Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-02-15
THE KEARSAGE WRECKED.

Colon, Feb. 9.-The United States
steamer Kearsarge, foundered on the
night of February I'd, off Roncander
Reef.
The Kearsarge was ordered, January
9th, to proceed from San Domingo TO
Blue Fields, Nicaragua, to protect
American interests that were alleged TO
be endangered by the troubles between
Honduras and Nicaragua, Roncander
Reef, on which the Kearsarge is sup
posed to have struck, is some 200 miles
northeast from Blue Fields.
The Kearsarge was one of the his
torical vessels Of the American navy.
sunday, June 10th, 1864, she fought
and sunk the rebel privateer Alabama,
off Cherbourg, France.
Everybody on board the Kearsarge at
the time she fcundered was saved.
MOST FAMOUS SHIP OF THE SERVICE.
The most famous ship of the naval
service-the old corvette Keorsarge-
has gone to the bottom. The story of
her ending was told to Secretary Her
bert in brief cable message which he
received this morning from Lieutenant
Frederick Brainard, an officer of the
vessel, dated at Colon. Lieutenant
Brainard reached Colon this morning
and Immediately sent the message to
the Secretary in substance as follows:
"Kearsarge sailed from Port Au
Prince, Hayti, January Both, for Blue
Fields, Nicaragua. Was wrecked on
Roncander Reef, February I'd. Officers
and crew safe" t~
Immediately on receipt of the cable
gram Secretary Herbert sent message
to Lieutenant Brainard, directing him to
charter a vessel at Colon and proceed at
once to the assistance of the shipwrecked
men. 1t is presumed that they are yet
on the reef.
Commodore Ramsay, chief of the
Bureau of Navigation, who knows the
neighborbood, said that the officers and
crew would be in no danger on the reef,
except in very heavy weather, and they
could easily reach Old Providence, an
island between the reef and the Nicar-
aqua coast, in their boats.
No fears for the safety of the ships
company are entertained at the Navy
Department, in view of Lieut.. Brain
ards dispatch.
THE SINKING OF THE ALABAMA.
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, arriv-
ing in the English channel in June,
1864, and on the 18th of that month she
entered the French port of Cherbourg
to refit and supply herself with stores.
Within few days the Kearsarge ar
rived. She was commanded by Captain
Winslow, former shipmate of Captain
Semmes.
The Kearsarge made demonstration
off the port which the commander of
Alabama took to be a challenge. He
sent notice to the United States consul
that he would sail out and fight the
Kearsarge. The two ships, to appear.
ance, were not unequally matched, but
the Kearsarge had a larger crew and
was better armed than the Alabama.
She was, besides, protected amidships
by armor. The fight took place Sunday,
June 10th, off Cherbourg, all the inhabi-
tants of that place watching 1t from
the neighboring heights.
The result of the battle is well known.
Before the contest had lasted an hour
Captain Semmes found his ship sinking
and gave orders to haul down his flag.
Tic boats were got out and the wounded
placed in them, but before the Kear-
sarge could come to the rescue the
Alabama went to the bottom. The
boats of the Kearsarge saved many of
the Alabama's crew. Others, including
Captain Semmes, were picked up by
the English yacht Deerhound, which
had been allowed by the captain of the
Kearsarge TO help in rescuing the Ala
bama's crew.
The Kearsarge was a third.class
wooden cruiser of 1850 tons displace-
ment. Her engines were of S43 indicated
horsepower. She mounted seven guns
in her main battery. She was attached
to the North Atlantic squadron.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The Secre-
tary of the Navy has received dispatch
from the Panama Railroad Company,
stating that the City of Para arrived at
Colon this morning, with Admiral
Stanton and the officers and crew of the
Kearsarge, all safe and well.
ANXIETY RELIEVED