Evening star., 1911-08-13

siye of raking, sheered and broke her
silence with the starboard battery.
Each ship was now pressed under a
full head of steam. the position being
broadside, both employing the star
Capt Winslow. fearful that the
enemy would make for the shore, de-
termined with a port helm to run un-
der the Ala bamas stern for raking.
but was prevented by her sheering and
keeping her broadside to the Kear-
sarge, which forced the fighting on a
circular track, each ship, with a strong
port helm, steaming around common
center, and pouring Its fire into its op-
ponent a quarter TO half a mile away.
There was a current setting TO westward
three knots an hour.
The action was now fairly begun.
The Alabama changed from solid shot
to she'll shot from an early broad
side Of the Kearsarge carried away
the spanker-gaff of the enemy. and
caused his ensign to come down by the
run. This incident was regarded as
favorable omen by the men. who cheer
ed and went with increased confidence
to their work. The fallen ensign re
appeared at the mizzen.
The Alabama returned to solid shot.
and soon after fired both shot and
shell to the end. The firing of the
Alabama was rapid and wild, getting
better near the close: that of the
Kearsarge was deliberate. accurate,
and almost from the beginning pro-
ductive Of dismay, destruction and
death The Kearsarge gunners had
been cautioned against firing without
direct aim. and had been advised to
point the heavy guns below rather
than above the water line, and to clear
the deck of the enemy with the lighter
ones Though subjected to an inces-
SAINT storm of shot and shell, they
kept their stations and observed in
structions.
The effect upon the enemy was
readily perceived, and nothing could
restrain the enthusiasm OF our men.
Cheer succeeded cheer; caps were
thrown in the air or overheard; jackets
were discarded: sanguine of victory,
the men were shouting as each pro-
iectfle tok effect: THAT is good one"
Down. boys" Give her another like
the last. Now we have her." and
so on, cheering and shouting to the
end
II
After the kearsarge had been eN-
posed to an uninterrupted cannonade
for eighteen minutes a sixty-eight-
FOUNDER Blake1y shell passed through
the starboard bulwarks below the main
rigging. exploded upon the quarter
deck. and wounded three of the crew
Of the after pivot gun. With these ex-
ccpllOnS, not al officer man TeCclVcu
serious injury. The three unfortunate
men were speedily taken below, and so
quietly was the act done that at the
termination of the fight large num-
ber of the men were unaware that any
of their comrades were wounded
Two shots entered the ports occupied
by the thirty-twOs, where several men
were stationed. one taking effect in the
hammock netting, the other going
through the opposite port, yet none
was hit. A shell exploded in the ham
mock netting and set the ship on fire;
the alarm calling for fire quarters was
sounded, and men who had been de-
tailed for such an emergency put out
guns.
1t is wonderful that so few casualties
occurred on board the kearsarge. con-
sidering the number on the Alabama
the former having fired 173 shot and
shell, and the latter nearly double that
number. The Kearsarge concentrated
her fire and poured in the eleven-inch
shells with deadly effect. One pene-
trated the coal bunker OF the Alabama,
and a dense cloud of coal dust arose.
Others struck near the water line be-
ploded within board. or, passing
through, burst beyond. Crippled and
torn, the Alabama moved less quickly
and began to settle by the stern. yet
did not slacken her fire, but returned
successive broadsides without disas-
trous result to us.
Capt. Semmes witnessed the havoc
made by the shells. especially by those OF
our after pivot-gun, and offered a reward
his battery was turned upon this par