The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-12
TEXAS IS SUNK.
But Only Theoretically in Mimic Naval
Battle

Baltimore, June 12.-In an extra edi-
ton 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 10
cal Notifications and three torpedo boat
destroyers were theoretically blown out
of the water by the artillerymen sta
toned at Fort Howard. Two of these
answered the descriptions of the Wor-
den and Whipple, while the third was
either the McDOnough, Stuart or Law
renee.
Promptly at midnight scout boats
were sent out from the local fortifca-
lions. At 1850 o'clock these boats sig
nailed the artillerynen at Fort How
ard that the enemy were approaching
and all the men at the fort were imme-
diately called to the guns.
Almost simultaneously the men were
warned OF the approach Of the boats
by the signals at Sandy Point. The
searchlights at North Howard. Small
wood, Armistead and Carroll were
headed down the river, and very soon a
destroyer resembling the WOrden was
detected steamtng up the river at full
speed. Five minutes after receiving the
first signals the men at Fort Howard
opened fire on the approaching destroy
er with rapid fire and short range guns.
While the WOrden was theoretically
blown up they proceeded past Fort
other forts Immediately got their guns
into action and all took turns in shoot
ing at the approaching enemy
About Is minutes after the approach
of the first of the 'enemyis' fleet another
/ destroyer, evidently the Whippe, was
discovered. This vessel suffered the
same fate as the first. A third destroy
er made its appearance and like the
other two, was sunk
Tried to Sneak By.
The first boats endeAvored to sneak
] by the forts without making any dem
onstration but the one in the lead was
soon put out of commission. by striking
a mine. This was signified by the ring
| ing of a bell in Fort Howard.
The third boat, though put out of
/ business, opened fire on all four of the
/ forts and the sight was a most intense
| and exciting one. Broadsideg were fired
/ by the third destroyer when it reached
a point between Forts Arnistead and
/ Carroll. No lights were used on any of
the boats and the fire from the guns
made an imposing sight.
TT is believed that 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 battIeshfp
Texas made a frontal demonstration and
/ from Seven Foot Knoll, fired her big
and little guns at Fort Howard. While
the Texas was making this demonstra-
ton a swift cruiser made a flank move
ment and went up the bay towards
/ Poole's Island. It was discovered in the
/ nick of time by the men at Fort How
ard. who fired on the ship. The fire was
returned and after a lively skirmish the
gunners at the fort theoretically. sent
both the Texas and the cruiser to the
bottom.
After the battle the cruiser sent I'D
a rocket and then a red and white light
and directed her searchlights toward the
forts"
I SearchIights Inadequate
Fort Monroe, Va, June 12-The
vigil of the searchlights of the ar
tillery defenses here last night was
fruitless. None of the units of Ad-
miral Dickins' fleet was disclosed.
His presence at Baltimore indicates
that he did not emerge through the
capes' as generally expected.
Just before daylight today a small
craft was discovered by a searchlight
which at first was taken to be a de-
stroyer making observations of the
position of the lights. Closer scru-
tiny showed the craft to be a fishing
boat. This constituted the only re-
/ ward of the nights work
The practice of the searchlfehts
was declared to be most satisfactorv
Their range, however, is far short Of
the twelve-nile channel avaiIabIe TO
, Admiral Dickins. and the suppositfon
is that he could have run the canes
and proceeded to Washington and
Baltimore from the ocean unobserve5
if he had so elected