The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-08-26

Brazil. we crossed over to the Cape
of Good Hope, where we played hide
and seek with the United States
steamer Vanderbilt, whose command
err. Charles II. Baldwin, had explained
to Sir Baldwin Walker, the English
admiral of the naval station at ST.
mons Town Ca few miles above the
cape,D that he did not intend to fire
gun at the Alabama, but to run her
down and sink her. We were not
disposed to try issues with the Van
derbilt, so one night about II o'clock,
while it blew a gale of wind from the
southeast we hove anchor and steam
ed out of Simon's Bay. BY morning
we had made a good offing, and, set
ting what sail we could carry, hoisted
our propeller and made a due south
course.
We ran down to the fortieth degree
south latitude, where we fell in with
westerly gales and bowled along near
/ ly due east, until we shaped our
course for the Straits of Java Our
long stretch across the Indian Ocean
placed MS in the China Sea, where we
We're least expected, and where we
soon fell in with the China trade. In
a few weeks we had so paralyzed the
enemy's commerce that their ships
were absolutely locked up in port, and
neutrals were doing all the carrying
trade.
Having thus virtually cleared the
sea of the United States flag, we ran
down to Singapore, coaled ship, and
then turned westward through the
Straits of Malacca, across to India,
thence to the East Coast of Africa.
Passing through the Mozambique
,Channel, we again touched at the
Cape of Good Hope, and thence cross
ed to the coast of Brazil.
Decide to Fight Kearsarge.
Our little ship was now showing
signs of the active work she had been
doing. Her boilers were burned out,
and her machinery was sadly in want
of repairs. She was loose at every
joint, her seams were open, and the
copper on her bottom was in rolls.
We therefore set our course for Eu-
, rope, and on the 18th of June, 1864,
entered the port of Cherbourg, and
, applied for permission to go into dock.
There being none but national docks,
the Emperor Napoleon lid had first
to be communicated with before per-
!, mission could be granted, and he was
absent from Paris.
1t was during this interval of wait
ing, on the third day after our arrival,
that the Kearsarge steamed into the
harbor, for the purpose, we learned
OF taking on board the prisoners we
had landed from our two prizes
Capt. Semmes, however, objected to
this on the ground that the Kear.
sarge was adding to her crew in a
neutral port. The authorities conced-
ing this objection valid, the Kear-
sarge steamed out of the harbor, with
: out anchoring.
After she left the harbor Captain
. Semmes sent for me to his cabin. and
said: Il am going out to fight the
, Kearsarge; what do yo uthink of it?o
| We discussed the battery, and espe,
cially the advantage the Kearsarge
, had over us in her eleven-inch guns,
She was built for a vessel of war. and
we for speed, and though she carried
one gun less, her battery was more
effective at point-blank range. While
the Alabama carried one more gun
the Kearsarge threw more metal at q
broadside; and while our heavy guns
were more effective at long range
her eleven-inch guns gave her greatly
the advantage at close range. She also
had slight advantage in her crew,
she carried 1863, all told, while we
carried 149. Considering well these
advantages, Capt. Semmes communi-
Gated through our agent to the United
States Consul that if CAPT. Winslow
would wait outside the harbor he
would fight him as soon as we could
coal ship.
We Go Out to Meet the Enemy
Accordingly, on Sunday morning,
June 10, between and 10 O'Clock, we
weighed anchor and stood out of the
western entrance of the harbor, the
French ironclad frigate Couronne fol.
lowing us. The day was bright and
beautiful with light breeze blowing.
Our men were neatly dressed, and our
officers in full uniform The report
of our going out to fight the Kear-
sarge had been circulated, and MANY
persons from Paris and the surround.
ing country had come down to wit
ness the engagement. With a large
number OF the inhabitants of Cher.
d hon h.. III