The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-22
SKY WAS CLoUDLESS.
Attacking Squadron Has Little
Chance to Make Port.

Rockport, Mass, Aug. 2I.-The bat
tleships OF Rear Admiral Higginson's
squadron, defending the New England
coast from an imaginary attack by a
fleet under Commander John z. Pills
bury. were plainly seen in the clear
atmosphere from this port this morn
ing. The other vessels of Higginson's
command were maintaining guard of
the coast. The night passed without
unusual incident, and no trace of the
enemy was reported from any of
the signal stations
All conditions at the beginning of the
day were considered as favoring the
defending fleet, as apparently it would
be inviting detection were Commander
Pillsbury to attempt to approach the
coast under the cloudless sky and with
absolutely no mist or haze to obstruct
vision for miles and miles at sea.
Nevertheless, the coast guard ships
were on the move early in the morn
ing.
Brooklyn and the Olympia. The bat
tleships Kearsarge, Massachusetts and
Alabama were outside Straits Mouth
point, near Thatcher island, their posi-
ton being at about the center of the
line of defense. The Mayfower and
the Scorpion were on duty off the isles
Of Shoals, and the other vessels were
stationed at more distant points or
were moving to and fro. acting as pa
trOls along the picket lines.
Just after s o'clock the torpedo boat
Bagley was sent into this port to get
dispatches.
Signal Stations Busy.
The telegraph and telephone were
very busy today with the transmission
Of the reports from various signal
&c
Portland to Provincetown where ex-
tended sea observation can be obtained
but that is manned by watchmen from
the vessels of Admiral Higginson.
Each has been heard from at time to
time, and those in charge OF the central
naval station here are satisfied that
The signal system is as nearly per-
feet as il can be. Not only are the
important points occupied by men
from the warships. but in some cases
marines and signal men are with them
and they have the cooperation OF the
lighthouse keepers and of the various
life saving crews. All reports received
ap 20 noon today were the same. to
the effect that nothing had been seen
Of 1.-The enemy"
So far those ia charge of the central
station here are caintaining conditions
Of actual warfare. Ensign Berry and
Midshipman Fitzpatrick receive re-
ports, handle ships and direct affairs.
Today Captain II. T. Holmes of the
Hearsarge was at the station for the
purpose of getting an accurate land
view of the vessels as they moved
about at sea.
There is evidence today that Com
nander Pillsbury has stationed spies
Il the main points included in the oper-
ItiOn for the defense of the coast. The
irst intimation of anything of this
sort came from Provincetown, where
& was suspected that an officer had
been landed. Investigations led TO the
belief that at other places and even
II this station such spies had been
Ient.
This prompted to even closer Sc
recy. if possible, than had been main
aimed before. and TO order that sharp
watch be kept for suspicious persons.
Storm Came Up.
Not for a moment during the after
soon did the battleships give up their
FatchfulneSs- soon after the noon
our a heavy storm came on, the sky
eing decidedly black. In the driving
ain the impression entertained by the
ailors was the probability that Com
handler Pillsbury would strike his
low on such a night as this promised
be. But the adverse weather made
he stations of the defending squadron
long the Atlantic coast line all the
rore active and alert. Messages came