Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-05-11


the conclusion that our experience as
soldiers had prepared us to do nearly
everything better than we could have
done without that experience Chi
cago Inter Ocean.
The "AIabama" in Action.
From an account of Life on the
Confederate Vessel Alabama" by one
of her sailors, in the Century, we quote
the following I'VE got everything ship
shape, and left Cherbourg for our last
cruise ON bright Sunday morning,
June 10. We were escorted by
French armored vessel and when we
got outside we could see the armored
vessel Kearsarge awaiting us, about
four miles away. Captain Semmes
made us a short speech, which was
we'll received, though it seemed odd to
me that an American should appeal to
an Englishman's love of glory to ami
mate him to fight the speakers own
countrymen. But we cheered and the
French ship leaving us, we steamed
straight for the Kearsarge. There is
no doubt that Semmes was fiurried and
commenced firing too soon. We were,
l should say, nearly a mile away, and
l do not think single shot told. The
enemy circled around us and did not
return our fire until within seven or
eight hundred yards and then she let
us have it, The first shot that struck
us made the ship reel and shake all
over. | was serving on one of the
thirty and my sponger
was an old man-o-war's man, who re-
marked, after a look out of the port,
We might as we'll fire butter paddens
as these pop-guns; few more biffs
like that last and we may turn turtle
He had scarcely spoken when shell
burst under our pivot gun, fitting it
out of range and killing five of the
crew. What is wrong with the rifle
gum was asked We don't seem to
be doing the enemy any HARM while
with slow precision came the crash of
the heavy shells of the Yankee One
missile that seemed as big as a hay
stack WhiZzed over our heads, taking
a section of the port bulwarks away,
fortunately missing the man that was
handling shot. He only remarked that
he believed the Yankee was firing
steam bilers at us Another she'll
struck us amidships, causing the ship
to list to port SO that one Of our guns
weighing three tons raced in, pinning
10 g
He died before we could get him clear.
This was the missile that sunk the Ala
bama. She's going down. was the
cry. and all was confusion Another
shell struck above the water line, and
the vessel reeled like a drunken man.
The dead and wounded were lying
about the deck, which was red with
blood Our officers did their duty and
the men at once began to get up the
wounded. The cutter and launch were
in the water and the officers were try
ing to keep the men back until the
wounded were all in; but certainly
many of them were left, for | saw sew
eral of them on the berth deck when |
went below. and the boats were then
full and pushing off. When it was GER
tain that the ship was sinking all order
was at an end. l had f1O and watch
in a locker between decks and | ran
below, but they were gone.
"'All hands on deck-ships going
down. was called, and l had just got
on the upper step of the forward COM
panon way when the water entering
the berth deck ports forced the air up
and almost carried me off my legs. l
cast my eyes around for a moment.
Old Gill, with his head crushed under
the carriage of the eight-inch gun, was
lying there, his brawny hands clutch
ing the breast of his jumper. Just as
the water came over the stern | went
over the port bulwarks. | was good
swimmer and had not been in the
water five minutes when a French
pilot boat came running past, and
brawny fellow in petticoats and top
boots dragged me out of the water"