Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-20
THE SAN JUAN FIGHT.
Remarkable Escape Of Our
Fleet With Little Damage.
Broadside and Broadside Poured
in by Our Ships.
Generally Poor Work Of Spaniards Lauqhed
at by Biuejackets.

Key West May 19.--An on-looker Of
| the bombardment Of the forts Of san
Juan de Porto Rico. on May Il, by the
| feet Of Rear Admiral Sampson, gave
the following details, today, of that
| engagement. He said:
THE most remarka bic feature about
| feet with 50 few casualties. The en-
e.ny's fire was heavy and continuous
| and the elevation Of their batteries
gave them a tremendous advantage.
How they missed hitting the ships no
one understands. Their shots fell all
around and their guns had capacity for
twice the range, yet they only landed
two projectiles with any serious effect
The san Juan affair strengthens the
opinion that the demolition Of well
placed Notifications is a hard task for
even the strongest battleships
The secondary battery fire on all the
ships was not used after the line had
passed once before the forts. This was
! chiefly on account Of the smoke the
smaller guns created.
The admiral and his assistant chief
% staff were on the superstructurc on
he lee Of the coming tower. They did
not 70 inside of the coming tower,
..
the fire IS coming from both sides 50
far it has proved 4 rather useless in
siitution
1t took about four. hroadsides to
wake the Spanards up, IN the mean
time. great yellow whitlsh clouds wer,
rising from the hillside marking where
shells fen Then 4 few puns Of white
ANA little lines Of flames came from
monks in tn" bluff. The water spurted
few hundred yards from the Iowa
and everyone Vas glad because every
one knew the enemy was returning fire. |
Before the jackies had been glum
ny this time the smoke had begun toll
hang heavily ana the Iowa was moist
and covered with saltpetre, Marine |
glasses had TO he wiped every few
minutes. The mems faces We're grimy |
ana their mouths were bitter from the /
saltpetre When the big guns in the !
turrct We're fired it seemed as if the |
ship was almost drawn from the water |
III 4 s,raining effort 10 follow the |
rrojcctiles as they whizzed overwards. |
When the Iowa turned to 90 back TO /
the starting point. the entire line was
engaged. The New York. stately /
standing out of the water and showing !
ali her gracefulness. but making an
easy target, slowly ran the gauntlet of !
two miles, The Terror and Amphitrite /
following, sticking up like ammunition
boxes. The Detroit and Montgomery
We're lilue spitfres and on their star
board sides vas a thick mass Of yellow I
smoke.
The shot that fell on board the Iowa
in iIiiinc three man was a 1oincJ,
trrnstraps, shall manufactured IN 1900
J. WINS . v.,,,7.,,, -, NOR, .,..,,,o,-. ,,.,
done
The shot which hit Tho Nav yor,,
WAS an S-inch she'll # struck ina shin
exactly in the same place where the
Iowa was struck. coming in at the port |
ot1artar ana aynIo,7;,c =, "a ;r,,
stauuchion If ,ha snnaretr,ctura !,
then flew INFO a thonsand niacas
while tho ananv,s fro was a. ite
hottest two iaclies stood NJ the 1ov.a,s
bows. without any cover hoIdino Tho
lead They worked inst az calmly, as