The morning times., 1896-02-09

OF the other vessels appearing, and sup
posed to be sunk, Gem Smith was about to
order out the tug fleet, with the fleet of
scows to obstruet the channel, when heavy
firing was again heard TO the seas and in
twilight the flash OF the guns lighted up the
skies.
1t was arterward learned that the Yantic
and the Iowa had become separated from
the other vessels and nfaintained the battle.
The conflict-raged the whole way up the
stream and was terrific just opposite the
city, whore the Minneapolis, the Baltimore
and the Cincinnati again jeincd the fight, re-
lying TO some extent oilshebatteries on the
Alexandria wharves.
In inis they were right, for the whole
line on shore opened, hut 1t was a foregone
conclusion that the 6,4s and 12-inch guns
would lie of little effect unless ut broad
side range. The flFiiiggat THE fleets down
stream had absolutely no effect on account
Of The angle which The foreign boats pre-
sented. Our squadron vas fighting against
desperate odds, and WIRE obliged To keep
up the retreat.
When our vessels had passed Alexandria
theincoming fleet began Smelling its wharves
and the city generally. The fire from the
battery was soon sienced; as IL would
have been a mere batchery TO keep the men
at their guns.
BLOWING UP THE MINoTAUR
One OF the most brilliant and daring OF
the feats ON our side.ofthe engagement was
the blowing up of the ;sgnotaur by tue tor
pedo boat wyandottc
This torpedo boat was lowered from the
Iowa when she huve to nearly opposite
Alexandria. She stcsred for the fish wharf
of tlat city and escaped the bombardment
OF the wharyes by The approaching fleet.
When the Minoiaur was passing the wy
andotte steamed out, but the maneuyer
was noted from the Minotaur.
A furious fire Of small arms was opened
on the little vessel, which, however, fired
one of its shells, which struck the Minotaur
very nearly in the spot indicated in the
illustration accompanying.
The huh was shivered, ard in a few min
utes the immense battleshlp began TO
sink and finally went to the bottom. The
wyaDdotte was hit AID also sank. Her
survivors were picked mp by the few boats
which bad time 10 be lowered from the
Mlnotour, all Of whicii were captured by.
An attempt was made TO communicate
with the War Departmental later in the night,
but, as in Washington the lines had been
cut. II was intended to inform the de-
partment and also the commander at
Fort Monroe that tho torpedo connections
near that place could be renewed and pre-
vent the outward passage of the English
meD-of-war.
FORT MONROE CAPTURED.
II was later discovered that the Belle
ropbon and the Cbevaiier Bayard lad re-
nained at the fort having captured tie
Ranger, and had the Qualifications and
all the connections under heir control
a curious result Of The fight was that but
few of the vessels Oh either side were seri-
ously hurt. The hottest euga cement took
place off Alexandria In the twilight and
dark, which may partly account for this
fact.
II was about / O'Clock at night on the
29th Of August whenthe first shell from the
British fell in Washington. IL struck the
Franklin school building, which is still a
wreck. The next one aImest simultaneously
struck the new postoffice. The effect of
these explosions on the terrified citizens.
who ha dno sleep for twonigbts, can only be
imagined.
To add TO the CONSERVATION several of
the twelve-inch guns which had recently
been finished and placed at Fort Washing
ton began to thunder downstream at one
OF the approaching vessels, afterward
known TO be the Ajax. The effect of thisen
The bewildered people, who were running
10 and fro and crowtling in front of The
Times office, was as If they believed that
the British vessels were anchored off the
city.
SHATTERED THE MONUMENT.
One of the never-to-be.forgotten scenes of
the night was the striking OF shell on the
Washington Monument. The roar of the
exploding monster. and the vivid flash, like
that of binding lightning, were appalling
in their spectacular beauty. Fire broke
out in the Franklin Building, and in short
time there was a blaze that could be seen
for miles around.
Fires broke out at the same time in the
northeast and northwest. Shells exploded
on the Capitol and with their hellish noise
came the added thunders ofthe dome toppling
to the lower parts of the building. In less
than an hour there were blazes of mighty
uncomfortable fires all the way east and
west, north and south.
Men, women and children were killed in
the streets as they fled into the suburbs,