Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-25


li
and shouted through a megaphone as big as
a grstmll hopper, asking that the boats
be towed further up, as far as the dock of
the fish commission. This was done, The
Star boat keeping close to the Maryland
shore in order to avoid the Searchlights of
Fort Washington as much as possible. But
in spite of all precautions the boat was evil
IDENTIFY regarded a suspicious character,
for the huge siXty-inch searchlight, brilliant
as the sun at noon, kept its glare fixed
upon 1t for long time, even for fully tWen
ty minutes after the tow was cast loose.
The steersman was blinded by the rays and
had to pick his way up the river by guess
work and estimates of his distance from
the river banks steering ahead by looking
behind a good part of the time.
Off Marshall Hall dock an accident to the
tiller rope of The Star boat delayed opera
tons for a few minutes, during which time
the Gushing, which had gone up nearly to
the fish commission station lay to.
waiting for the smaled boats to overtake
her. Then she steamed ahead, but at 900
O'Clock was picked up by the searchlights
and sunk
At Fort Hunt it is contended that the
boats disguise deceived the Fort Washing
ton watchers for a long time, and that
boat preceding her was mistaken for the
Gushing.
At $50 The Star boat was sunk" Il
let you have it right between the eyes,
said Maj. Stevens to The Star reporter
after the maneuvers How did it feel?'
Second Phase" Activity.
But in spite Of being sunk the Gushing
kept right on, entering her second
phase" She steamed directly to the en-
gineer dock at Fort Washington, brought
up alongside and landed her men, of whom
there were four companies. They found
there cossack outpost from Company L,
with machine gun and a sx-pounder.
The officer in command of the invaders
at once told the man at the field tele-
phone to stop communication, then he him
self telephoned to Capt. Goldeman of the
regulars that a party OF ten men had landed
at the dock.
This was to continue the illusion that
there were few men on the Cushing Then
all four companies came ashore, consider
ing that they had put the guns and search
light out of business. They claim that at
any rate the 6-pounder was not working
when they landed.
Company was marched up the almost
perpendicular railway track with Company
A in support, while companies c and d
were left to cover the rear, sending at
the same time a detachment to capture
the quartermasters dock, where there was
also "a machine gun in charge of q cossack
outpost from Company l..
The companies that went up the hill
Claim, as has Deell SdIu dbONe, tldl lDey
captured the power plant, the old fort and
the bridge. On their way up the hill they
also met Capt. Summers and part of his
company coming down to reinforce the
Company l. outposts. Afterward a rush
was made into the old fort where many
ladies had been watching the spectacle,
and then, after inspection by Col. Coffin,
hostilities having been formally closed by
the firing of two red bombs on each side Of
the river, the men boarded the Gushing and
returned to Fort Hunt
Credit to Lieut.. Fuqua.
1t is asserted at + ort Hunt that the ruse
of Disgusting the Cushing, of putting four
companies aboard, keeping the men lying
down, and given The Fort Hunt people
reason to think that the steamer did not
carry the main attack, are the means BY
which the landing was effected. All the
credit at Fort Hunt is attributed to Lieut.
Fuqua of the 23d Infantry, a graduate of
the Cavalry and Infantry School, who Is
about to enter the Staff College. His mas
terry of detail and comprehensive grasp of
situations is said TO be remarkable.
" lille the Gushing was coming up the
river boats under Capt. Baentine, which
had been lying in Piscataway creek, south
east of Fort Washington, were picked up
by the searchlights, but some of them land
ed and the men had hand-to-hand encoun-
ters Lieut. Briscoe's fotilla caught as
It came into the creek, but those men landed
also, some plunging into water up to their
waists. There was plenty of excitement
when the small parties met. Private Fusco,
from Fort Hunt whose eyelid was split by
a thrown ball the other day, was right on
hand, but being on the sick list-almost-he
did not carry a gun. At the first attack he
rushed up to a Fort Washington man and
took his gun away.
Lieut.. Briscoe, who was in hurry to
seize a battery, pushed an officer so hard
that the latter fell down. There were no
further casualties.
Views at Fort Washington.
At Fort Washington it is asserted that
the defense was so carefully planned that
it would have been impossible for the in
vaders to land without being blown to
pieces.
Companies l and NJ We're held near head
quarters a reserve. while Company l.
was used as the right support, with cos
sack outposts stationed at threatened points
with machine guns Connecting patrols
were thrown out all connected by field
telephones so that they could be moved
when necessary and notify headquarters of
threatened attack. Company X formed the
left support, guarding the southeast part of
the reservation, with three important cos
sack outposts on Piscataway creek,
streng thened with machine guns
detachment of Company NJ guarded the
pumping station.
Furthermore, say the Fort Washington
men, the enemy was twice tn. strenpth
OF the defending force, whereas Lieut.. Col.
o Brien, in his attack Tuesday night on
fort HUNT, had used only his four conn
panles OF supports.
Notes of the Lighter Side.
Tonight at Fort Hunt the regular officers
VIII entertain Maj. Stephan and his staff
at dinner, and the regular soldiers will en-
tertain the militiamen. having appropriated
500 for the purpose from their company
fund.
Last night Maj Stephan's staff gave a
dinner to the regular officers and on Sat-
urday night the officers of Fort Hunt will
entertain the District officers at smoker.
All the militiamen are to be paid Sat
urday morning.
Maj Stephan has Mrs Stephan and his
wife at camp today.
Col. Coffin has invited the militia officers
at Fort Washington to a reception Satur-
day night.
Gen. Harries and some of the brigade
staff are expected at the forts tomorrow
Charles Smith Company l.. lost his gun
in the shuttle on the quartermaster's wharf
last night and dropped it into the river
BY persistent fishing he recovered it Mt |
Al o CLOCK this morning c. e. T.