The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-05-18
PROGRESS OF THE WAR.
The Latest Developments in
the War Between United
States and Spain.
Bombardment OF San Junn.

poRTo Rico, May 13.-Admirai
Sampson, after having pounded 30
vigorously against the old walls of the
Notifications Of San Juan, now walks
the deck Of his flagship a conqucror.
There we're indications last night
that the admiral had grown tired of
waiting for the feet which never
came, and that he had decided upon
the alternative movement of reducing
Porto Rico. The ships, riding grandly
upon the water kept man9uvering
for position, and when sunrise could
be disccrned, swift messenger went
belching forth from one Of the guns Of
the Iowa, and sent terror into the
hearts of the inmates Of the Moro
whose history in Porto Rice is fully
as rcpulsivc as that of its namesake
in Cuba.
1t was with grim face, full of deter
mination, that Captain Roblcy ID.
Evans found himself commissioned to
send shot and shell into the midst of
the hated Spaniards. No sooner had
the Iowa sizzling messenger reached
its destination than the guns Of the
Indiana were trained upon the fortifi-
cations.
From the slowncss with which the
first answer came back it would appear
as if the garrison must have been
asleep, and even when the shells from
the American vessels must have
aroused them to full wakefulncss,
their answer was feeble, and as the
walls began crAmbling around them
they abandoned their guns, and San
Juan lay at the mercy of Admiral
Sampson.
The work was SO quickly done and
with such little resistance that the
officers Of the feet could scarcely
believe that the end had come, but
with no enemy in sight, with no re-
spending shots, it was useless to con-
tinue the fight. This ending, how
ever, was in strange contrast with the
impudence and insulting messages
which the Spanish officers have sent
during the last day or two. They
would not surrender, but showing
their teeth in white rage, hissed the
challenge, "Comc and take us if you
can"
The people of San Juan who could get
away have been seeking the interior
for week past 1t vas we'll known
there that conflict was at hand that
the bombardment of the city was
inevitable, whether the Spanish feet
came or not. Admiral Sampson did
not wish to 60 any farther than the
reduction Of the Notifications That
accomplished. the end of Spanish
power in Porto Rico has been brought
about. 1t brings with it, however,
the necessity of providing For the pub
lie safety, for with the destruction Of
Spanish authority, decentralization
reigns in Porto Rico. This will make
necessary quick action on our part in
order to prevent excesscs which the
lawlcss may commit.
During the ten days which the feet
Of Admiral Sampson has been at sea,
it has been closely watched fer every
on Sunday last that the Cape Verde
feet would be met somewhere on the
north coast Of Hayti. AS consc-
quence the fleet kept in battle form
and pushed its way slowly SO as to
prevent an unexpected meeting and 10
be ready for auy emergency which
might come. AS Monday and Tuesday
Of this week passed away. it brough;
the conviction that the Spanish fleet
must not be in these waters Admiral
Sampson, steaming clear away from
the shore Of Porto Rico. passed the
island and went considerably out to
sea, until he became thoroughly salts
ned that there could be no fleet en-
this side Of the Atlantic.
Then he made up his mind to take
possession of Porto Rico, and his feet
was turned toward the bay Of San
Juan with the result already told.
An incident of the day was the cap
ture Of. the Spanish steamer Rita by
the Yaie The Rita was disposed to
be saucy, but it was no go, and she
had to surrender.