The Portland daily press., 1899-04-01
As The CABIN BOY saw IT
The AIabama.Kearsarge Duel Told by
Tom Spellman.
CAPT SRMM ES's SPEECH TO HIS
CREW.

Leap Into the Sea and His Rescue
speiIman also Was Saved by the
Yacht Deerhound.
(From tie Galveston Daily News.)
Waco, lex. March 9.--Tom Spellman,
q section hand on the Cotton Belt routs,
who is here resting after hard work put
ting down steel on the western end of
the road, t,ld the story Of the destruction
OF Admiral Raphael Semmes's battleship
Alabama by the kearsarye in June, 1864,
near the coast of France, in 1.-THE English
Channel. Spellnan is in his fifty-sscond
year. He shipped on the Alabama as
cabin 10y when she was turned over to
agents OF Admiral ESemmes at Birken-
hesd, England, by the Lairds on Aug. 20,
1862. Mr.. Spellman, who is genuine
"old salt" gave description of the Ala
bama. which, during her existence afioat
with the enslgns of the Confederate Navy
at her masthead, was the terror of the
ocean to the shipping of the United
States. The Alabama WAS built in the
superintendence of Capt. James ID. Bull
lock of the COME derate Navy. She was
trigantine rugged, with a maximum
speed OF 10 Knots. which was fast time
at that period. She went with sails or
with steam or both. Her engine was
800. hoI ss-power with a condeDsing appar-
atus. The armament of the Alabama
consisted of one Blakely l00-pounder rihed
gun, pivoted forward; one S-ineh solid
shot gun, pivoted sabaft the maiumast,
and six 32.pounders in broadside. The
crew consisted of 100 men and twenty-four
officers. On leaving Birkenhsad, as
ruse, an excursion was organized TO Ter
ceira, in the Azores, to viii oh point
transport, loaded with war material, had
been ssnt. Admiral Semmes and his
officers met the Alabama at Terceirs
They sailed there in the Bahama. The
excursionists, consisting. of English ladies
and gentleman, who left Birkenhead on
the Alabama, had Teen transferred to
tug in the Channel and sent home, so that
when the Confederate Admiral took pos
session at Terceira he was then and there
fy for his career and there was no de.
lay in getting down TO work. That
which is common now was "a wonder then.
The ship could hoist its propcner. crowd
on canvas and go through every evolution
under sail. or sne could lower be- pfJrel
Ter, AM with sails furied an. yatds
braced, within two points OF a head Winl
she could go as steamship. Her cum
bined speed was fifteen knots and her in
dependent sEesd was ten to twelve knots.
The French emperor, Napoleon Ill, de-
clined to allow either the Alabama or
the kearsarge to go into dock at Cher
bourg and both ships being near that port,
had u battle, with the coast OF France in
the vi,inity lined with spectators. This
occurred in June, 1864, and Tom SPELL
man. the Irish section hand. gave an
account OF that naval duel which hastened
the collapse of the Southern cause. Ad.
mira Semmes, standing On gun car
lri ne yprFH fOilOsVtny"
his crew:
"Otiicers and seamen of the Alabama
You have another opportunity of lneetin &
he enemy-the first that has been present
ed tn you since you sunk the Hatteras.
In the meantime you have been all over
the world, and it Is not too much to say
that you nave destroyed and driven for
protection under neutral flags half OF
the enemy's, commerce, which of the he
ginning of the war covered every ssa.
This is an achievement of which you may
we'll be proud, and grateful country viii
not be unmindfuI of IL. The name OF
your ship has tecome household word
wherever civilization extends. shall that
name be furnished with defeatS The
thing is impossible. Remember that you
are in the English Channel, the theatre
of SO much of The pavai glory OF cur race,
and that the eyes of all EUROPE are at this
moment upon you The nag tsat floats
over you is thai of young republic which
wherever found. show the world that
you know how to uphold it. Go to your
quarters.
Capt. WinsIow, the commander of the
Ksarsarge, accepted the challenge of the
A alabama. and forUy-nVe III inutes after
Admiral Semmes concluded bis stirring
address TO his crew and stepped down
from the gun carriage the action began.
The ships approached each other at high
speed, like two great eagles rushing 70
oom bat, firing broadside batteries into
each other at a range OF 5UO yards. 10
kesp from sweepln past tach other the
opposing commanders each gave the same
oruer, keeping strong helm to port and
he hitting in concentric circles toward a
common centre, which graw mora and
mora diminished. Semmes. bareheadad,
on the horse block abreast the mizzen
must, with his glass IN his hand gave
orders in clear voice which rang ABOVE
the roar Of the awful conflict. On the
kearsarge Capt. Winslow stood on his
upper deck ana directed his lattle, his
voice being heard between the broadslues.
cheering his men. Once Admiral Semmes
shouted to kells, his executive officer:
"Give them solid shot. Our shells strike
and rebound into tina water without sunl-
Client effect on the enemy
With its decks covered with wounded
and dying the Alabama settled stern fore
most, and the waves were soon chuIning
with drowning men. Among thcs, who
leaped overheard with Admiral SeDmes
Just as the Alabama lifted her bows high
in air ami went TO the bottom was LON
Speilman, the Cotton Belt section hand.
Along with his commander ne was picked
up by the Eng llsh yachG Ieerhound. he
is one OF the fsw living men who saw
Semmes throw his sword into the sea and
leap with the others of the survivors OF
the battle off Cherorourg, France, be-
tween the kearsarge anu the Alabama.