Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-22
ATTACK FEARED.
Higginson's Fleet AnxiousIv
Watching for PiIIsbury's.
Rain and Fog Make Good Conditions
in Which to Attack.
War Vessels Seen All Alona the New
England Coast.

/ Rockport. Mass. Aug. 21-Not for
moment during Thursday did the three
battleships, Kearsarge. Massachusetts
and Alabama, give up their watchful-
ness. One effect of the continued abb
sence CT news of Commander Pillsbury
which seemed entirely natural under
the existing circun- stances was the
growing high tension on the ships OF
war
The noon hour had not long passed
before omincus clouds grouped in the
sky, hiding all the blue of the morning
and presenting every indication of be-
ing rain. Within an hour the sea be-
came what might properly he called
nasty. Then rain fell. at first moder-
ately then suddenly in a fierce torrent.
Alongside the kearsarge lay the Bag-
ley, torpedo boat. Nearer in toward
shore lay torpedo boat No. 6. All this
1rllness brought home one impression
to the waiting sailors, and that was the
natural probability that Commanders
Pillsbury would strike his blow on such
Il night as this.
But the adverse handicap of weather
made the stations of the defending
squadron along the coastline all the
more active and alert. Messages came
III HUH NstTlOuS itlHtS IFOIn fOrtlanu4
to Provincetown with remarkable
quickness. Portland reported having
seen the Gloucester. Provincetown de-
clared torpedo boats We're quickly NOV
ing up and down. and Boston Dispatch
ed the information that Commander
Pillsbury was yet undoubtedly far att
sea.
In an hour the rain had passed, but
the thick weather remained. The dark-s
ness was just coming on when Admiral
Higginson gave the order to his fleet
TO weigh anchor or at least to the three
battleships. So hurriedly had messages
been given and so many trips did the
dispatch launches make between shore
and the Kearsarge that ii was thought
that the move this time was out to sea.
The admiral, however, allowed the
squadron to pass but little to the
south; in fact nearer in shore and with
in hailing distance of Thathchers is
land.
This slight change of anchorage was
brought about for two reasons The
first reason was that the admiral
wished tc keep his ships in varying
locations because of the natural value
to be derived from occupying points at
slightly different ATTITUDES.
The second for moving a bit souther-
ly was that the admiral wished to get
in touch with the Straitsmouth Point
life saving station, where was estab-
lished, tonight. complete signal SER
vice. Apprentice Boys Bradley and
Lester were ordered on shore from the
kearsarge in company with others, and
here was stated early in the evening an
elaborate system OF rocket notification.
AS the night wore on the sky lost but
little Of its blackness SO that the OPP
portunity for Commander Pilisbury to
effect an entrance into some of the
harbors along the coast seemed to
grow none the less possible. The fact
that a constant stream of messages ar
rived from the various stations along
the coast from the north to the south
showed clearly enough that the de-
Tending squadron feared the approach
of Commander Pillsbury.