The Washington herald., 1908-08-07
Eran star Coresrondent

FrOu star Correspondent
Fort Hunt, Va. Aug 6-Fighting with
the valor and enthusiasm that led their
forefathers 10 many victories. the na-
tional guardsmen Of the District OF Co
lumbia, manning the big guns at Forts
Hunt and Washington. last night repeued
win great loss the invading fleet sailing
against Washington. The enemy's fleet
was annlhlaJed before II even came with
in striking distance. and The theoretical
armada wsSs beaten hack with enormous
theoretical loss.
Al was peace in the two armed camps
when the sun went down this afternoon
behind the broken cloud bank, and there
was no intmation Of The terrific carnage
70 take place in the night TIE men. after
evening ness Iounged about awaiting
Assembly. as is their usual wont. and
those only Of the guard ana on outpost
duty failed 10 relish the beauty Of the
scene as darkness gradually descended
Each command had been assigned the
station ii was 20 take up should the enc
my-thought TO be lowering down The
river-put in an appearance
swept by SearchIiEhts.
With The coming OF darkness the men at
The searchlights worked ceaseIessIy- sweep
ing the river Tor a radius OF miles. while
those IN the battle command station
with eyes sharpensd by their vigils OF the
past, followed with their telescopes the
moving rays OF penetrating light Shortly
before 9 o'clock the restlessness Of the
great beams seemed 10 check. and every
heart among the watchers qUickened as
one and two" the two lower lights
centered far down the river, on the point
below Marshall Hall, where the river
makes a sudden sweep TO the south. Past
This point nothing can be seen
During al This time the various signal
ing apparatus had been flashing messages
back and forth across the river between
the defenders on either side As The
lights stopped their wanderings and
seemed 10 center far down stream. there
came vivid intermittent flashes Of light
from q concealed tower far down on the
point This was The heIiograph In the
hands Of the watchers there
Rocket Gives the Signal.
suddenly with a Eissing roar, that sent
thrill through everyone On both reser-
vationS. rocket went screaming into the
air. and burst red Then another from
The other side Of the river and then
close behind them two more Each heart
leaped- and, Unc0nsciousIy, there was a
universal utterance-'-The enemy is ap-
preaching" The Ions-expected signal had
come Sharp commands rang out, and
each man and each command rushed TO
the post assigned them The great guns
were uulimbered and loaded as If by
magic hands. II was done so rapidly.
Those not engaged n the defense rushed
10 points OF vantage. and in two minutes.
OF less every man was at his station. and
there was an impatient waiting.
MsanWhlle the lights remained almost
still down The river. and the heliOgraphs
flashed Ike lightning bugs, but with a
regularly and rapidly that meant some
thing.
They have been sighted was passed
down the waiting lines and among the
spectators, but i seemed many long min
utes before the lights flashed suddenly
up ana down. and the battle commander.
Col CralL was informed that one Of the
enemies was approaching and had been
picked up There was another wait and
tnen- with q crashing roar. a volIey Vas
fired from the big mortar battery at
Meigs. and the engagement began. This
was ID reality but a few minutes after
tHe arsI signal The delay was only for
the purpose Of waiting until the enemy
vas IN range q these giant mortars. that
VIII throw E-inch bombs for many miles.
Big Guns open Fire.
Almost al the same instant the big
tWelve-inch guns in Batteries Emory and
Humphrey al Fort Washington. and Bat
tery Robiason. at Fort Hunt opened M
and the engagement was at its height
The approaching vessel. made out as a
battle ship, the van OF the feet. wi.hered
under the calling fire, and theoretically
was smashed 10 splinters and sent with
her quota Of men 20 the bottom OF the
Potomac This was the Cushing.
Again the lights swept IN wide circles
but apparently without results Suddenly
one Of the Fort Hunt lights signaIed that
another Of the enemy had been sighted
and at the same moment the signal was
flashed from the IRE command station.
and the firing was again heavy. II was
but matter OF seconds before shot and
shell were crashing through her hull. and
sweeping her decks. and soon she suffered
the fate Of her predecessor.
Flagship Goes Down.
She was the flagship. and among the
killed was her flag officer, Admiral
Deulpf. commanding the fleet The ad-
rniral in his attack had made a rare STRAIT
egic move, and II was only owing 10 the
Great work OF the Fort Hunt men that
he was not successful. An excursion
steamer was coming up the river. and.
falling close in her wake. the Oneida the
naval militia yacht. was nearly 10 the
fish commission wharf before she was
discovered BY the men in the Fort Hunt
tower Shortly after she was sent 10 the
bottom a calling FIRE was poured into the
Lieut. Bernard. which had been picked
up IN the meantime She was the last OF
the great theoretical feet
The land forces were equally success
ful, and with but few men lost turned
IN tonight. gloating over their great VIC
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