The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-13
1.-THE Conrad. he rechristened the Tusca

1oosa.
When his deprcdalions In the Brazil
lian field had started another squad
ron OF warships after him he turned
east and off Africa burned two. Ameri-
can ships. Then he vent up into the
China Sea and burned two American
vessels In the Straits OF Sunda. His
appearance IN the Far East forced
nearly all the American vessels in Chs
nese waters to lay UP.
1t is remarkable that tho Alabama
escaped capture in the Straits of
Sunda. The United States warship
Wyoming was not far distant when
Scmlnes burned tho ships there, but
somewhow the Wyoming missed him..
Chcrbourg.
The game in the Far East was not
worth the candle, semmcs thought.
and after capturing few more vessels
he turned back and made for the Cape
of Good Hope. From there he turned
north toward Europe and, after burn
ing two vessels, the Tycoon and Rock
inghan1. he anchored on June II, 1864.
at cherbourg. France. In his cruise
thus far he had destroyed sixty-three
ships.
The Alabama was in bad condition.
Her engines needed orerhaulins, her
bottom was foul and the copper was
dropping from her hull In sheets The
arrival OF the famous commerce de.
stroyer created a great sensation In
France. It created another sensation
that was not good FOR Semmes. In the
harbor OF Flushing was the United
States steamship Kearsarge. Captain
Winslow. The day after the Alabama
arrived at CherbourS the Kearsarges
was hurrying from Flushing. Captain
Wlnslow having received advicc5 u the
arrival OF the prtvateer. On the ith
the Kearsargc appeared on Cherbourg.
Captain Winslow being careful not to
go inside. as that would permit the
Alabama. when she departed. 10 have
hours start.
The Alabama was trifle smaller
than the kearsarge. but the two boats
were near enough in tonnage and arm
ament to make them practically equal.
and Semmes was perfectly willing to
fight. Promptly on The arrival of the
Kearsarge he announced his intention
OF engaging that vessel, and little at
ter 10 O'Clock on the morning OF Sun
day. June 10, he sailed out to battle.
Never, perhaps, was there a sea fight
moro remarkable than that between the
Alabama and the Kearsarge. Special
trains brought thousands OF sightseers
from Paris and the country around.
while practically all the population OF
Cherbourg gathered on the heights
above the town or in the upper stories
Of houses commanding 9 view OF the
sea. Dozens OF vessels were crowded;
with persons who wanted closer view
Of the contest The French warshipi
couronne followed IL. Alabama out.
There was an English yacht, the Deer
hound, Just behind the Couronne.
The Great Fight.
The Kearsarge was lying about seven
miles off shore, and when, at $3.50, the
two rivals were within a mile OF each
other the Alabama opened the battle
with broadside. The two ships cir
cled, gradually drawing nearer and
nearer Seven times they made the CIR.
clio. The fire Of the Ikearsarge was
slower but more effective than that OF
the Alabama. Early in the action
shell from the Alabama struck the
1lcarsarge In a vulnerable spot but
failed to explode. The shells Of the
Kearsarge did heavy execution. onei
entered the port Of he Alabama's 81
inch gun and killed a portion Of the
crew. Another entered the wardrooT.
where tho surgeon was operating on
wounded man, exploded and blew
hole through the ship. For one hour
and ten minutes the two vessels
fought. Then. when the Alabama was
semmes struck his coloolrs.
The Alabama went down by the
stern. few minutes before she sank
Scmmes hurled his sword into the sea
and jumped In himself. He was picked
up by tho people on the Deerhound.#Of
the officers and crew OF the Ala ALBANIA. 10
we're killed In action or drowned and
81 wounded. In addition to Captain,
Semmes, the Decrhound picked up Al
mon. The rest were picked up by the
Kearsargo and q French pilot boat.
That was tho last Of the famous COM
merce destroyer. SeHmes was taken
to England and got "a welcome a 3 s. y nc
vas a conquoring hero. era !. sho ~
stay in london he proce eded TO NJ L eSl !,
made his way to the Southern States
and was appointed rear admiral the
Jane River Squadron, He suurdcdTeh e /
oBRichmond,8untils the eva
cuation and then went South, surron.-.ll;;
derinE with General Johnston's emmy.
When the war closed he pra SEQ c law
In Mobile, lie was arrested E on Va Pes pes
cenlber IA 5, 1885 as q trail tor, but oWlns. \
to tho complications Pres den u y 9 u
ston@had with Congress he was mott
tried. IN May. 1866, he was 81 ectcd /
OF Mobile, but ne |
sident 5nulllfied his election. Next
Ia edited a newspa per n + Mobile, but
gave this up 10 become IA prof lessor an
the MI litary Institute of louisiana
Later48he resumed \ his law practice In /
Afobil e, and In SIT he died sA 55 II
/, }js Joined on the Ocean Floor,
IN all tho strange story OF Ssemmca
and his two 81 ips nothing IS stranger.l