The times., 1899-10-01
HISTORIC WARSHIpS.
Famous Vessels on which Admiral
Dewey Has Served.

Admiral Dewey has seen service on three
historic ships-the Kearsarge, Mississippi
and Wabash
The Mississippi was a famous ship. When
the war with Mexico began. Commodore
Conner was with his squadron off Point
Isabel This squadron consisted OF the frig-
ates Cumberland, the flagship; Potomac
and Raritan, the steam frigate Mississippi
the sioops of war Falmouth, John Adams,
and st. Mary's, the steam sloep Princeton,
and the brigs Lawrence, Porpoise, and
Somers. During the battle of Palo Alto
500 men from the ships were sent up the
Rio Grande in rowboats to strengthen the
garrison at Point Isabel, and two hundred
men, under Captain Aulick of the Potomac
formed junction with the army at Barita
The squadron thsn proceeded TO blockade
the ports Of Matamoras, on the Rio Grande;
Tampieo, Alyarado. Coatzalcoalcos. Tabaseo.
and Vera Cruz. When General Taylor took
possession Of Matamoras, Commodore Con-
ner's fleet had been augmented by the
sloopS of war Germantown, Spitfre, AL
bany. Saratoga. and Decatur, the steamers
Spitfre, Vixen, Allegheny, Scorpion, and
Seourge. the brig Truxton, the gunboats
Refer, Bonita, and Rebel Just before the
bombardment of Vera Cruz there came
down the Ohio. of seventy-four guns, and
the bomb vessels Vesuvius. Hecla, and
Stromboli In all this feet the Mississippi
stood we'll as reliable and hard-fghting
old ship. She sailed into the Tabssco River
with Commodore Perry. who was second in
command to Commodore Conner. and par
ticipatsd IN the capture of Frontera
yellow Fever on Shipboard.
During the summer Of 1S47 the men of
the ships operating in the Gulf suffered
severely from yellow fever, and also from
scurvy. These diseases were so prevalent
on the Mississippi that she was detached
from the feet and sent TO Pensacola
A dispute had arisen between American
and Canadian fishing schooners and seven
American vessels had been seized by Brit
| ish cruisers. This was in 1852. The
| Mississippi, commanded by Capt. Matthew
| G.. Perry, went up the coast OF Halifax
and averted what threatened to be a serious
! trouble As a result of the cruise of the
| Mississippi, reciprocity treaty between
| the United States and Canada was signed
! in 1854 which lasted for ten years. In
| 1852 Captain Perry was assigned to the
command of the squadron cruising in
Asiatic waters. and was empowered in ad-
| dition to his ordinary duties to make dis
| play OF force in the waters of Japan and TO
/ demand better treatment for American
| seamen who might be cast on the shores of
that Empire. He carried with him letter
| from the President of the United States 10
| the ruler Of Japan. On the Sth of July
| his squadron comprising the frigates
Mississippi Susequehanna, and Powhatan;
| the corvette Macedonia, the sloops of war
| Plymouth, Saratoga. and Vandalia, and the
storeships Supply, Southampton, and Lex
| ington, anchored off the City OF Uraga in
the Bay of Jeddo. Japan. The Mississippi
remained with Perry during his operations
| in Japan and on the coast of China The
| Mississippi next came to notice as one OF
| the blockading squadron of the Mississippi
River
| The Mississippi, commanded by Captain
| Nicholson, was in China when the Civil
| War broke out. When she returned home
and before the expedition up the Missis-
sippi river she was engaged in the block
ade of the Gulf ports, this duty being
shared by the Richmond, Wanderer, Guard
Ethan Allen, Montauk, Marion, Hatteras
| Santee. South Carolina, Cuyler, Potomac,
| Huntsville, Manard, Preble, Waterwitch
New London. Massachusetts, Wissahickon,
| Pampiro Kingfsher. Vincennes, and Col
| Orado
| The Old kcarsarGe.
| The Kearsarge leaped into note by rea-
son OF the fact that she met and van
| quished the Confederate cruiser Alabama
| The Alabama was built in England os-
| tensibly as merchant ship, although it
was said that her heavy decks and sides
and her small hatchways might have warn
ed the English officials that the craft was
! intended for naval uses. The English Gus
toms officers, after frequent complaint
| from the American Minister, determined to
seize her. While preparations for the seiz-
ure were in progress Captain Semmes. who
| had taken command of the ship, duped
them, and got the stout ship away from
British waters
The ship which was known as No. 290
was visited by an English naval officer,
who surveyed the hatchways, shot racks.
and the hammock hooks on the berth deck.
You will have a large crew for a mer-
chant steamer" he said sarcsstically.
Some heavy oak planking had been takel
on board, and the mate explained that this
was to be used for anchor stocks. The
naval officer replied: And might make
good gun platforms, too" This is what
the heavy planking was to be used for.
This visit alarmed the Confederates 1t
was given out that she was to make her
trial trip on the next day, and to disarm
suspicion large number OF ladies and
gentlemen were invited to go over the trial
course, When the ship had passed well
toward the mouth of the Mersey, two tugs
put off from shore and the guests were re
quested to leave the ship. This was in
August, 1862. A few hours later Captain
Semmes, late of the Confederate cruiser
Sumter, mustered his crew, read his com
mission, the British ensign came down,
and the Confederate flag went up, and the
band played Dixie"
The Alabama sailed around the world
evading United States warships and de-
stroying scores of merchantmen. At last
loh tha hnrh rhn- Nf CHarh hour
France, and had scarcely let go her anchor
when the Kearsarge came UP outside and
calmly hove to, to wait until the Confed-
crate cruiser should come out Captain
Semmes knew that he was in for fight,
and began the work OF preparation. He
began taking in coal and ordered the yards
sent down from aloft. Outside the break
water at Cherbourg the Kearsarge was
making ready for the conflict. The ships
were fairly well matched as to armament,
the Kearsarge mounting seven aud the
Alabama eight guns The Confederate ship
was at disadvantage in the matter of the
weight of metal thrown. The commander
of the Kearsarge, as was a common Gus ON
with Union captains, draped mass OF
chains about the ships Sides and this af-
forded a great protection in the days OF
round shot and low power guns. The news
spread through France of the impending
naval duel, and great crowds came down
TO Cherbourg TO watch the encounter. An
English yacht the Deerhound, having on
board the owner and his family, stood near
enough to watch the fight The ships
passed out beyond the three mile limit
and the Alabama let go broadside when
within a mile of the Kearsarge. 1t was
not effective.
The Alabama Goes Down.