The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-06

Fort wetherll were the first 10 speak.
The Brooklyn made no reply except turn
ing on her searchlight, which she sent
full I'm the eyes of the gunners on Fort
Wetherill.
The big cruiser was a magnificent sight
as she came proudly up the harbor full
I'm the light OF the four or fve search
lights, with her battlefags flying from
her two masts. Immediately behind came
the Olympia Admiral Deweys old flag
ship, looking just as proud as when she
ran the narrow channel into Manila bay.
Admiral Higginson, on the kearsarge,
followed the Olympia: then came the
Massachusetts, and finally the Alabama.
RAPID FIRE GUNS IN ACTION.
BY the time the Brooklyn was abreast
Fort wetherill the gunners on that forti-
fication had forsaken the big guns and
tad taken up the secondary battery. 1t
was then that the Brooklyn's guns began
to speak This was at 10 o'clock and for
half an hour afterwards there was one
continuous roar both from ships ana
shore The fighting was at close quarters
so that nothing but rapid-fire guns could
be used.
Every ship was enveloped in sheets OF
flame. while all along the shore OF Fort
wetherlll on the left and Fort Adams on
the right there was a continuous can
nonade The Brooklyn reached the head
OF the harbor at 1880 and all the battle
ships were we'll inside a few minutes later.
The battle was one OF the most spectacu-
lar affairs ever seen and the roar shook
Newport TO its foundations.
RAN OUT OF THE HARBoR.
| The attacking ships kept UP the harbor
until they were almost under the walls
! OF Fort Adams and nearly abreast OF
| the torpedo station. There they appeared
| TO anchor and everyone thought that the
| fight was at an end. Within half an hour
| the fve vessels suddenly steamed out OF
| the harbor In the same formation as tha'
/ In which they came
Off Goat Island. throughout the battle
| Law the smaller craft In squadron forma'
| tion. The Indiana and Puritan were no'
| In sight On the way out the battleshipi
| were attacked by Fort Adams. and wher
| the Olympia and Brooklyn were abreast
| Beaver Tale Light Fort Greble opened fol
| the first time The ships all used theii
| searchlights, but did not respond to th'
| gun fire. The fleet was all outside b,
| ii;45 and in column II steamed TOWARD
/ Block Island.
| A NAVAL VICTORY.
The battle last night is considered b,
| unofficial observers to be a decided VIC
tory for the navy The chief point Is tina
Il
mouth OF the harbor before 1t was picke'
by fort searchlight 1t is claimed tina
With the fleet within suoh close rang
that II had the two forts at Its mercy
and to emphasize this fact II Is pointe'
out that the gunners on Fort Adams wer
obliged 20 desert their big guns withil
few minutes after the battle opened
The feet was signalled from Poin
Judith by rockets and later Beaver Ta'
station sent up signal but strange I
say, the fort did not fire. although
must have had sufficient warning. Tha
the searchlights did not pick up the yes
sells Is not strange, as they are not power
| full enough TO sweep a wide area IN
searchlights on the Narragansett shor
were not able to pick up the fleet In IL
manoeuvres last night.
The feet undoubtedly steamed to II
| naval base of Block Island and will no
be heard from again, thus ending tn
mimic warfare.