The San Francisco call., 1905-06-13
UNABLE
TO PASS FORTS
Three Vessels Theoretically
Sunk in Early Morning At
tack on Virginia Coast
LAND FORCES VIGILANT
Detect Approaching War
ships and Lively Exchange
of Shots Then Follows

FORT MONROE. Va. June 13.-Ad-
miral Dickinss fleet took advantage of
the unfavorable weather conditions and
attacked the fortifications at Fort Mon
roe at 2:15 O'Clock this morning. The
attack lasted until shortly after 8
o'clock. The rapid-fire guns on the
vessels were used and the batteries on
shore made a lively response. The
Texas. Hartford and Hornet attempted
to run by the forts at 2:20 a. M. but the
hr1ng from the batteries theoretically
put them out of commission.
BALTIMORE, Nd, June 12.-In an
extra edition the American gives the
Following account Of last nights attack
on Fort Howard:
Admiral Dickins did the unexpected
thing by making an early morning at
tack on Fort Howard and the other To-
cal fortifications. and three torpedo
boat destroyers were theoretically
blown out of the water by the artil-
leymen stationed at Fort Howard. Two
or 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 forttfica-
t'oiio. al 1A.OU y CLOCK lIleSe UOdtS SlS-
nailed the artillerymen at Fort Howard
that the enemy was approaching and all
the men at the fort were Immediately
called to the guns.
OPEN FIRE ON DESTROYER.
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 destroyer re-
sembling the Worden was detected COM
ing up the river at full speed. Five
minutes after receiving the first signals
the men at Fort Howard opened fire on
the approaching destroyer with rapid
fire and short-range guns. While the
Worden was theoretically 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
enemy ~
About fifteen minutes after the ap-l
proach Of the first of the 'enemy's fleet
another. destroyer, evidently the Whip
pie was discovered This vessel suffered
the same fate as the first. The third
destroyer made its appearance and like
the other two was sunk
1.-THE first boats endeavored to run by
the forts without making any demonstra-
ton, but the one in the lead was soon
put out of commission by striking thea-
reticaI mine. This was aigtzfEsd by rlf1Es'
ing a bell In Fort Howa1dss.
1.-The third boat, though theoretically
put out of commission, opened FIRE on all
four OF the forts, and the Ssight was a
most exciting one. BroadsideSs were fired
by the third destroyer when .itsreacheds q.
point between Forts Arrnistead and Car
roll No lights were used on any OF the
boats ~
MEALS SERVED AT GUNS.
sTt 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 fourth destroyer was discov-
cred and sunk Then the battleship
Texas made frontal demonstration and
fired her, big. and little guns at Fort
Howard. While the Texas was making
this demonstration a swift cruiser made
q Hank movement and went up the bay
toward Pooles Island.
s.It was discovered in the nick OF time
by the men at Fort Howard, VINO hred
on the ship The fire was returned and
after lively skirmish the gunners at the
fort theoretically sent both the Texas
and the cruiser to the bottom.
after the Intellectual attack upon Fort
Howard the enemy as the attacking
vessels are known, withdrew and steamed
down Chesapeake Bay to join the rest of
Admiral Dickins squadron off Sandy
Point
THE garrison sleeps at the guns, one
third of the troops being at the guns all
the time, while the remainder rest in
tents that have been built close to the
guns. At the least alarm the call to
arms is sounded and every man rushes
to his post All meals are served at the
emnIacemenfs of the guns"