
advantage. the Kearsarge throwing
$50 pounds TO the Alabama's 500. The
battery Of the latter vessel consisted
Of six thirty-twO Founders, lOO-poundel
Blalely rife, and one eight inch shell
gun.
The Alabama was the first TO open
fre. The Kearsarge reserved hers IN
I'll the enemy was LOCO yards distant
then gave a broadside from her star
board battery The big geleven-ineh guns
Of the Kearsarge did terrible execu-
ton on the decks Of the Alabama, and
finally one Of them planted a shell in
the Alabama which reduced that yes
sci 70 a sinking condition and made
surrender 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 70 Eng
land.
Semmes claimed that the powL-r Of
the Alabama had become ''calzy" and
had lost It's strength. and that the
fuses Of his shells were defective. One
OF the Alabama's shells buried itself IN
the sternpcst Of the Kearsarge, but
failed 70 explode. Had the fuse acted.
il Is said that the Kearsarge would GER
tainly have been disabled by the loss
Of her rudder. The shell is now in the
navy museum in Washington.
Since that memorable encounter the
Kcarsarge had been almost constantly
in service. She had had few occasions
20 visit navy yards, and had displayed
her pennant in nearly every important
u ---a.-1H kfe.a fraa hsa
utation OF baing always ready for duty.
and lately had been bUsily employed
in protecting American interests in the
West Indies and searching for dere-
llcts on the North Atlantic
Asa fighter she had outlived her use
fulness Her two eleven-ineh guns
had been replaced by eight-ineh rifles
of the muzzle-loading type. Her speed
in later years was much less than il
was when the vessel fought the Ala
hama Then She was credited with
fourteen knots an hour. Her original
boilers were taken out several years
ago. and a set which was intended for
the Nautasket, q much smaller vessel
was substituted. They were not near
" SO good as the old ones. Capt.
Elmer SAYS that in the period he com
manded the Kearsarge he was unable
20 get much more than eight knots out
of her.
The vessel measured two hundred
and ten feet four inches in length and
had beam OF thirty-three feet ten
inches. She was bark rugged, having
been converted from a ship, which was
her rig when She fought the Alabama.
She was built in the navy ward at
Portsmouth, y. Il, at cost of S272,
H4qa