The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-14

our ships. The men Of the Iowa who
were hurt during the action were in
Jured by SpiinterS thrown by an eight
inch shell which came through a boat
into the Superstructure and scattered
fragments in all directions. The shots
course was finally ended on an iron
plate an inch thick. Merkle (MurteD
was struck in the arm and may lose it.
All were hurt by splinters. A fire was
started in the boat, but was quickly
extinguished. MORO battery, on the
eastern arm of the harbor, was the
principal point of attack
Rear Admiral Sampson and Captain
Evans were on the lower bridge of the
Iowa and had a narrow escape from
flying splinters, which injured three
men. The Iowa was hit eight times,
but the shells made no impression on
her armor. The weather was fine. but
the heavy swells made accurate aim
difficult.
The broadsides from the Iowa and
Indiana rumbled in the hills inshore
i've minutes after they were delivered.
Clouds of dust showed where the shells
struck, but the smoke hung over ev-
erything. The shells screeching over
head and dropping around showed that
the SpaniardS still stuck to their guns.
HOW IT OPENED.
At o'clock in the morning all hands
were called on the Iowa, a few final
touches in clearing ship were made, and
at O'Clock general quarters sounded
The men were eager for the fight.
The tug Waumpautuck went ahead
and anchored her small boat to the
westward, showing ten fathoms. but
there was not sign of life from the
fort, which stood boldly against the
sky on the eastern hill. The Detroit
steamed far to the eastward, opposite
Valtern. The Iowa headed straight for
the shore Suddenly her helm flew over.
bringing the Starboard battery to bear
on the Notifications At 5:15 a. m. the
lowa's forward Pinch guns thundered
out at the sloping hills, and for IA min
utes she poured starboard broadsides
on the coast.
Meanwhile the Indiana, the New York
and other ships repeated the dose from
the rear The Iowa turned and came
back to the Waumpautuck's boat and
again led the column, the fort replying
hercely, concentrating on the Detroit
which was about 700 yards away from
the batteries on the eastward arm of
the harbor. Thrice the column passed
from the entrance of the harbor to the
extreme eastward battery
Utter indifference was shown for the
enemy's fire. The wounded were quickly
ATTENDED, the blood was washed away
and everything proceeded like target
practice.
At 1:45 a. m. Admiral Sampson sig
nailed cease firing Retire" was
sounded on the Iowa, and she headed
from the shore. The Terror was the
last ship in the line, and, falling to
see the signal. banged away alone for
about half an hour, the concert of shore
guns roaring at her and the water fly
ing high around her. from the explod-
ing shells. But she possessed a charmed
life and reluctantly retired at Sis.
AS at Matanzas, the unsatisfactory
condition. the smoke and the distance
prevented any important conclusions
being drawn. The town of San Juan
must have suffered, although protect
ed by the hills, as the high shots must
have reached it. No traces of the
bombardment were discerni6le on the
forts. except small fires, which were
apparently extinguished before the fleet
left