Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-27

u the snip. 1t was supposed she az
empted to land a party. She soon
Withdrew and joined the fleet, her at
tempt apparently having been ullsuc-
cessful.
1t was almost exactly midnight Wheh
the watch on the Cape Elizabeth shore'
and. a moment later, the searchllgnts
caught them plainly with their sweep
ing rays.
Then the batteries from Fort VIII
Hams and her sister batteries az
Forts Preble and Levett opened ana IL
seemed as though, according to the
rules, the ships must have been sunk.
Although it was not evident to those
in the forts, at that time two sections
of the fleet We're making attacks at
separate place, and in this way drew
the fire of every battery and fort III the
harbor. 1t was the probable intention
to have one section of the fleet force
the White Head passage, while the 9TH
er attempted the main ship channel.
Shortly after the shots had been fired
at the first three vessels seen from
Forts Williams, Levett and Preble, q
big battleship came stealing in through
the main ship channel and was almost
opposite the southerly end of Cush-
ing Island when the searchlights dis
covered her. She then turned about
and hurriedly put back to sea.
1t was, however, the evident inten-
ton of the attacking squadron at this
time to land ON as many OF the islands
as possible for the harbor just inside
the headlands of the main ship channel
was soon literally dotted with small
boats, some of which were making
their way towards Fort Preble and
others towards Cushing Island, on
which the divisional headquarters We're
located. This move drew the fire
of the small arms from the infantry
posted on these islands.
The landing parties We're repulsed
from all the islands, but at Fort Preble
they nearly accomplished their object.
The launch and cutter which had at
tempted the landing We're captured just
in time.
All this time a torpedo boat Destroy
er had entered the harbOr through the
darkness and under cover of the smoke
from the heavy firing. She had almost
slipped by Fort Preble when the
searchlight caught her and she was
out of the game. At o'clock. a big
battleship was taken by the batteries
and giving the signal of surrender,
sailed into the inner harbor.
The attack was being conducted by
tive sections of the fleet at this time.
The batteries at Fort Levett We're de-
Tending the White Head passage while
those at Forts Williams and Preble
were firing att the section attempting
to force the main ship channel.
The idea of landing men on the is
lands and capturing the forts by land
attack was soon abandoned and the
launches returned to their ships which
then continued slowly forcing their
way by the Notifications.
The entrance of the fleet was the
grandest sight ever witnessed in Port
land. In fact it could not have been
otherwise, for never within modern
times has a battleship in action, en-
tered the port, with forts blazing away
at her from almost every quarter.
The two great battleships Illinois and
Alabama with the now world famous
Kearsarge at their head, took the main
entrance for their share of the work.
and they certainly did a great piece
of work. from the landsman's stand
point, with two other battleships fol-
lowing some distance behind about
o'clock.
Clouds of smoke enveloped them and
in rapid succession came great flashes
of fire, quickly or slowly; following as
the quickness of sight and hearing al
lowed, of terrific reports.
Up the passage she came slowly and
majestically, while Forts Williams,
Prebe and Levett literally peppered
her with "shot and SHE'LL Evidently
the onslaught of the forts had no eff
feet on her heavy steel sides, and the
balls" rolled off like rain drops from
a shingled roof.
BY the time Admiral Bankers flag
ship was about opposite Fort Preble,
the Illinois, on which is the Maine
Naval Reserve was just entering the
harbor. and was beginning to receive
the fire of Fort Williams. The roar
was deafening and the sight one that
surpasses the power of the English Ian
guage to describe. Slowly, with their
sides belching forth smoke and fire,
and with battle flags flying. the two
great fighters seemingly evaded all OBJ
stacles and crept cautiously up into
the inner bay.
The battleship Alabama came out
of the haze and began her entrance
of the port. Soon she was engaging
the fire of Fort Williams, and all three
Of the great battleships We're in the
thick of the fight and enveloped in
cloud of heavy smoke.
Shortly after the Alabama began her
bombardment. the Kearsarge reached
q point just off Fort Gorges and ceased
firing. Soon after a similar command
was given all along the line, and the
great white masses which just before
had been sending forth such awful
destruction We're still and harmless to
all appearances.
The smoke cleared away from the
main entrance of the harbor and the
scene of action shifted to the passage
into Hussey's sound, between Peaks
and Long islands. From this port great
clouds of smoke We're arising and the
roar of many guns told that the con-
flict there was only just beginning.
At this port, Admiral Dewey's famous
flagship Olympia was leading the line
of battleships. cruisers and other craft