Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-25
low THE KEARsARGE AND KENTUCKY


I earthwork To facilitate this some Of
the machine-guns are placed high in the
military tops, where they can rain bull
lets down below. To protect the hull,
which carries all of this offensive power,
16 IL inches Of armor Is placed along
the sides. dipping feet below the
water line, and numerous heavy bulk
heads are disposed to prevent any shot
that may enter from traversing. The
engines, the vitals OF the ship, are COW
cred by an arched steel deck, "a inches
thick, placed on. an angle calculated to
defect and throw upward any pro-
jectile.
THE GREAT BOILERS.
Under that deck lies 10000 horsepower
OF boilers, engines, and other machinery
capable Of pushing the vast hull through
the water at the rate Of, at least, l6
knots, a good speed for a freight-train
on land, and besides there are no less
than eighty smaller engines to hoist
anchors, pull up boats, drive dynamoes,
and otherwise help the crew. The big
turrets swing noiselessly and quickly by
electricity the largest application yet
made of electricity power in this way,
and everywhere in the ship, from winches
and ventilators to lighting and tele-
phony, the electric fluid plays a useful
part.
The Kearsarge and the Kentucky are
36S feet in length, " fees inches beam,
and % feet inches draft. They carry
normally 40 tons of coal, but may take
aboard 1910 tons, and oil officers, sailors.
and marines are required to navigate
each of them.
The Kearsarge was named in honor of
the old sloop-of-War of the same name,
II
the late war on account of the decided
victory over the Confederate ship Ala
bama, just off the harbor of Cherbourg,
when she sank her on the 18th of June,
1864.
In accordance with an act of Congress,
approved in February, 1861 the Kear-
sarge was constructed after the model
of the Mohican-the plans of which were
in the possession of the Navy Depart
ment Her dimensions are as follows:
Length over all, 2lf feet inches; length
on water line. 1913 feet 6 inches; beam, 80
feet 10 inches; depth of hold, 10 feet;
tonnage, 1,O31.
A GLANCE INTO HISTORY.
Sunday morning, June u, 1864, Captain
John A. Winslow in command of the Kear-
sarge, which lay off Flushing, Holland,
received information that the Confede-
rate ship Alabama, Admiral Raphael
Semmes In command had arrived at
Cherbourg. He Immediately weighed
anchor and made for that point, upon
arriving at which he could see the flag
of the Confederacy flying from the mast
head of the Alabama, as she lay inside
the breakwater.
Until the following Sunday Captain
Winslow patiently waited for the Ala
bama to come out, and on that day about
10 o'clock in the morning 1t was suddenly
reported that the Confederate vessel was
making towards the kearsarge. Imme-
dately ordering the deck cleared for ac-
ton, Captain Winslow turned his vessel
to sea. and ran out about seven miles, in
order that no question might arise as to
neutral waters.
THE FAMOUS BATTLE
When the ships were about so yards
apart the Alabama opened the engage
ment with a broadside, which did no
material damage, merely cutting away a
little rigging. The second and third broad
sides did no more damage that the first.
but Captain Winslow, fearing a taking fire,
sheered around and delivered broad
side at about 900 yards. Early In the
action the carrying away OF the Ala
bama's ensign raised a shout of joy from
the national crew of the Kearsarge, but
the Confederates soon hoisted another
at their mizzen.
At noon the Alabama ceased firing and
tried to run ashore. Winslow, however,
quickly steered so as TO cross her bow,
and was about to pour In a raking fire,
when the flag of the Confederate was
lowered, and almost Immediately there
appeared in its place a white flag. The
national commander, convinced that the
Alabama intended to surrender. began
his preparations for rendering her as
sstance. At this moment. however, the
Alabama renewed her firing whereupon
the Kearsarge discharged three of her
guns. The course OF a famous cruiser
had been run. The Alabama was set
thing. Two boats were sent from the Kear-
sarge to save the drowning men. and a
few minutes later the unfortunate Con-
federate settled by the stern, and lifting
her bow high out OF the water, plunged
to the depths of the brine.
AFTER THE WAR ENDED.
After the war the Kearsarge went into
commission, but was out of service
number of times. One OF her COM
manders since that time was Captain
Sigsbee. the commander OF the ill-starred
Maine, so recently sunk In the harbor OF
Habana.
While on her way from Port au Prince,
Haiti. to Bluefields. Nicaragua, under
the command OF Commander Oscar p.
Heyerman, the Kearsarge was wrecked,
February 2, 1894, on Rancador Reef, at
which time she was the flagship OF
Acting Rear-Admlral c. Il. Stanton.
Ii was In honor of this vessel that
the newborn ship was named the Kear-
sarge.
The Kentucky's Name.
The Kentucky was named as result
Of petition drawn up by Captain Thomas
o. Hall, OF Louisville. His original idea
was to petition Congress to name gun
boat after his city. and 10 this end his