THE 'ALABAMA' AND 'KEARSARGE'.
The Lite naval duel has been the »übj»ct of correspondence acd paiagiaphs. (1 ) Our contemporaries publish a lettei from Mi. Mabon to Mi. Lancaster, tlio ownei of the 'Dcci hound, 'tbanking him for his "noblu and dis>inteiested spmt," and his lignal seivice m rescuing the 'Alabama's' ciew, and »aying that in doing so he (Mr. Mason) but anticipate* the giateful seutiment-j of his country and Government. (2 ) A correspondence is published between Captain Winslow and Mr. Bonhlt, the Fiench Confederate agent. Captain Wmslow claims as his pusoner* those of the 'Alabama's' ciew lescued I>j pilot boat*, and brought into Clieiboury. ile allowed the pilot boati to save the pusnneib, fiom motives of humanity, but if the ;jiisoueis endeavoiu to fiee themsdvei from the obligation thty must expect to meet no mercy another time. Mi. BoiifiK replies that [theie 13 nothing to hinder e\en a siuiemleied piioonei fiom escaping if he can, and he declines to act ag a go-between between Capta.n Winslow and persons he does not even name, noi can he understand how C.iptam Winslow can claim to hold priaoneis within the temtoiy of the Fieach empire. ) Mr. Laucastci, 111 a long letter to the Daily News, vindicates his conduct against the chaiges brought against him of stealing away with the captain and officers of the 'Alabama,' whom he saved from drowning. He denies altogether having acted as tender to the 'Alabama' before the fight, or having had any previous communication with the 'Alabama' officer* or men, and maintains that he would never hare saved them from diownmg merely to deliver them up to the 'Kearsaige,' as prisoners — he would not have lescued them on such terms, nor was he asked to do so. (4 ) Captain Blakely wutes, the 'Alabama 1 *" one BlaUel> gun weighed less thon half the two imooth born iDahlgrens) pitted against it, making the odds four to one at close quarteis. At long range the advantage would have beeu ■« ith the one rifled gun. as it could make tolerable practice a full mile farther than the smooth bores. The 'Alabama,' he adds, had uofc one steel ihot or shell on boaid. Any gun she bad, even the little 32-poundeis, could have lired steel shot through the 'KeaisaigeV anuoni, no gun on earth could throw thin iron shell through it. The 'Alabama' prisoners capture I by the 'Kearsarge ' have been parolled by Capt. "Win^lon , and a numhei of them have leached Southampton. They speak in the highest teims of the humanity of the JFedcial captain, lie told his own men that as the atiuggle between the 'Alabama' and the 'Keaisarge' was ovei the pmoneis were to be tieated as brothers. They appeal to bo all Englishmen or Irishmen. Many ( of them state that on enteiing the Confederate service they had no political leaning towaids North or Sontli. They vveie badly off in this conntiy, and they thought to better their condition by mean* of high pay and puze money. They found, however, that they, wero not to have the lattei until the vv»r was^ oyer. They aie consequently said to be much disappointed. — Home Neus, July 26.
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Bibliographic details
Daily Southern Cross, Volume XX, Issue 2237, 21 September 1864, Page 3
Word Count
525THE 'ALABAMA' AND 'KEARSARGE'. Daily Southern Cross, Volume XX, Issue 2237, 21 September 1864, Page 3
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