Evening journal., 1892-11-04
FORT SUMTER FIRED ON
1t Was Only in Fun This Time
Though Very Realistic.
UHARLEsTOBs GREAT CELEBRATION

~
The Chief Feature of the Big Earthquake
Festival Witnessed by 10000 Persons.
No Flags Of ANY Kind Were Displayed
and No Sentiment Was Involved.
CHARLESTON, Nov, More than C0,O00
people witnessed the grand naval display
# the earthquake festival last night OF
this number about 5000 lined the high sea
wall and the remainder witnessed the bonn
uardment from steamers and sailing vessels
and craft in the harbor. 1t was perfect
Charleston night and the arrangements for
the display worked without a hitch.
Fort Sumter built on lighters was an
chored ia the inner bay, as were miniature
representations OF the batteries on Morris
island. The First regiment Of artillery Of
the state national guards (three batteries)
manned the sea wall representing the bat
.sries Of sullivan island.
Tugboats represented the attacking
fleet. The bombs used in the affair were
manufactured especially for the occasion
and produced realistic effects. There was
no sentimental significance in the display.
the only interest attaching 70 it being the
fact that the event which occurred April
;, 1853, was the first engageme ut during
the war, in which the new ironclad war
ships came in collision with a fortress Of
masonry.
The peculiar typographical surroundings
II this harbOr rendered such a display eX-
ceedingly interesting. AT s.l5 o'clock the
first shot was fired by a battery from the
supposititious Fort Moultrie AZ the feet Of
tugboats which sailed down the bay.
This was replied 10 by the boat repre-
senting the Weehawken, and then for two
hours the pyrotechnic firing was kept up
with fidelity TO details which was really
wonderful
The officers and crews Of the United
States war vessels and the revenue cutter
witnessed the display from the decks of
these vessels and were delighted There
was absolutely no sentiment involved. no
flags were used.
The Genuine Fight.
In the genuine fight which was repro
duced in mimic last night the feet engaged
was composed of the Weenawken. Two
guns. Captain John Rodgers. Pa-salc, Two
guns, Captain Percival Drayton; MonlalA,
two guns. Captain John J. WOnlen; Pa
Ammen: flagship New Ironsides. sixteen
guns, Captain H. Turner; CaJskiu two
guns, Commander Rodgers; Nantucket
two guns. Commander ID. Men. Fair,aE;
Nahant. two guns, Commander Downes;
Keokuk, two guns, Commander A. e..
Rhind
The Canandaigua, the Housatonic, the
Unadiila, the Wissahickon and the Huron
were of the bar, but were not engaged.
The fight began about 2O'clOck in the after
noon. The first shots fired at the fort came
from the leading monitor Meehawken.
One passed over the heads Of the men stand
ing ready 70 fire the barbette guns of the
right flank on the fort, and cut a clean hole
through the rcgimental Confederate flag
flying 0n the George Wall, piercing it near
the crossing OF the two cannuns in the cen
ter OF is field.
Not much damage was done TO either
feet or the fort. The keokuk seems 70
have had some defect in her build. Conn
mander Rhind, however, scented deter
mined to test her fighting capacity 10 the
utmost.
RiddleG with Bullets.
When the turn in the channel was reached
be came 'bow on 70 the fort, receiving
the concentrated force OF all the guns that
EuAAA Nc lAUAA4l To nIaA AANlA tAuA EAl-
and from Sullivan's island. lie was ST.
fenced after string three shots. The posi-
tion taken seemed to him 10 be about 50
yards from Sumter.
To those in the fort il appeared TO ba
hardly less than 900 yards. AT the end OF
twenty-five or thirty minutes he was glad
TO escape without being captured OF going
down. His vessel was struck ninety times
ia the huh OF turrets. and nineteen shots
pierced her through.
The turrets were penetrated by rife bolts
and l0-inch round shots. hiddled as she
was, it Is a matter q wonder how She es-
capped with her engines ia condition 70 take
her out OF the fight, That night she sank
OIL the southern part of Morris island.
Charleston's celebration win wind up to
night with grand BAH rendered the Off
GERS Of the fleet and the finest display ol
fireworks ever seen in the south.