Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-05-11
The Old kearsarpa-


tie ship that slid from the ways into
the sea along with the Kentucky at
Newport News the other day, proves
half as effective, according to her size,
as was the historic Kearsage of the
old navy, she will be worth the So OOO,-
700 spent in her construction many
times over. Never was there an. Amer
lean snip that had warmer place in
the affections of patriotic people than
had the old Kearsarge. From the time
she whipped and sunk the Confederate
pirate Alabama, in the English Chan
mel, thirty-four years ago, till she laid
her own bones on the Roncador Reef
in the Caribbean Sea in 1894 she was
hrSt in the navy, and since that duel
with the Alabama it would never do to
have an American navy without
hearsarge. That Is why the new yes
sci beans the name-the only one of the
class known as battle ships that is not
named in honor of some State.
No ship in the American navy ever
performed mcTe laudable service
than did the Kearsarge, and it was for
that reason alone that she did not share
the fate of the others of the old COR
vette type and end her days inglorious-
ly by being dismantled and dismember-
ed In the navy yard shambles. She was
the last of her type, but the navy was
proud of her, and it was always con-
sidered an honor to command her. H.
deed, at the time she went to pieces on
Roncador Reef she was flagship of the
North Atlantic squadron and had ON
board Acting Rear Admiral Stanton. in
charge of the feet. A nation mourncd
her when she was gone, and now in her
honor bestOws her name on one of the
most formidable fighting ships that sail
the sea. The country will feel gratified
If the new ship makes as proud a rec
ord.
1t was desperate struggle the old
kearsarge had to send the Alabama to
the bottom The latter. as everyone
knows, was Confederate cruiser,
blacklisted rs pirate. She was under
command of Captain Semmes, who had
been an officer in the United States
navy before the rebellion. She was
manned principally by foreigners, and
was English built-sent indeed, from
an English port in violation of all rules
of international law. She had chased
the Stars and Stripes all over the seas
and had destroyed not less than $15,-
100000 of federal shipping.
The kearsarge came upon her in the
harbor of Cherbourg, ON the north coast
of France. The combat that followed
was naval duel to the death. The
Yankee had the better OF the fighting
from the start. but still was saved by a
most fortunate circumstance. A shell
that lodged in her sternpost failed to
explode. If it had the ship would have
drifted at the mercy of the enemy.
Captain SemmeS would have raked her
fore and aft with the guns of the Ala
bama, and he and his pirate crew would
have dined in Cherbourg that night
heroes every one.
But that shell did not explode, and in
spite of the wagers that had been laid
that the Alabama would blow the
Kearsarge out of the wafer If the two
ever met, the Yankee won. The story
is not unfamiliar. Nearly everyone
knows how the eleven-inch guns of the
federal ship plowed holes through the
starboard side of her adversary till
finally great rent was let in close to
the water line. Captain Semmes then
tried to escape and get back into
French jurisdiction, but before he could
get up steam the water put out the fire
in his boilers. He was forced to strike
his colors and display the white flag,
but a few moments after his ship went
stern first TO the bottom, leaving off
GERS and crew struggling in the water,
except the wounded, who had previous
ly been taken on board the victorious
vessel. Captain John A. Winslow. af-
terward rear admiral. put out his boats
10 pick up the crew of the pirate he had
sunk and rescued nearly all, except
Semmes. who was taken on board an
English yacht that had watched the
lighting and escaped. 1t was that bat
tie that put an end TO the destruction of
American shipping, and few months
later Grant put an end to the war.
Considered in any other light than
the sentimental the loss of the old
Kearsarge was of small Importance TO
the navy. Still ii is true that there was
not man In the service who did not
feel deep regret when she went to
pieces She had grown almost into a
tradition and was not considered as an
actual vaSSal nf Gamma rod with
the ships of the modern navy her fight |
ing ability was utterly Insignificant.
She was small, but she was seryiceable |
in her day. Her timbers of oak were
strong and her quarters were airy and
comfortable. She was built In the
Portsmouth On. H. navy yard and was
launched in September, 1861. She was |
204 feet long, her beam was u feet, |
and she drew 1875 feet of water for
ward and foot more aft. Her maxi |
mum speed was 1876 knots: bar ordi- |
nary speed from S to II. She cost just |
S272, 514.90. Her complement was
twenty officers and leo mel. Compare
these figures with those Of the new snip
Just christened under the same name.