Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-03
nr Ilangdon Smith,

(ISy iangdGn Snlth}
ON BOARD THE DISPATCH BOAT
or TIE. RICHMOND DISPATCH AND
n,F,yy YORK WORLD. WITH ADMIRAL
HIGGINsoN,S SQUADRON On GER
BERrs SHOALS. September 2.-Cvia
Now London. nn.)-Admiral Higsinson
has cut his way past the heavy FORTH
cation around Plum Island The lase de-
lenses guarding the eastern end of Long
island Sound have fallen. The victorious
admiral. according to his belief is now
in q position TO swoop down the entire
length of the Sound upon Willett's Point,
the only strong fort that stands between
his squadron and New York city.
The night drew in with chilly fog and
nasty smashing sea. One by one, the
lights of the squadron went out, and
Through tho thick darkness the big fight
Ing machines could be seen lying III
Iupe huddlc winking TO each other now
and then with white and red signal fires
They had been stripped fore and aft
clipped and trimmed like blooded bull
logs for action. yet they lay as noiseless
rs shadows in the gloom, waiting for the
admirai's orders
Signals to Move.
Suddenly from the Kearsarge came
procession Of red and white flashes. They
we're answered by the Brooklyn. Ten
minutes later as quietly as a ghost the
Brooklyn faded away into the gloom,
!oIowed by the Massachusetts.
In the meantime a PARKWAY light from
Forts Wright and Mansfield began to
weep the heavens like tails of huge
comets From some remote point rocket
toared into the night writing the
mysterious message in the sky
Matters were growing decidedly lively,
put withal there was silence that was OPP
eressive One had the sensation of being
gaze at by unseen eyes. All around in
the darkness there were men in the fight
ing tops, men in the turrets, men about
the gun blocks, men on the decks, and
officers everywhere, standing without
noise. without light. and almost without
motion.
The Army Was Awake.
Then from the direction of Fort Wright
pr Fishers Island. there came a faint
boom. like the sound of distant thunder.
The Brooklyn and the Massa chuseks
were discovered. The forts had begun to
are upon IIigginson's decoy.
At midnight, there was no cessation OF
che firing. At ! o'clock another fort away
down below the horizon took up the
.efrain and began to bark at the sup
posed enemy
The attention of the forts flashlights
We're fixed on the progress of the bat
tie So ii happened that the squadron of
IIigginson swept on past the danger zone
and ran under the guns of Fort Wright
and Fort Trumbull without observation
and passed on in the direction of Fort
Niche
AT O'Clock We slipped away to west
ward without signal at half speed. The
ships glided away professionally and
without noise. looking like deeper shad-
ows in the gloom.
s Blind ScarchIiSht.
AT o'clock the big search-light on
Watch HILL wheeling above the dark sea
line like a great eye, suddenly fixed itself
IN our direction and stood staring at the
squadron.
Tor several minutes, which seemed
hours. it remained fixed and glazing. Then
suddenly ii wheeled away again, and
Tigginson knew he had not been dis
covered.
AT 40 A. NJ. We were five miles to
eastward off Fort Michie plunging along
in beam sea. There was a CHASTITY sug-
gestion of dawn in the east, and an oc-
ters. The KearsarEe led the squadron.
.Astern came the Alabama. the Indiana,
and the Puritan. Miles away to north
ward lay the Brooklyn and the Massa-
chusetts. Their fight had been fought
and the victorious forts We're resting on
their laurels.
The searchlights were smashed and the
rapid-tre guns or mortar batteries were
silonced IN fourteen minutes on Fort
1,,li rb oil
After the battle had ragged for an hour
Admiral Higsinson gave the order to
-'cease firing for he had Won In the
manoeuTres the battle OF Plum Island is
considered as a night enga cement
Your dispatch boat was subjected to
heavy fire. and if there had been any
projeCtile. would have been sunk
AT 4:45 a, NJ, the Kearsarge, as though
sighting an enemy for the first time
Vcered sharply to nocthward. Round
came the huge yellow turrets, containing
the Finch guns until they bore on Fort
Niche
Admiral Higginson, standing on the
bridge. gave the order 10 fire. The open
ing shot came from the 6-pounder in the
Kearsarge's battery. In an instant the
sleeping forts We're awake. The gunners
ran Gathering to their places. and Plum
Island was roaring from centre to cir
conference with the thunder of the great
!0-inch guns
On Gun Island a pail of drifting smoke
was forming above the bastions of Fort
Niche. The little Qualifications on Gardi-
ncr's Point was barking like skye ter
rser. Ten minutes later it had been