Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-11-04

No Sentimental Significance in the Event
Use of Flags Strictly Prohibited--Ths
Effect Very RaaIistic--The Earthquake
Festival Ends Tonight.
CHARLESTON, S. c., Nov Adore thar
CO. 900 people witnessed the grand naval
display of the Earthquake Festival last
night. OF this number about 80, DOC
lined the high sea wall and the remainder
witnessed the bombardment from steamer
and sailing vessels and small craft in the
harbor.
1t was Il perfect Charleston night and
the arrangements for the display worked
without II hitch. Fort Sumter built on
lighters was anchored in 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 city sea wall representing
the batteries of Sullivan Island.
Tug boats 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 to it
being the fact that the event which oc-
CURED April 5, 1861, was the first engage
ment during the war in which the new
ironclad warships came in collision with
a fortress or masonry.
The peculiar Typographical surround
lngs of this harbor rendered such display
exceeding interesting
AT S:15 o'clock the first shot was fired
by a battery from the suggestions Fort
Moultrie ut the fleet of tug boats which
sailed down the bay.
This was replied to by boat represent
ing the Weehawken, and then for two
hours the pyrotechnic firing was kept up
with fidelity to detail which was really
won derful - $50
The officers and crews of the United
States war vessels and the revenue cut
tiers witnessed the display from the decks
of the vessels and were delighted. No flags
were used.
The celebration will wind up tonight
with Il grand ball rendered to the officers
of the fleet and the finest display of fire
works ever seen in the South.
The fleet engaged in the fight i'm 1865
was composed of the Weehawken;; guns,
Capt. John Rodgers; Passaic, . guns,
Capt. Percival Drayton; Montauk, guns,
Capt. John l.. Worden; Patapsco, 2 guns,
Commander Daniel Ammen; Flagship
New Ironsides, IL guns, Capt. 7. Turner,
Catskill, , guns, Commander Rodgers.
Nantucket, 2 guns, Commander D. Men.
Fairfax; Nahant, , guns, Commander
Downes; Keokuk, guns, Commander A
G. Rhind.
The Canandaigua, the Housatonic, the
Unadilla, the Wissahickon, and the
Huron were off the bar, but were not en-
gagged. The fight began about , o'clock
in the afternoon. The first shots fired at
the fort came from the leading monitor,
the Weehawken.
One passed over the heads of the men
standing ready to fire the barbette guns
of the right TANKS on the fort, and cut a
clean hole through the regimental Cou-
: fcderate flag flying on the George Wall,
| piercing it near the crossing of the two
| cannOns in the centre of its field.
| Not much damage was done to either
| fleet or the fort. The keokuk seems to
have had some defect in her build
Commander Rhind, however, seemed de
| termined to test her fighting capacity tc
the utmost.
| When the turn in the channel was
| reached he came "bOw on" to the fort
| receiving the concentrated force of al
| the guns that could be brought to beal
| from that port and from Sullivan's Island
| He was silenced after firing three shots
| The position taken seemed to him to b.
about $50 yards from Sumter.
| To those in the fort it appeared to bc
| hardly less than 900 yards At the enc
| Of 20 or 80 minutes he was glad to escape
without being captured or going down
His vessel was struck 80 times in thu
hull and turrets, and 10 shots pierced he
| through The turrets were penetrated
| by rifle bolts and 10inch round shots
Riddled as she was, it is matter of wonIe
how she escaped with her engines in con
| dition to take her out of the fight.
That night she sank off the southern
| part of Morris Island.
The following is a statement shown:
the number OF shots fired, and the casual
ties:
Confederate Posts-Number of guns en-
gagged, rs; shots fired, 2,2O6; killed, 4
wounded, 10; nearly one fourth wer
smoothbore 32.pounders, of no valu
against armored vessels.
Federal Vessels-Number of guns ell
gagged, %; shots fired, 439: killed,
|