Los Angeles herald., 1905-06-13
SURPRISED BY DICkINS
Fort Howard Attacked In Early Norm
ing by the Fleet
+od Trose

BY Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, Md, June 12.-In an
extra edition the American gives the
following account of the attack on Fort
Howard
Admiral Dickins did the unexpected
thing by making an early morning at
tack on Fort Howard and the other
local fortifications, and three torpedo
boat destroyers were theoretically
blown out of the water by the artil-
lerymen stationed at Fort Howard. Two
of these answered the description of the
Worden and Whipple, while the third
was either the McDonough, Stuart or
Lawrence.
Promptly at midnight scout boats
were sent out from the local fortifica-
tions. At 1915 these boats signaled the
artillerymen at Fort Howard that the
enemy We're approaching and all the
men at the fort were Immediately
called to the guns. r.
Almost simultaneously the men were
warned of the approach of the boats
by the signals at Sandy Point. The
searchlights at North Howard. Selwood
Armistead and Carroll were headed
down the river and very soon a de-
strcyer resembling the Worden was de-
tected coming up the river at full
speed.
Five minutes after receiving the first
signals, the men at Fort Howard
opened fire on the approaching de-
stroyer with rapid fire and short range
guns. While the Worden was theoret-
ically blown up, she proceeded past
Fort Howard and on up the river
The other forts Immediately got their
guns into action and all took turns
in shooting at the approaching "ene-
N.Y."
About fifteen minutes after the ap-
proach Of the first Of the "enenys"
fleet, another destroyer, evidently the
Whipple, was discovered. This vessel
suffered the same fate as the first
The third destroyer made it's appear
ance and like the other two, was
sunk"
The first boats endeavored to run
by the forts without making any
demonstration, but the one in the
lead was soon put out Of commission by
striking mine. This was signified by
ringing a bell in Fort Howard.
Opened Fire on Forts
The third boat, though put out of
commission, opened fire on all four of
the forts, and the sight was a most in
teresting one. Broadsides were fired
by the third destroyer when it reached
a point between Fort Armistead and
Carroll.
No lights were used on any of the
boats and the fire from the guns was
an imposing sight.
1t is believed the destroyers were
sent on ahead of the rest of the fleet
to get the range Of the forts. draw the
fire and ascertain whether the men
were at their guns.
Later, a fourth destroyer was dis
covered and sunk" Then the battle
ship Texas made a frontal demonstra-
ton and from Seven Foot Knoll fred
her big and little guns at Fort How
ard. While the Texas was making this
demonstration swift cruiser made a
flank movement and went up the bay
toward Poole's island.
1t was discovered in the nick of
time by the men at Fort Howard, who
fired on the ship. The fire was returned
and after a lively skirmish the gum
ners at the fort theoretically sent both
the Texas and the cruiser to the bot
tom.
After the battle the cruiser sent up O
rocket and then red and white light
and directed her searchlights toward
the forts.
After the Intellectual attack upon Fort
Howard, the enemy" as the attack
ing vessels are known, withdrew and
steamed down Chesapeake bay to join
the rest of Admiral Dickins' squadron
of Sandy Point.
The attack this morning win not
cause the local garrisons to relax the