New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-04
THE BROOKLYN AGROUND
Continued from first page.

II Wright and NapanIree tunt. IHeie WI
two at Fort Niche and two at Fort Wright
The night was dark, but the atmosphere "es
very clear The wind was from the northwest
and the water was as smooth as mill pond-
Not for a moment did the vigilance of the
searchlight operators relax They knew the
position Of each or the ships, and as soon as the
6earsarge began 10 move two brilliant rays
from the Fort Wright lights were focused on
the white hull and yellow smokestacks OF the
f7attleship. The army did not have to wait long
10 determine which point Admiral Higginson
meant to attack
The dawn was just breaking and the eastern
sky was tinged with crimson when at 4:2o
o'clock the four warships. led by the Kearsarge.
executed column left, hoisted their speed balls
10 the yard arms denotng full speed" and
headed for the west end of Fishers Island and
their point Of attack Fort H. C. Wright
THE PLAN OF ATTACK
The searchlights were turned off now, and
the army gave its undivided attention to the
task of giving the nav a warm reception in the
very near future. Admiral Hgginsors plan of
attack was soon made evident Leading the
way with his flagship, he Rugged the high
bluffs on the south shore Of Fishers Island so
closely that only the small rapid fire guns
would have any effect on The ships. While at the
same time the leading ships would land many
shots from their batteries before the shore bat
teries could reach them It was a bold move
on the part of the navy, and IN real war might
have been more successful than the army is
willing just TO admit.
Exactly at sos o'clock the battle began with
q mortar shot from Fort H. C. Wright. Several
followed but none OF them seemed to be in
range OF the ships. 4 fash from the starpoard
side Of the Rearsarge three minutes later
showed that the naval attack had begun AT
the moment the first gun was fired from the
warships the battle fla SIS were broken out from
each masthead Three American ensigns were
flying from the Kearsarge. one from each mast
head and one from her after signal gan. Inc
Alabama few the same number Of flags, while
the Massachusetts, and the Indiana, having Only
one mast, flew one each
Just as the first shot was fired the sun came
I'D. setting the water a-sparke with its rays
and lighting up the green hills and yellow SAND
bluffs Of Fishers Island. AS the ships were ap-
1aroaching the firing point from the eastward
their turrets turned to starboard ana all
fheir guns were trained well forward; all except
The Massachusetts, which vessel. by the way
did the most effective work Of all the ships
knowing that turning both turrets abeam would
list the ship 50 as to render her fire ineffective
at that range. Captain Henry y. Manney, her
commander. kept the big 13-inch rifles trained
aft As soon as his ship was in range she de-
lfvered starboard broadside- Then quickly
swinging her head off to the southwark, the two
After turret guns were brought to bear right
A. the main fort, and We're care1ulIY slSHteu
\ d fired They would have accomplished the
ttr,,cr5on Of any part Of the fort they struck.
real 13-inch shells had been used in place OF
a.nounder sub-calibre blank charges.
Now the fight was on in earnest From the
,arbaara batteries Of the Alabama and the
f,diana as they followed the hearsarge ana the
massachusetts,, Jets Of fame shot forth as 1he
runners trained their pieces on the low lylIis
fo~+ which in turn Rounded away with It's rapld
FIRE guns punctuated occasionally win one "
heavier calibre. The firing was kept up sea- 3;5
5iv ON both sides. Clouds of white smoke nIieQ
the air and. to all fntents and purposes q real
battle was raging, ships were being sunk, anu
earthworks were being torn UP anu e"i-0 Va"
At $50 o'clock the Raarsarge entered the
swiftly whirling tide eddies that form the race
and with helm aport was rounding race fsoch
Lighthouse entering Fishers Island SOUND
She was followed by the other ships. which con-
finued to fire as they turned. at the northern
offences luckily there was plenty OF water
and the Admiral. taking advantage Of this, took
his ships very close in shore at times II seemed
within five hundred yards Of the army defences
BATTLESHIPS DOING. GOOD WORK
Both The Massachusetts and Indiana had now
trained all their guns, including the turrets
TO Starboard and both were badly listed to that
side but they were doing good work on this side
of the island with all their pieces.
Bv paesine around almost 10 the rear of the
big guns it is supposed. the naval commanders
hoped by accurate and steady firing to XIII the
shore gun and cripple the guns, for those
on shore were not able to use the big guns after
the ships had passed east a certain distance
Re that as it may. the ships never stopped hr-
ing from their starboard batteries for forty
nine minutes. when the Kearsarge had made a
turn under port helm and opened fire on the
tort with her port battery.
Making a shorter turn than the hagshlp' the
Massachusetts,, going at nearly full speed;
passed between the kearSarge and the shore anu
engaged the fort in a brilliant fusillade. some
Of the big guns and mOrtars were brought 70
hear on her when she came in range, but she
went on in the face of rapid fire from tfle
shore which would have undoubtedly done her
considerable damage in real warfare. AS soon
gan firing again, soon going at run sp eeu
through the Race, whence the Massachu
had preceded her. The Kearsarge passed Race
Rock Light bound seaward at 616. the Aiabaina
At G.lS and the Indiana at 620 o'clock, all HFlhs
from their port batteries. The engagement was
practically over then, il having lasted one hour
and twelve minues. &c.
With their battle flags still flying, the -FOUR
ships led by the Kearsarge, steamed out 10
the southeast for fifteen minutes, then, chang-
ing their course. headed for Point JudIth Az .
o'clock the gunboat Newport, which had come
ont from Newport with the naval committee
and other spectators too late TO witness ttie
engagement passed the feet. She flred q sal
of thirteen guns. which was answered IN klnd
hv the Kearsarge AT SD o'clock the SQUAD
ron executed column right ana heaaeu 4oi
the old rendezvous, Block Island rodoSCeau
where il came to anchor at O'CLOCK
An hour later those on shore We're surprised
ia hear heavy firing from the feet. The cause
or the firing was understood later to be sup
Elementary attack on Block Island