New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-22
In This Article Of The Trib.
une's Civil War Series Nav
al Battle OFF Cherbourg
Is Describ e d.

Kesrsarsc. but il PLAYED little part IN the
result II the meeting
The days following the announcement o.
Captain Semmcs'e challenge were anS-
ious ones for the officers and CROW IT the
*, arsarge II was determined 70 iisht TAR
enough from shore TO make il certain mat
the Ala bama should not escape In neutral
waters should she suffer defeat II was
also settled that there would be no sur
render. The officers quericd among them
selves why Captain Semmes should risk MS
ship when he had SO much 10 lose and -
little to gain. Day after day the koarSsrse
rromenaded ur and down across tho mourn
Of the harhor ready for battle even 10 The
shotting Of the guns and lowering of the
ports. but tho Alabama did not appear .-
Rumors came aboard with the French
pilots that Captain Scmmss was 'oalins'
sending valuables ashore and slarpeulnS
his cutlasses. swords and boarding pixies
II was reported that he had refused 10
listen % the advice that he should ho'
fight. remarkins that he wished 90 Slo"
to the world that his vessel WAS not
privatecr intended solely Tor attack np'n
oefenceless merchant ships, but d manor.
war capable of hghting. BY night as wen
AS by day the men Of the kearsarSe
watched with keen eye for the coming Oh
the Confederate ship. but she did not come
Sunday June 10. dawned fair. The at
mosphere VAS a little hazy. the sea quiet
\ gentle westerly breeze played hsh"y
over the surface. Captain NinsIoW hsd
almost given up hope OF having an oppoi,
tunity TO meet Semmes. Tho decks hau
been holystoned. the brass polished AN"
the men were dressed in their SUNDAY oeS'
INSPECTION was over and They gathered iof
the customary religious service. lne'
were unaware OF the Occurrences on shoie
within the last twelve hours There u WAC
/ generally known that the Alabama was O"
4 the eve of going forth to disproFe t".
asperson that she feared To hsht 'e''
war vessel The night before the son %
the United States Minister at Paris VINO
had come TO Cherbourg TO go ABOARD u7
| Kearsarge had been Informed 10y '"e
J French admiral at the port that ne n''
better remain over until SUNDAY ana -"
! the fight which was TO take place 'he 'o'-
/ lowing morning.
/ II il related that several officers OF '"'
/ Alabama took supper with friends on 'n''
/ saturday night and. after discussing '"'
coming battle 10 the full they rose iro"
the table promising one another 10 me-
the following night to celebrate the NI
/ tory. The fight had been the talk Oh 81 az,
for a week. and thousands OF persons We
collecting on all the points OF Vah'dse
that Sunday morning with camp stoo'S
and glasses to witness the proSpe'u'o
naval duel. An excursion tram '*"'' :"
from Paris carrying hundreds OF p'e"Su'V
seekers. who found that OF tue proc ''''''''
for the day might ne mcl"a'" u
tacle of a real sea night
The chronometers on tue MA
marked 1870 o'clock. The snip NC"
ringing for service. som" o"' o..
shes coming and headed Sts'sm ~,
MS The officer OF the deck. win the -.
- III. qIass. confirmed the assertion Of the
| ror,iruaa m seyenth rAAe