The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-26
The ENEMY IS SUNK
Game of War Ends III Pills
bury's Surrender.
Unable to Make HsrbOf His Squadron is Sur
rounded and Put Out of
(By the Associated Press.l

Rockport Mass Aug. 24.-The naval
search problem on New England coast
was terminated at $40 this morning but
the signal Surrender; demand uncondi-
tional," from Rear Admiral Higginson's
flagship, and the reply, accept surren-
der from the fore truck of the Prairie,
Commander Pillsburys flag ship. The
battle between the Blue, or defending,
Squadron, and the White. or attacking,
Squadron, was thus quietly ended eight
miles south of Thatcbers Island The
enemy had most signally failed to make
harbor, having for its objective Salem
preponderance of fighting strength,
relatively 81 points, represented by the
battleships Kearsarge, Alabama and Mas
sachusetts, Scorpion and a torpedo boat,
had overwhelmed the 40 points repre-
sented by the auxiliary cruisers Prairie,
Panther and Supply. theoretically, the
White Squadron was entirely destroyed
by the guns of the defending battleships.
Thus on the fourth night the game of
naval strategy was brought to an end, it
having covered a period of unceasing
toll, sleepless nights, of anxious and
wearing vigil and of grave uncertainty
to its participants.
At $3.50 o'clock last night three battle
ships of the Blue Squadron got under
way in a hurry and sailed to the east
ward. The intention was to move on to
Portland and if that had been carried out
Admiral Higginson, as it later developed,
would have unconsciously swung the
balance of his fighting force to that end
of the coast line, as Plllsbury had in
tended he should, but which was not
done on account of heavy seas running
outside Cape Elizabeth.
Higginson, however, DETECTED his course
back to Gloucester after swing seaward,
in response to a report that the enemy
had not been sighted when it was be-
lieved he had been, but in the last. hours
of the night Pillsbury sailed toward Cape
Ann from the outside. and as it proved,
right under the very guns of the defend
ing squadroQ Commander Pinsbury
when still out to sea, after manaeuvring,
headed straight for Salem harbor. But
the desired vantage point was never
reached. When his boats had arrived
off Magnolia they were sighted by the
signal station on Bakers Island. mes
sage was sent to the station at Rock
port here. and the torpedo boat Barney
was sent out to notify the Blue Squadron.
The station here had before this been
informed that Higginson's battleships had
been sighted off Gloucester and that
later they had returned to their berths
under the lee of Thatcher's Island The
Barney's commander was mystified there
fore when, after rounding Straitsmouth
he saw no evidence of the presence of
the Kearsarge. On a hazard the Barney
ctaarad sOuthpr1v LJippin
sons ships had cruised up and down the
coast they went to their anchor off
Thatcher's Island. AT this time the Of
ficor on the deck of the Kearsarge was
Lieutenant Ray Stone, with Midshipman
VIM. Dilworth. 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 appren-
tice of the first-class. 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 Lieutenant Evans and
Flag Secretary Bristol, and it was the
work of a moment to inform Admiral
Higginson of the probability that the
time for decisive action was at hand.
General quarters were sounded. There
was a quick rush of many feet the man.
ming of hundred posts, the clank of the
anchor chain, the ringing of bells, the
giving of orders and a general clearing
for action. Not many moments passed
before the flagship was underway steam
ing at II knots, with the Alabama and
Massachusetts, many lengths in the rear.
Some distance back was the Barney
rapidly overhauling the ships ahead.
At $40 o'clock the three battIeships,
aided by the converted yacht Scorpion,
which had come in from the south in
time to be in at the finish. and the
Barney, which had overtaken the fleet,
formed a horseshoe 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 signalled his surrender, passed
in his barge from the Prairie, walked
up the starboard gangway of the Kear-
sarge and offered his sword to Admiral
Higginson.
Keep your sword, sir said the SEN
for officer, his voice quavering at bit
in spite of himself 81 would not ac-
cept the sword from so gallant foe"
And /, sir" replied Pillsbury, with
dignity, could not surrender to a nobler
or better officer. sir.
This exchange of words ended the
actual surrender.