Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1902-08-25


that the enemy had not been sighted,
when 1t was believed 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 defending
s1uadron. Commander Pillsbqry,
when still out to sea, after manoeuv-
ring, headed straight for Salem har-
Dor. But the desired vantage point
was never reached. Is,
When his boats had arrived of
Magnolia they were sighted by the
signal station on Bakers island. A
message was sent to the station at
Rockport here and the torpedo boat
Barney was sent out to notify the
blue" squadron. The station here
before this had been informed that
1ligginson's battleships had been
sighted off Gloucester, and that later
they had returned to the:= herths
under the lee of Thatcher's Island.
The Barney's commander was myst1-
fed, therefore, when, after rounding
Straits mouth he saw no evidence or
The presence Of the Kearsarge. On
hazard, the Barney was steered south
ely. After Higginsons ship had
cruised up and down the coast they
went to their anchor off Thatcher's
island. At this time the officer on the
deck Of the Kearsarge was Lieutenant
Fay Stone, with Midshipman Wilworth
Puleston as the junior officer in com
mand.
Apprentice First Sighted the "Enemy."
In contrast to others, the morning
was clear and star bright. On the
bridge a dozen jackies stood upon
Il lookout. One of these was Daniel
Siaehle. an apprentice of the first
class. He stood we'll forward peering
on the lee side. The flagship was just
falling down into trough when he
l.otifed the ensign at his side that he
could see the enemy. The officer OF
lie deck called Flag Lieutenant
Evans and Flag Secretary Bistol, and
it was but the work of a moment to
inform Admiral Higginson Of the prob.
ability that the time for decisive
action was at hand.
It was real war then. General
quarters were sounded. There was a
Quick rush rush Of many feet, the
manning Of a hundred posts, the clank
| of the anchor chain, the ringing OF
bells, the giving Of orders and a gen.
eral clearing for action. Not many
| moments passed before the flagship
' as under way, steaming at IA knots,
with the Alabama and Massachusetts
many lengths in the rear. Some dis
lance back was the Barney, rapidly
overhauling the ships ahead.
At $40 o'clock the three battle
ships, aided by the converted yacht
Scorpion, u,SSich had chased in from
the South in me to be in at the finish,
and the Barney, which had overtaken
rne fleet, formed a horseshoe about the
white" squadron. The citation among
the men on board the blue" squadron
ran high.
There was something pathetic in the
picture when Commander Uillsbury
after he hal signalled his surrender
,assed in his barge from the Prairie
walked up the starJoaTd gangway OF
the Kearsargp, and offered his sword
10 Admiras Higginson.
| GaIantry to Defeated Foe.
Keep your sword, sir said the
senior officer, his voice quavering 8
bit in spite Of himself. 81 would not
accept the sword from so gallant
foe"
And l, sir" responded Pillsbury
with dignity, could not surrender tc
nobler or better officer, sir"
This exchange Of words ended the
actual surrender, and at the invitation
of Admiral Higginson, Commander
Pillsbury stepped down to the cabin
Of the eKarsarge and here the two
officers discussed in privacy the Incl
dents Of the days since the "Declara
+iCn Of hostilities' on Wednesday.