Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-08-21
M0rtestGr Bully SPY,
THE DAILY SPY.
The News from Charleston.
A.BIG GUN OPENS FIRE.


A'BIG GUN OPENS FIRE
SATURDAY, Aug. I5.-Last evening one of
our 2OO-pounders was opened on Fort Sum-
ter A few shots were fred by the same gun
last Thursday, for the purpose of trying the
range. Altogether, seven iHdenturvs have
been made in the southeast side Of the fort.
For accuracy of aim and damage inflicted the
practice of the 200 FOUNDER could not be ex.
celled Every shot after the first three shots
fired struck the fort or exploded directly over
it. One proiectle struck Il recently closed
up embrasure, tearing it completely open from
top to bottom The only guns to be seen on
Sumter are the barbette. The rebels did not
give single response to our fire. At Sp.
H. the firing from the heavy gun had ceased.
If out of fifteen shots fired from the POO
FOUNDER seven Of them made seven deep in
dentures in the iort. what have we to EXPECT
when the entire battery including the runs
from the naval fleet, is turned upon it? 1t is
thought in some quarters that the'rebels have
made preparation to evacuate Sumter. They
have removed some of the heavy runs from
the fort and placed them in position on jaime :
Island without doubt For the past three
DAYS 5000 laborers could be seen working on
earthworks on James Island. As vet thev
have not mounted guns on the south of the
island.
no means Idle. They are determined that orr
men shall not work on the trenches, if their
schrapnel and other missiles will prevent it.
The work progresses, however-a fact which
the rebels will be made aware of to their sor-
row, in an exceedingly short space of time.
The monitors ounb0ots mort.r-srhoonnrs
and other war vessels are in readiness for ar.
ton. Some of them have already taken M
stions and rot the range of their guns. lin
fortunateIv Cen Gilmore has hpnp aud 10
now onitr i'll with indnnmation of the bowcls
PERHAPS that circumstances has retarded nc.
tive movements TO a certain extent. To-day ho
is A little better. although Obliged to be con-.
stantlv attended bv a nurse
While we were firing uuon Sumter This of
ternoop an officer in tort i;rppp. ryitpntIv do
signlnp TO watch the effect ut the shot
brought his can,p chair out upon the paranet
of the f,rt and Snt down as callv a. if - ,,,s
not within the ranre of Gftv or SIXTY Parrotts
One of our artillprists. desiring to teacb him a
lesson in prudence. let "a 30.pounder par
rotf shot and sent him tnnbIiny afr his chair
intn fin, tnrt Our guunnrs arc usi,,r H.,
small parrotts win almost os ,nnnb Eli as
tbe sbarpShooters do their rifles. and uro tnn.
netting with them in the taking off every hnad
that appears in sirht
Earlier in the day. while a rebel sreaner
was Ivino in fancipd sepuritv behind tho nnrtb
erlv wall of Sumter. dischargng sand baos
with which to STRENGTHEN the innerilIed worlr
a shot from this same heavy ptn sned ovnr
the f,rt and strnri, the nara,st unnn tI,o m
posite side. hurIino a vast mass of bricks and
debris upon the unsuspecting craft The
vessel. which was like an old.fnshioned ferry
boat in shane was d,sabIrd nv tho sboalr mr.
smoke-sta, k being carried away. and her
steam chest exploding.