Evening journal., 1902-08-25
WHITE SQUADRON
! SUFFERS DBFRAT'
'ailed TO Run the Blockade
\ Established
RhiIe Attempting to Make Salem
Attacking Fleet Surrendered
and theoretically DESTROYED

n Rockport, Mass. Aug. %. The
naval search problem on the New Eng
land coast was terminated at $40 yes
terday morning by the signal Sur |
lrender; demand and unconditional"
from Rear Admiral Higginson's flag
ship, and the reply Accept surren.
DER from the fore truck of the Prai-
rie, Commander Pillsbury's flagship.
The battle between the Blue or de
Tending squadron, and the White. or
attacking squadron, was thus quickly
ended eight miles south Of Thatcher's
Island. The enemy had most sig
nally failed to make a harbor, having
for its object Salem. A preponder
ance of fighting strength, relatively
Ga points, represented by the battle
ships Kearsarge, Alabama and Massa
chusetts, Scorpion and a torpedo boat
had overwhelmed the As points repre-
sented by the auxiliary cruisers Prai-
rie. Panther and Supply. TO speak
from a theoretical standpoint, the
White Squadron was entirely de
stroyed by the guns of the defending
battleships Thus on the fourth night
the game of naval strategy was
brought to an end, it having covered
a period of unceasing toll, sleepless
nights, OF anxious and wearing vigil
and of grave uncertainty to its par
! ticipants.
The surrounding and putting out
of action" of the squadron in COM
1 mand Of Commander Pillsbury was
the eliminating incident in one of the
most interesting chapters in the
peace history of the American navy.
\ For the placing in operation of the
manoeuvres of the warships of the
coast of New England the navy had
long prepared itself and had long
& looked forward to them with keen
anticipation. To win in the mimic war
. the Blue Squadron had to bring
. against the attacking vessels, as it
did early yesterday. warships super
z ior in their combined assumed fight
ing power.
Early yesterday morning Pillsburys
feet was sighted off Magnolia by the
signal station on Bakers Island The
torpedo boat Barney was sent out to
notify the Blue Squadron. After Hig-
ginson's ships had cruised mp and
down the coast they went to their an
.chorages off TAatchers Island At
q this time the officer on the deck Of
4 the Kearsarge was Lieutenant Ray
Stone, with Midshipman William Dill
81 worth Puleston as the junior officer
y in command On the bridge a dozen
81 jackies stood upon the lookout One
of these was Daniel Staehle, an ap-
prentice of the first class He stood
we'll forward, peering on the lee side.
4 The flagship was just falling down
into a trough when he notified the en-
sign at his side that he could see the
enemy. The officer of the deck called
Flag Lieutenant Evans and Flag Sec
retary Bristol, and it was but the
work of a moment to inform Admiral
Higginson Of the probability that the
time for decisive action was at hand.
1t was real war then. General quarters
were sounded. There was Z quick
rush of many feet the manning OF a
hundred posts, the clank of the an
chor chain. the ringing of bells the
giving of orders and a general clear
ing for action. Not many moments
passed before the flagship was under
way. steaming at IA knots. With the
Alabama and Massachusetts many
lengths in the rear. Some distanco
back was the Barney, rapidly over
hauling the ships ahead.
At $40 o'clock the three battleships
aided by the converted yacht Scor
pion, which had chased in from the
south in time to be in at the finish
and the Barney. which had overtalSen
the fleet, formed a horseshoe about
the White Squadron. The elation
among the men on board the Blue
Squadron ran high.
There was something pathetic
in the picture when Commander Pills
bury, after he had signalled his sur
render, passed in his barge from the
Prairie. walked up the starboard
gangway of the Kearsarge and Of
fered his sword to Admiral Higginson
Keep your sword, sir" said tao
senior officer, his voice quavering a
bit in spite of himself Il would not
accept the sword from so gallant q
foe"
"And I. sir" responded Pillsbury
with dignity. could not surrender3 tC
q nobler or better officer, sir"
"a
Record-ereaking Shipment Of Cattle
Portland Me-, Aug. 25-The larges
"e1.4 Inn, ,F t,r