The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-26

and His ii-S"uc->pellmn Also Was
saved by the Yacht Derrhound.
ir"m n, GuIr,sion Ddly v,m,.
WACO. Ten. March o-TOm Spellman. a sec
ton hand on the Cotton Belt route. who ia here
resting after hard work putting down steel on
IN" western end OF I'll" road. told the story OF
the destruction of Admiral Raphael Semmes's
battIcship Alabama by the Ksarsarge in June.
1854. near the coast of France. in the Eng
lish Channel. Spellman j. in his hfty-secopd
year, He shipped on the Alabama as cabin boy
when she was turned over to agents OF Admiral
Scmmes at Birkcnhead. England, by the Lairds
on Aug. ~. 1852. Mr.. Spellman, who ia n
genuine old salt. - gave a description OF the
Alabama. which. during her existence afoat
with the ems ign of the Confedclat e Navy at fs
shipping OF the United States. The Alabama
was butt in the Laird yard at Birkenhead
Bullock Of the Confederate Navy. She was brig
b%i,n" r wEfsI w YIN a. g m max m In. spesd Of f5
H Hsr sn S;.% I was . o.: to6 Eirs s'Da% or With tS'n a
the Alabama consisted Of one 'BiaEoly 100
EHnmhhor ritod gun: pivoted forward: one
mainmast. and six 32-pounders in broad
side. The crew consisted OF 100. men and
as a ru,e an excursion was organized to Ter.
ceira, in the Azores. to which point atransport.
miral Semmes pnd his officers me the Alabama
a. rerceira. They sailed there in the bahama.
a H@T ' sS@tIs%aa, % SG%S'f ill., q bi H%Slish ifd, sn
the Alabama; had been transferred to, "a
WIZ in th 1ne cS %naaHfl an" &a 1sh4 hS foof Sc ssss
sion at Terceira he was then and there ready
for his career and ,herc was, no delayin getting
down to work. That which is common now
was a wonder then. The ship could hoist It's
proneIler,, crowd on canvas and go through
her propeller. and with sails. furled and yards
braccd. within two POINTS Of a head wind sbe
was fifteen knots and her independent speed
to allow either the Alabama or the Kearsaras
to go into dock at ChcrbourG. and. both ships,
e SeasS Of af Tra f"a' in E4 the ]y haa : IR ined with KIN sp ss.
tators. This OCCURRED IN June. 1854. and Tom
count OF that naval duel which fastened he
COLLAPSE Of ne southern cause. ,Admira!
Sen ta,iew j,and shTIS on a a. s bfs carriage. delivered
""Ofccrs and seamcn Of the Alabama: You
have another opnor'unity Of meeting the enemy
the first that hnS been presented TO you since
you sunk the Hatteras. In the meantime you
have been all oyer the world. and it is not toe
driven. for protection under neutral flags one
noli of the enemy's commerce. which at the
lightning Of the war covered every sea.
THIS is an achievement OF which you may
well be proud; and a. grateful country wifi
shin. has becom" a household word wherever
+iyiliShbt nG wi sSte g + , shall Th. ,thhiat name DO
siblc. Remember that you are in the English
Channel, the theatre OF So much Of the naval
glory of our race. and that the eyes OF all Eu-
rope ar" mt this moment upon you. The flag
that floats over you is that of IA young republic
and wherever found. Show the world that you
KDow how to uphold il. Go to your quarters."
Capt. WinslOw, the commander OF the KeAr.
sarge. accepted the challenge of the Alabama.
and forty-tive minutes after Admiral Semmes
concluded his stirring address to his crew and
stepped down from, Oh" gun carriage the ac-
ton began. The ships approached each other
at high speed. like two great eagles rushing to
combat. firing broadside batteries into each
other at u range OF 800 wards. To keep from
sweeping past cacn other the opposing COM
manders each gave the same order, keep
ing Il strong helm to port and lighting in
concentric circles toward Il common cen-
Srmmcs.. barehcaded, on the horse block
abreast the miZHcn mast, with his glass In HIS
hand. gave his orders in a clear voice which
rang above the roar of the awful conflict. On
the kearSarge Capt. Winslow stood on his up-
| per deck and directed his. battle. his voice be-
his men. Once Admiral Semmes shouted TO
kells. his executive officer: Give them solid
shot. Our shells strike and rebound into the
water without sufficient effect on the enemy"
With its decks covered with wounded and
dying the Alabama settled stern foremost. and
mrA.. Among those who leaped overheard with
Admiral Semmes Just as the Alabama lifted
her bows high in air and went to the bottom
was Tom Spellman. the Cotton Belt section
hand. Along with his. commander he was
picked up by the English yacht Deerhound.
II" is one of the few living men who saw
Semmes throw his sword into the sea and leap
with the others of the survivors Of the battle
or Cherbourg. France. between the KearsargO
and the Alabama.