New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-04
THE BROOKLYN AGROUND
ACCIDENT TO CRUISER IN
NAVAL MANEUVRES.
THE ATTACK on NEW BEDFORD
THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN sue
CESSFUL-THE WORK OF
THE SQUADRON.

Newport. r. 1. Sept. : press yacht Avenel
off Block Islandl.-Just at the conclusion of
what has apparently been a successful attack
hy the naval hostile fleet on Fort Rodman, at
the entrance To New Bedford Harbor, to-day.
the arnored cruiser Brooklyn, the flagship Of
Rear Admiral Joseph Coghlan ran upon an
charted obstruction AT 1876 .. m. while steam
ing 10 sea At a speed Of nine knots an hour.
The ship struck hard. probably tearing some Of
her cardboard plates open. for after an interior
examination ii found that some of the
plates in her forward magazine We're bent in
ward. After striking the obstruction. which it
was thought by her officers sunAen wreck.
the Brooklyn heeled some ten degrees to star
board. and, sliding off. she was af1oat again.
The ship brought 10 anchor and an immed-
ate examination made After consultation
with Captains Perry of the Puritan, Lyon of the
Olympia and Tod of the Brooklyn, Rear Ad
rniral Coughlan decided that the true extent
Of the damage could not be ascertained until
divers had been sent down the ship would re
main off New Bedford for the present She was
anchored outside the harbor When the Puri-
tan, the Olympia and the Mayfower sailed at
o. m, 10 join Rear Admiral Higginson's fleet at
Block Island. the Brooklyn was not taking IN
much water.
The Olympia which had been sent on special
duty Joined Admiral Higginson's squadron off
Cerebus Shoal yesterday afternoon. Captain
Lyon was ordered to join Rear Admiral Cogh-
lan's squadron at once and plan the attack on
New Bedford Arriving at the Block Island
station the Olympia accompanied the Brook
lvn Puritan, Montgomery Mayfiower, Glouces-
ter. Peoria, Aileen and Leyden, comprising the
second squadron. TO the south side of the island.
where consultation was held and the plan of
attack determined upon
The SQUADRON sailed after dark and steamed
direct 10 the Vineyard Sound Lghtship. in the
vicinity of which they anchored The officers
and men of the Massachusetts Naval Militia,
which had been employed on special duty at
Cav Head. were brought to the Olympia soon
after daylight and after breakfast another con-
ference was held on board the flagship. At 1870
anchors were up, and the fleet moving IN 10 at
tack the fort then eight miles away
Since dawn when the watchers at Fort Roo-
man discovered the enemy's warships, they had
onened fire on them, but at that distance 1t is
dorbtful if any theoretical shot reached its
mark.
As the feet steamed up Buzzard's Bay gen
eraI quarters were sounded, and the SHIPS
cleared for action. The monitor Puritan led
the way with the tugs Peoria and Leyden on
seach side OF her, 10 counternlne the chanhel'
Then followed the Olympia and astern of her
<the Brooklyn. with the Montgomery, Aieen
Mayaower and Gloucester outside these, close
to the west shore of the hay.
To keep out of the range or Fort Rodman IS
guns the fleet hugged the shore When the
range was given as eleven thousand yards the
Puritan opened fire. The Olympia reserved her
fire until within the nine thousand yard range
then began with her 6-pounders and 1-pounders,
and shortly afterward she used her o-inch bat
teries on the port side. The fort was not able
TO reply effectively TO the fusillade of fire from
the smaller vessels on the west shore
When the leading ships were abreast the fort
the range wss 900 yards and the fleet was
50 enveloped in smoke that they could not see
the fort At II :43 o'clock, when the ships
turned, the roar from the Brooklyn's guns was
terrific the range then being only 2IOO yards.
At II "a O'Clock the ships anchored, and the
order was given to concentrate all the firing on
No = disappearing gun in the fort. 1t was an
S-inch rife and if il not put out Of action
at the first volley it must have been because
the gun captains We're blind, for every shot was
sent i'm TO hit.
At 1211 o'clock the order was given to cease
firing. and four minutes later the fort fired It's
last shot. The engagement was considered
victory for the navy.