New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-14
BOMBARDMENT or FORT McHENRY
A GORGEOUS SPECTACLE WINDS UP THE BALTI.
MORE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.


Baltimore, Sept 10 (specian.-Fort McHenry was
bombardcd for the second time in its history tonight.
Ihe representation OF the attack Of the British fleet
on baltimore was no doubt grander spectacle than
Tho original. People packed the of STEAMBOATS,
and other craft Of all descriptions in the harbor, while
at rough estimate 10000 more lined the wharves
and warehouses roofs and every point of vantage
along the water front. The sides Of Federal Hill
and Riverside Park the south side of the harbor,
looked Ike great walls Of human heads At night
ial the vast array Of faces the decorated shipping,
tho thousands Of electric and calcium lights reflect
Ing on the water and Illuminating the great grain
elevators. tho big steamers and the iron ships
lying of the port prepared for action made brilliant
spectacle. The display opened with parade Of
hhy steamboats, and Jugs starting from Fort Carroll
at the mouth OF the Paapsco. and coming up the
river I'm LlaZe Of fireworks and all their whistles
screechng
The United States vessels Yantc and osspee lay
on the mouth of the haIbor and few hundred yards
from the Pensacola. Captain Yates, United States
Navy was in command of the warships. rocket
from the Pensacola the signal for the final prepare
lions. The boatswans whistles sounded, decks were
cleared for action, royal and topgaant yards
sent down, booms rugged in boats dropped and towed
asten and all the many manOeuvres OF preparing for
action quickly executed. The Pensacola led oil with
tremendous broadside from her nine inch smooth
bore guns. As the fash from the guns Illuminated
the fort parapets, Colonel Livingston, the Command
ant could be issuing orders to the batteries and
the next instant the big guns Of the fort belched
forth and the hills and the vessels trembled
with the conclusion. Then tho Yantc and o6Sipeo
turned their guns on the fort and blazed away Clouds
Of smoke rolled upward and then hung like white
pail over the topmasts Of the ships. At every
brOadSde fired the Pensacola presented
a sheet OF flame from stem to stern and shook as
though her old lmbcrs would go TO pieces Every few
minutes signal rockets shot upward from the flagship,
piercing the rolls OF smoke with streaks Of lame and
indicating to the gunners the other vessels when
TO fire. The big guns at the fort replied to the war
ships in lively style. and II heavy shot had been used
1t is likoly that the three old Naval vessels would
have been at the bottom of the river. For nearly
two hours the firing continued. One hundred torpedo
boats each threw up a thousand balls and followed
them with brilliant flashes Of fire from bursting
powder. Nearly 100000 balls Of fire were flying
through the air at time.
The final act when the streak OF name shot
upward from a magazine Of the fort and a terrihc
explosion followed The air filled with leaplng
flames and what appeared 10 be bits OF blazing wood
The bombarling ceased; the fort. the flag waving
over II, and the ships OF war were Illuminated with
cOlorsl fires and grand chorus OF 600 voices ar
cOmpanied by several bands. sang The Star Span
eled Banner" and the celebration Of the seventy
fifth anniversary Of the Battle Of North Point was
al an end.