The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-25


mere had before this been informed
that Higginson's battleships had been
slghted off Gloucester and that later
they had returned to their berths I'M
der the lee of Thatcher's Island.
me Barney's commander was mys-
tlhed, therefore, when, after rounding
Stra1tsmouth he saw no evidence of
the presence of the Kearsarge. The
Barney was steered southerly. After
Hlgglnson's ships had cruised up and
ooWn the coast they went to their an
chor off Thatcher's Island. At that
time the officer on the deck of the
kearsarge was Lieut.. Ray Stone, with
Mldshipman William Dilworth Pule-
ston as the junior officer in command.
In contrast with the others, the
morning was clear and the stars bright.
On the bridge a dozen jackies stood
upon the watch. One of these was
Daniel Staehle, an apprentice of the
nrst class. He stood we'll forward
peering on the lee side. The flagship
was just falling down into a trough
When he notified the ensign at his side
that he could see the enemy. The
officer of the deck called Flag Lieut.
Evans and Flag Secretary Bistol and
1t was but the work of a moment to
inform Admiral Higginson of the prob
ability that the time for decisive ac-
ton was at hand.
The Call to Quarters.
1t was real war then General quar-
tiers were sounded. There was a quick
rush of many feet, the manning of
hundred posts, the clank of the anch-
or chain, the ringing of bells, the
giving of orders and a general clear
ing for action. Not many moments
passed before the flagship was under
way, steaming at fourteen knots, with
the Alabama and Massachusetts many
lengths in the rear. Some distance
back was the Barney. rapidly over
hauling the ships ahead.
At $40 o'clock the three battleships
aided by the converted yacht Scorpion
which had come in from the south in
time to be able in at the finish, and
the Barney, which had overtaken the
fleet, formed a horseshoeS about the
White Squadron The elation among
the men on board the Blue Squadron
ran high.
There was something pathetic in the
picture when Commander Pillsbury,
after he had sighalled his surrender,
passed in his barge from the Prairie,
walked up the starboard gang way of
the Kearsarge and offered his sword
to Admiral Higginson.
Refused Proffered Sword.
Keep your sword, sir said the
senior officer, his voice quavering a bit
in. spite of himself: Il would not ac-
cept the sword from so gallant a foe"
and 1, sir" replied Pillsbury, with
dignity, could not surrender to a
nobler or better officer"
This exchange of words ended the
actual surrender, and at the invitation
of Admiral Higginson, Commander
Pillsbury stepped down to the cabin of
the Kearsarge and here the two Off
GERS discussed in private the incidents
of the days since the declara ton of
hostilities on Wednesday.
AT the conclusion of the conference
Commander Pillsbury was re-
turned to his flagship. and
it was not long after that
the Prairie headed down the coast. A
little later signals were given for the
Blue Squadron to return to Rockport.
A little later, by the same system of
communication, established and main
tanned SO successfully since Wednes-
day, messages We're dispa tched to all
points from Portland to Provincetown
ordering all the warships of the de-
Tending squadron to return to Rock
port for further instructions and at the
same time to collect on the way to this
habor all signal men who had been de-
tailed at both island and mainland
stations along the coast. In an inter-
view on board his flagship Admiral
Higginson expressed his pleasure at
the real work which has been done
during the week.
Apprentice Boy Commended.
He commended Stehle. the appren-
tice boy who was the first to report
the presence of Commander Pillsbury's
squadron. He said he believed that
to some extent the maneuvers had
taught the navy it's points of weakness
and strength during time of real
action, and he believed much good
would come from the war game"
The naval experts are discussing the
reason for Commander Pillsbury's
maneuver in steaming finally to the
northward and coming to anchor as
he did at a point off Magnolia and near
to Gloucester harbor, especially in the
light of the announcement that he
intended to anchor in Salem
harbor, and the theory was advanced
that the acting admiral of the White
Squadron had either observed that he
had been sighted and decided to sur
render hopelessly, or try at the last
moment to run unseen by Admiral
Higginson into Gloucester harbor.
The main theme of discussion in
Rockport tonight among the seafaring
people who know the Massachusetts
coast as we'll as they know their own
houses, was the apparent rejection of
all strategic movements by Comman-
der Pillsbury. He had not tried to
land officers or marines to learn of
the enemy's movement, and he had
sailed almost to the base of defense
just before daylight when capture
seemed inevitable.
Signal Service Great.
Admiral Higginson spoke tonight
very freely of the signal service. He
laid special emphasis upon the effec-
tive work of the men detailed to signal
duty and said he intended to issue
commendatory letter to all the men of
his command. He scored the telephone
service. and said it appeared very an
tiquated. He emphasized the neces-
sity of the wireless telegraphy and il
Illustrated the benefits, if ships of the
navy were fitted with this new inven-
ton.
There would have been no need of
the torpedo scouts" he said, for |
would have known at all times the
exact location of my ships.
1--WE need this service badly. We
are three years behind our foreign
friends in this respect. and / hope the
system will be installed on the ships
of the navy very soon"
Commander Pillsbury was asked re-
garding his movements and stated
when he left Provincetown last Tues
day his feet steamed directly to sea,
running off some 400 miles southeast
of Cod. His plan was to lay off there
until Saturday night and then to try
for Salem harboT.