The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-01

| 1t was like looking for a needle in
| haystack. because the Alabama had
been able To rcvctual and even to take
| on n goodly supply Of coal from her
prizes and had no need OF seeking port.
| Accordingly while the Federal naval
vessels had no news Of the Confederate
craft, Sommes got the mails and the
latest tidings from his captives and with
rare exception he burned his prizes and
sent them TO the bottom. When he did
despatch an occasional captured vessel
20 port to get rid OF his prisoners he
was careful to send the craft on her
way when days out from harbor. ana In
the interval he had so shifted his feld
of activities that there was no clue TO
his position.
After some weeks in The neigfborhood
of the Azores, Semmes decided to shape
his course toward Sandy Hook. but
violent gales south OF Newfoundland
damaged some of his spars and wracked
the Alabama considerably, so that tho
Confederate cruiser was turned south
after getting into tho latitude OF New
York. Down into the Caribbean the
Alabama worked, picking up prize after
prize on the way.
or Martinique tho Alabama mot her
collier and to avoid trouble Semmes
sent her on To the lonely island OF
Blanuulla, cff the coast of Venezuela.
His fuel ship had scarcely got safely
away when along came the United States
ship San Jacinto. tho old wagon" as
Semmes called her, and proceeded TO
blockade the port. Semmes knew the
waters perfectly in the neighborhood.
and one black night. just as he had
done IN tho Sumter. he slipped out and
made good his escape. Then on 10
Banquilla the Alabama went and re-
coaled, and about two weeks later the
San Jacinto reached that island.
Learning that an expedition was
fitting out for Texas under Gen. Banks,
Semmes planned to intercept the fleet
of troop ships and 20 play havoc with
them and get away. Accordingly he
headed for the coast near Galveston,
but instead of encountering the fleet OF
transports he stumbled upon naval
squadron Of Ave ships at anchor. One
of them was sent out TO meet the Ala
bama, and Semmes headed for tho
offing. thus drawing his puEsuer away
from her support
Just as night fell the two vessels
came within hailng distance and in
answer TO the question from the Fedora
craft Semmes announced his vessel 10
be Her Britannia Majesty's Steamer
, Petrol" Getting within a range OF about
hundred yards, the Confederate skip
per declared his ship the Alabama, and
> Immediately broke loose with q whole
broadslde, which landed squarely upon
the enemy. 1t was "A matter or a few
minutes only before the ex-ferry boat
Hatteras WIS sinking. and with seaman
Ike promptness and skill the Confed-
crates saved every ono OF their enemies
II Is a notable fact that this modest tin
clad was the only ship OF the Federal
feet that measured forces with the Ala
hanna until that fateful Sunday in June,
1864. when the Kearsarge brought the
Confederate crafts career to a spectacu-
lar close.
Scared of from Galveston, Sertnes
spent December 25, 1862. at Areas ISL
ands, where the men were allowed TO
land upon one OF those dismal keys for
a holiday The day was not brilliant
success in that respect and tho outing
ended in a free fight. So the story
goes: zone OF the officers remarked TO
Cocky Bill who came aboard terribly
cut up, that he made bad use or MS
liberty and got the cheerful answer,
that It was a poor art as never re-
joices.'"
Touching at Cape Town on the way
westward, the hopes were high among
the crew for a speedy run thence TO
! England. Before reaching the neigh
Y borhood of the European coast It was
] learned that the L. S. s. Kearsarge was
especially on the lookout for the Ala
bama, and the poet Of the forecastle
broke loose again with the last OF his
y efforts:
l We're homeward bound, wore homeward
bound,
e And soon shall stand on English
= ground
4 But ere that English land was soen,
We first must fight the Kearsarge
The poet was certainly something OF
prophet, but tho outcome was not al
: together as he confidently predicted On
June II, 1864, the Confederate cruiser
= slipped into Cherbourg by the eastern
. entrance, and anchored near the mole,
: and three days later the Kearsarge ap-
peared in the offlng. AS TO the condi-
ton OF the Alabama, one Of her Grew has
4 given the world this view OF her unit
ness for combat:
: ITO my mind the Alabama was in no
condition TO meet an enemy. unless un-
der very favorable conditions: and
= these conditions WtTo not iIhSly W Ncilo
about Just now Our ship was no longer
weatherly, the way we forged through
the water showed that our sheathing
was In a bad condition, and we had not
h fred a broadside for a twelvemonth. Our
I fixed ammunition had been put UP some
two years, and twice I had seen our
pivot gun shells fail to explode so we
d, were taking chances in fighting"
Indeed, had the pivot gun ammunition
been what It should have been for ac-
e ton, another outcome might have re-
d suited. for II was an uneXploded inch
o she'll lodged in the stern post OF the
Kearsarge that made all the difference
. between victory and disaster 10 the Fed
Il eral cruiser.
n However, the crew Of the Alabama
n were philosophical We've had plum
$ pudding voyage, and It will be fitting
a termination to have a square fight with
e an antagonist of our size, and wen do
"a our best"
II Everybody knows what happened on
: the 18th Of June Sunday had commonly
y been a day of successes during the long
: months OF ravaging on the part OF the
n Alabama, but the last Sunday OF her eN-