The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-20

One Destroyed, the Others treaty
Damaged-The Plucky Little Terror
Our Loss, Two Killed and Four
Wounded.
Copyright by Associated Press.)
On Board the Associated Press Dis
patch Boat Dauntless, Key West, Fla,
May 18.-The D~auntless, dispatch boat
Of the Associated Press, arrived here
this morning and brought the first de-
tailed account Of the bombardment of
San Juan de Porto Rico, by a portion
of the fleet under the command of Rear
Admiral Sampson on May 18th last.
The American warships sustained
only trivial injury and lost only one
man killed. After the engagement the
north end Of Moro castle was in ruins,
the Cabras island fort was silenced and
the San Carlos battery was damaged.
No shots were aimed at the city and
it is not known whether any damage
was done there. Spaniards at st.
Thomas claim that a school hOuse was
struck and that the master and his u
pills were killed, but this is not believ-
GU ~ Dt Il uC, 40 NliC NCCFN
place early in the morning and the
school children are not likely to have
been in the building at the time.
The plans of the fertilization furnish
ed to the fleet were very misleading. 1t
is known that the Spanish forts had re-
Gently been strengthened with new
guns, but other facts developed which
showed mis~calculations were mad by
those who drew up the plans. Refugees
80, @ TTLo~1n IL h. ~ ~ ~ C
who touched there after the engage
ment that the Spaniards thought the
forts at San Juan stronger than the
forts at Havana.
The United States fleet left Key
West on May 3rd to intercept n de-
strOy' the Spanish fleet which had left
the Cape Verde island This was the
only information the navy department
and Admiral Sampson had on the sub
ject. Our warships proceeded slowly
eastward. and on May 8th were off
Cape Haytien, republic of Hayti. At
tempts were made to obtain informa-
ton regarding the whereabouts Of the
Standards, but no definite knowledge
was obtained.
Early in the morning of May 18th
Rear Admiral SIMPSONS ships ap-
preached San Juan, the American con-
sui at Cape Haytien having informed
the admiral Of a report that thirteen
Spanish W%arships had been seen head
ing for Porto Rico.
The city of San Jua is situated in a
long narrow pocket. A tongue of
highland separates it from the ocean.
The entrance of the harbor is easily
defended and the same san be said of
the headlandS of lofty CabraS island,
which lies in the throat of the passage.
These islands have been fortified by
the SpaniardS, but they did not prove
in any way dangerous to u warships.
San Juan is or the ocean side of the
bay and in the rear of the town, rise
hig hills. To reach the city ships
must pass the MORO castle fOrtifca-
lions and the battery of a Carlos,
situated in a p~romontory at the east
entrance of the harbOr. Beside, they
must pass the Canuelo battery on Ca
bras island
THE ORDER OF ATTACK.
The attack on the forts vas planned
so that our warships could be in a pO-
sition to meet the Spanish vessels
should they emerge from the harbor.
Admiral SIMPSONS order of attack di-
rected the Detroit and Wamputuck to
move ahead and continue sounding
while the fleet was near the shore. The
line of battle was as follows: The Iowa,
(fagship}, Indiana, New York, Amphi-
trite and Terror. The Montgomery was
directed to remain in the rear of the
column. stopping outside of the fire
from Moro and on the lookout for
torpedo boa destroyers. If Fort Ca
nuelo fired she was to silence 1T. There
were two objects of attack, the batter
les on the MORO and the Spanish fleet,
the principal point being to destroy the
ships. Sharp watch vas to be kept for
torpedo boat d~estroyers.
The fleet assembled off San Juan
about 8 o'clock on Thursday last and
prepared for battle, stripping the decks
and getting the guns, unit and
appliances for handling the wounded
ready and Rear Admiral Sampson
transferred his flag to the Iowa, and
the attack on the forts began at DID
O'Clock and lasted three hours.
SPANIARDS TAKEN BY SUR
PRISE.
Although it was known at a Juan
that the American fleet was near, the
Spaniards apparently kept no lookout.
The soldiers in the forts and the peo-
pie in the town were fast asleep when
our warships approached. the plan
of the admiral vas thoroughly carried
out.
The feet steamed into the harbor and
opened a tremendous fire on the fOrtlfl-
cations. Three times the warships made
the circuit outlined in the official plan.
LIT I "llIlSlOou NiS lIASk NNAA
but the Montgomery, from her station,
near Fort CanuelO, on Cabras island,
wrought complete destruction. With
glasses the officers of the Montgomery
could see the occupants of the fort
iumping over the walls and running
away.
The Detroit, which went nearest to
MORO. had to train her guns at a high
angle. Her shots, directed at the north
side of MORO. cut deep burrows In
the face of Notifications.
The Iowa, leading the fleet, delivered
her deadly missiles with great accura-
CIV upon Morro's northern walls.
The rest of the fleet fired in order
first on Moro and then on a Carlos,
according to position.
SPANISH FIRE FURIOUS, But
AIMLESS.
On the second round the Spanish
runners were thoroughly awakened
h~o ya1yy Eann-