The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-14
espeoial From stan Correspondent,

CSpeoial FROM a staff Correspondents -
FORT MONROE, VA, June l3.-It was
to darken into night when tho scouts
boat left the private government yrharf
and steamed out towards Bug Lgf 1T.
All during the afternoon the ISaxas.
Hartford and the little Hornet had rested
at anchor some ten miles out towards
the cape, and not until 9 o'clock did they
raise anchor and put out seaward. h
Reaching Bug Light the scoutboat en-
glnes were stopped, her lights were exc
tinguished and the sentry work began
On deck half dozen officers kept an
sincessant lookout. securing with <heir
night glasses the horizon lit di,nly by
the powerful searchights from Camp
Humphrey and the forts. Only the rip-
tpling Of the water and the intermittent
"cllcls, Of the wireless instrument broke
the stiffness. Every now and then q
brilliant ray OF light from tho search-
lights flooded the army scout followed
by increasing darkness e5ss n
AS the lights departed at $3.50 o'cloclk
the chief operator reported that he had
Caught wireless from the Texas,
which said: Tell the Newark to come
up o, X, but. OF course. a code was
used, but at least 1t was known that the
navy was on the move although it was
| known after the engagement was over.
that Newark was not amongst the
warships that steamed In. At 0 o'clock3
came message from the t6rt: --Ships
have left their anchorage and are on
the move" This information had come
from the observing pont"at Cape
Henry. &
Magnificent Scene.
All eyes were strained towards the
capes and finally at 9:35 o'clock dim and
white the Texas n1ajestically came into
view. AS quick as thought white
very signal light went up from the
scout, giving notice to the batteries that
"a battleshlp was approaching, while
the wireless flashed the news to the
fort station. The Texas was then 10000!
yards from the batteries while behind
her followed the Hartford and the
Hornet
Not ia minute passed before five great
searchlights had caught and held the
attacking fleet, and ut 9:43 the 12-lnch
guns OF Fort Monroe opened fire at 10 900
yards range, which was taken UP by the.
mortars. Not until $3.50 o'clock did the
flagship Texas, tho Hartford and the
Hornet opened with their guns. They
were already out OF the game, theoreti-t
caly blown to pieces. On they came,
however. and there followed ms theat-
ricnl and tional performance as has
been witnessed on the waters OF Hamp-
ton Roads since tho great fight between
the NIerrmac and Monitor, All the war
ships steamed at full speed straight past
tho fort, their guns belchlng flames.
while tho roar OF the explosives was
deafening. Crowds lined the water front
and cheer after cheer sounded feebly
between the terrific broadsides OF the
Texas At exactly 1903 the ships ran
behind the Rip Raps and the Texas sent
up O red rocket as a signal that tho
engagement was at an epd Tho fleet
then put out to sea. probably to return
again to the attack before morning.
Work of Searchlights.
To-nights exercises have proved one
great thing, SO army officers say. that
the 60-nch searchllghts arc mighty
factor In coast defense. The work OF
the searchlights was wonderful picking
up" as they did the fleet at 10000
yards, and giving tho forts the oppor-i
tunity of which they soon took advant-
ago Of absolutely denlollshing tho ene-9
my before that enemy was able to fire
a single gun.
AS an "exercisep to-nlght's engage
ment Is by far the most important that
has yet occurred. but tho attack from
tho destroyer fotilla is yet to coma and
that is conceded to be the source OF grav-
est danger to the defense. Again ] say
the army Is jubilanr, a, r.