The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-14

The order Of Odd Fellows has grown
very rapidly In Alabana during the past
year and has added three thousand to its
membership. The total membership 10
10000. and the order = srowing at such Z
rapid pace that II hopes to double Its
membership In the next few years.
Approaching Marriage.
June I q marriage viii take place at
East Lake that 10 Of more than passing
interest to the community. The con-
tracing parties are James IA. Minter.
prosperous young merchant Of Berlin, and
Miss Susie Lea, the lovely and accom-
plished daughter Of Col. Sumter Lea, q
former resident Of Selma Miss Susie
Lea was born and spent her early child
hood in this city and her numerous friends
will be Interested to hear Of her approach
ing marriage. and are delighted that she
has captured such gallant son of Dali
las and will come back here to reside.
Famous Naval Battle Recalled.
Major j. H. Allen Of Admission IL ono
of the delegates In attendance on the
meeting Of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fell
lows Major Allen was born in Virginia
and was one of the men on the Alabama
when that gallant ship was sunk by the
Kearsarge on Cherbourg. France, In 1854.
The Alabama. as ali readers Of history
know. was commanded by Admiral
Semmes Of Mobile A son OF the Admiral.
Judge Semmes OF the City Court of Mo-
bile. ID also q delegate to the Grand
Lodge and he and Major Allen are In
separable.
Just now, as the whole world stands
appalled, at the fearful disaster that has
overtaken St Pierre and the Island Of
Martinique. 1t is singular that Major Al
len should have boarded the Alabama
and enlisted az sailor OF the. Confed-
eracy under Admiral 6emmes when he
touched at q port or, the ill-fated island.
But such IL o fact. Major Allen was on
the Island Of Martinique when, the Ala
bama touched there. Major Allen was
young and full Of love for adventure at
that time, and he gladly enlisted as one
of the sailors who were fighting for the
Confederacy under the leadership Of the
gallant Semmes.
Major Allen says that there were about
two hundred and fifty men on the Ala
bama when he enlisted and a more dare
devil lot of fellows never manned ves-
sci. He says that the Alabama steamed
into the harbor of Cherbourg, France.
one Friday and they found the Kearsarge
already there. Both vessels spent the
next two days preparing for the fight
that was to take place as soon as they
steamed outside Of the three-mile limit
into neutral waters. It was Sunday morn
ing when they went out. some seven or
eight miles from land. and the battle
commenced when they were about a mile
apart. Major Allen says that the fight
lasted from one and half to two hours
and was witnessed by a great many OF
the people from the land and those on
small craft who went out to witness the
battle on between the vessels of the
North and the South.
Major Allen says that all would have
been over. with the Kersarge IL the first
shell fired from the Alabama had ex-
ploded. but 1t did not. but struck in a
spar Of the vessel. and Is now on exhi-
bition in Washington. After the Ala
bama had become so badly disabled that
she could fight no longer. Admiral
Semmes put Master Mate Pullman and
Major Allen in a small boat and told
them to row to the Kearsarge and inform
the commander. Captain Winslow, that
the Confederate gun boat was in a sink
ing condition and was no longer able to
continue the fight.
Major Allen says that Surgeon Gait OF
the Confederate navy escaped with others
in boats, but an English surgeon who was
on board, stuck to the vessel too long
and went down with the wounded. Ma
jor Allen managed to get back to French
soil in the small boat and next day sue
ceeded In crossing the English channel in
| small fishing smack. and thus escaped
capture.
Major Allen Is a distinguished looking
| man. with long, white, flowing side wills
kers, and Is liked by every one who knows
| him. He says that he has never met but
one private who was on the Alabama
and that was a man who left the service
of the Alabama when they touched at a
point In South Africa. Major Allen says
that there are several of the officers OF
the Alabama now living. but he has never
met any Of them.