The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-07-14

d.,
commanded by Capt. Semmes. This
was still afloat in 1864 and already had
done immense da-lge to United States
shipping. She was seen only in Eu-
fopean and more distant waters. Her
last voyage was a prosperous one into
the south Atlantic and Indian oceans,
during which she had captured sixty
seven vessels, of which forty-five were
destroyed. She returned to European
waters early in the summer of 1854 and
took refuge in the French harbor of
'Cherbourg. At that time the United
States steamer Kearsarge, commanded
10y Capt John A. Winslow, was lying
In the Dutch port of Flushing. The
.Asneric2n consul at Cherbourg immedi-
.atAS informed Winslow by telegraph
OF tho presence of the Alabama, when
he left Flushing and proceeded WI
the Kearsarge to lookeafter the pirate
ship.
At Cherbourg on June "a appeared
the Kearsarge and as soon as it ar
rived Semmes, understanding the
meaning of the visit, sent word to
Winslow desiring him not to leave the
'harbor, alone, as he wished to fight
him. Winslow did not need this in
formation, as he had come thither
fully intending to fight him, If
he ever attempted to leave the harbor.
Semmes then made many preparations
and secured valuable assistance. He
deposited his private property on the
shore with his friends, property that
consisted chiefly of chest of coin and
sixty-two thermometers, which he had
taken from the vessels he had cap
'tured, and ;at his own chosen time,
(which was Sunday, June 10, he went
out Of the harbor with the Alabama.
He was followed by the yacht named
Deerhound, belonging to an English
man named Lancaster, as a tender to
see that Semmes, if worsted in the
night, should not fall into Winslow's
hands.
I 'Winslow steamed out to sea about
seven miles from Cherbourg, to make
sure Of being out of the jurisdiction of
France, and was followed by Semmes
at a distance Of about mile. Then the
Kearsarge rounded to and made for the
Alabama. When within 1900 yards
of her the latter opened fire. The
.Kearsarge received two or three broad
sides without returning any, when she
suddenly 'retorted with great effect
Winslow attempted to close and board
his antagonist, but Semmes sheered the
Alabama off and steamed ahead. Mean
while he fired rapidly and wildly, while
the Kearsarge delivered her fire slowly
and with deliberate aim. Now the ships
apparently moved in circle, still fight
ing, and thus each kept its starboard
side, from which it was firing, bearing
upon the starboard side of the other.
They described in the course Of the
conflict seven circles and at the same
time drifted together with the tide
about four miles from the place Of the
beginning OF the fight before it was
ended
When the combat had continued an
hour and when it was little past noon
the Alabama was at the mercy of her
adversary. She had been hit by several
eleven-inch shells, one of which dis
=abled gun and seventeen men. An
explosion had taken place in her coal
bunker, which had so blocked up the
engine-room as to compel a resort to
sails. Her sides were pierced with
holes and otherwise shattered The
Kearsarge was comparatively unin-
dured and was in position to fire grape
shot effectually. Now the Alabama's
flag came down, but Winslow was in
doubt whether it had been shot or
hauled down. Next a white flag was
displayed over her stern, which Wins
low respected and ceased his firing.
Semmes was treacherous and in a
few minutes opened two guns upon the
Kearsarge, at the same tine attempt
ing to run into neutral waters, not far
distant This drew the fire Of the
Kearsarge again and then she steamed
ahead and got in front of the Alabama's
bows, where she opened raking fire.
Again the white flag was seen flying
and again Winslow ceased his firing.
Then the boats Of the Alabama were
seen to be lowering and in one of them
an officer came alongside the Kearsarge
with the information that her antag-
onist had surrendered and she was in
Immediate danger of sinking. At that
moment the Deerhound, the English
mans yacht, came alongside and Wins
low invited him to assist in saving the
people of the Alabama He picked up
Semmes and some Of his officers and
men and took them away to England.
The Kearsarge rescued sixty-five of the
A1abama's men from drowning. Thus
ended very remarkable naval battle,
which was witnessed from the shore by
thousands of French men and women
and which brought great fame to Capt.
Winslow. y .,-
The casualties were slight, all things
considered. The Alabama had nine men
killed and twenty-one wounded. The
Kearsarge had three men badly wound
ed, one of them MORALLY =
On June 8, 1885, at 8 o'clock in the
morning, Lieut.. Richard P. Hobson,
with seven companions, started on the
huge collier Merrimac for the north