The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-13
BAY .ABLAZE WITH
FLASHING GUNS.
Invading Fleet Annitflated BY
Rain Of Shells From Forts.
Vessels crept Up stealthi-
ly in Heavy Fog-Great
Mortars Used for
First Time.

! Especial over Long Distance Phone
From a Staff Correspondcnt)
FORT MONROE. June 1s-S A.. M
Fort Monroe Is being attacked The bay
Is ablaze with the flash Of broadsidcs,
and the roar OF the great guns has
startled the ncghboring towns, from their
slumbers. Several ships have been sunk
or blown up by mines. The assault,
though surprise. has been vigorously
rcpulsed. 5f
The iirst shot was fired at 2:25 "a NJ.
& Heavy rain had been falling throughout
< the night. and. though the down-pour.
had ceased thick mist from the sea
hung over the field Of operations and
screened the movements OF the invaders
The searchlights worked but poorly
through the fog. One from yvllloughby
Spit and three from Fort Monroe were
turned upon the mist, but with indifferent
success. The feet had crcpt within six
miles before 1t was located. and even
then the boom OF gun was the first
Indication OF Its presence Twelve shots
were fired before the 4 forts answered.
+ Then Fort Humphrey blazed. and an
instant later all the land guns were
splitting 1re vigorously IN the direction
OF the enemy. s. X, 5j
Saw Them in Mists.
The vessels were dlmly dscernible in
the mist. Without lights they stole into
the bay. hidden behind tug towing two
large coal barges. The white Texas
came first, then the old wooden cruHer
Hartford the dispatch boat Chesap peake
and one torpedo boat, which was nesting
in behind tee tug.
The line halted just out OF reach OF the
searchlighfs md opened fire. The lights
were Instantly turned straight in the
air to prevent them from proving AN
easy mark The little scout boat from
the forts sought refuge behind the Rip
Raps, and moment later tho battle
wns on
Tho scene was wonderful. AT one In
atant an inky blackness shrouded every
inch OF the bay. Suddenly n blinding
flash would light up the scene with the
intensity of the MONDAY sun, ansS~ then
all would be black and quiet again for
"a breath. The almost ceaseless roar kept
up from land and sea until finally the
fleet was in full view. The ships dashed
by within two miles of the fort. the
Texas still leading. and the others fol-
lowing one after another. The little tor
Spedo boat was plnngng at the rate of
twenty-five miles an hour.
tx The huge mortars from the forts,
throwing 1.0O0-pound projectiles. used for
Z, the 1lrSt tlrIlc pounded tilc IleetelUIt
s{ The mines sown In the harbor then. blew.
up what was left OF it. Then forts were
victorious. The land was safe, and the
terrified people went back to bed to slun-
ber peacefully again.
The annihilnted fleet disappeared behind
the Rip Raps, the vessels sending up col
ored rockets as they went, Indicating
that they were through for the night,
There are signs of activity from another
quarter II is suspected that another di-
vision of tho enemy Is approaching, The
forts arc ready for It.
The attack is a great surprise. The
condition OF the weather Is decidedly
afavoable to the fleet, which successfully
yelled It's operations behind the almost
Z impenetrable fog. Besides 1t had been
whispered abroad here that the attack
would be made on Washington tonight.
Few, II any, suspected the real move
ment. So confident were we that tho
capital was the objective that many
newspaper men caught early night trims
forfNashington. It is still believed that
portion of the fleet went north.