The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-21

on shore dropped their speed and lay
TO, apparently waiting for tho Kear-
sarge TO join them.
THE KEARSARGE SAILS.
The flagship Kearsarge weighed anchor
at 2;16 p. m. and slowly steamed out Of
the harbor, proceeding by the north
passage from the Harbor Refuge. Out
side, she Joined the Massachusetts,. Ala
bama and Gloucester. rive ships formed
In line, led by the Ms chusetts, the
Alabama being second and the flag
ship last, with the Gloucester alongside.
and moved slowly southwark. The Glou-
cestef was keeping I'm close touch with
Admiral Higginson and Will apparently be
used as dispatch boat
A shore signal system has been per-
fected by which the defending feet will
be promptly advised OF any news ashore
concerning the whereabouts OF the enemy.
A representative OF Admiral Higginson
will make headquarters here at Rock
port, and win be In communication by
telephone with points along tho coast.
A launch from the flagship has been left
here TO carry any necessary messages
to the Kearsarge, II being understood that
this ship will not proceed far from this
port for the present.
BATTLEsHIPs KEEP MOVING.
The thre battleships returned to the
bay last evening. but did not anchor. All
the evening they were kept under steam
Ing conditions. moving slowly northward
for a short distance and then to the
southwark. the movement serving as a
patrol OF Massachusetts, bay from a point
of Minot's to within a short distance of
Thatcher's
IL was evident that when the Kear-
sarge returned much Of Admiral Higgin-
sons work had been accomplished. He
had cruised seaward for a considerable
distance with his feet had dispatched
the cruisers Brooklyn and Olympia, with
several torpedo boats. to patrol the water
OF Portland. and several other vessels
had been sent to stations OF the tip end
Of Cape Cod TO serve as an outer picket
line for Massachusetts bay. Thus Admiral
Higginson had guarded the extreme
points OF the coast line In danger.
After the flagship Kearsarge had come
into the harbor the Gloucester came in,
but was later sent of In a southerly d.
rection.
RUMoR OF ATTACK
During the evening no little excitement
was caused on the Kearsarge and Massa-
chusetts over the report that war ves-
sells had been reported OF Nantucket. II
was at first thought that Commander
Pillsbury might have attempted to make
a feint In this direction and by trick
manoeuvre draw Admiral Higginson's
fleet to the Cape Cod shore. while he put
10 sea and attempted his attack to the
north. But the battleships did not leave
this station.
The naval base is established here In
Rockport, and the station is in charge OF
Ensign Berry.
One OF the Incidents was the construc-
ton by the navy OF temporary tele-
phone line from a gracery store TO a shed.
This Is the centre OF the naval inteili-
gence service which extends for this oc-
casion from Portland to Provincetown,
with main stations at Portsmouth and
Boston.
From this station all the evening mes
sages were sent to the flagship by
launches. and frequently there was con-
siderable signaling between the vessels
after messages were received. on in the
bay also at one time there were rocket
late hour by Captain Helms of the Kear-
sarge. The other officer detailed at the
station is Midshinman Fitzpatrick
The night was not favorable for an at
tempt on Commander Pillsbury's part. as
IL was clear with a brilliant moon At
midnight the battleships could be dis
cerned moving about In the bay. and the
probability was that an attack by a hos
tile fleet might not be expected until to-
morrow night.
Shortly after midnight the battleships
Kearsarge. Alabama and Massa chusetts
dropped their anchors while Off Thatch-
er's island. the Massachusetts having the
seaward berth. Sometime later the
Gloucester returned from the cruise
southwark and also anchored.
ALL LIGHTHOUSES IN USE.
Beginning at midnight the defending
squadron put into use an elaborate sys-
tenn OF coast defence. notably the use OF
all the lighthouses from Portland TO
Barnstable on Cape Cod. In addition
neariS every yard OF the coast line was
patrolled by representative OF the de-
fending squadron, the patrols being from
two to three miles In length Each pa
trolman made frequent telegraphic re-
ports and these In turn were transmitted
from the base here to the hagship. En-
sign Berry returned TO shore from the
kearsarge at j a. m, having delivered
messages 10 Admiral Hisginson.
IL Is understood that the judges OF last
nights torpedo boat attack have given
their opinion that IL failed, for the tor
pedo boats were unable to run by the
fleet and get into the harbor The Deca-
tur. which was thought to have torpedoed
the Olympia. did not succeed. as the De-
catur was put out OF action 400 yards
from the cruiser