The evening times., 1898-05-19

ly wounding three men. Another shot
wrecked boat on the New York and
IT'S fragments killed Frank Whitmark and
slightly wounded two other men.
Two Distinct Attacks.
There were two distinct attacks on the
forts. At the first attack the ships moved
within 1,400 yards of the forts and then
out to sea, completing an eliipse. The
Wampatuck and Montgomery withdrew
from the battle under orders. The little
Porter ran in and took position directly
under the guns of San Cristobal and pop
ped away there during the rest of the en-
gagement, with her one-pounders. The
Detroit at the same lime placed herself
boldly in the harbor's mouth and stayed
there. defying the fire of Canuelo and
Morro forts and working her own 5-inch
guns with marvellous rapidity.
The second attack OF the fleet was more
disastrous to the Spaniards than the first.
The vessels completed a second ellipse.
firing as they moved in and out. Nearly
all the heaviest shot of the battleships
landed in or about the Notifications. Sew
eral passed over them and into the city.
where clouds of smoke and dust marked
their resting place.
Spanish Firing Lessens.
The Spanish firing was now less spirited
and more hystericaL After half hours
steady firing the two battleships and the
New York and Detroit passed well out to
sea, leaving the monitors pounding away
at the battery with their ten-inch guns.
Spanish shells struck all about the Terror
and Amphitrite, but not a man on either
ship was injured.
Four other ships ran In for the third
and last round. The Iowa leading. ran
close to the blum. discharging her twelve
inch guns about ten times Then Indiana
and New York followed with a brief but
effective hre, which for time quieted
San Cristobal. San Geronimo and San Car
los.
The whole squadron then filed out to
sea. The Spaniards promptly delivered
parting and defiant fusiAade.
At S:l5 o'clock. after a three hours fight.
all the ships were out Of range and the
battle ended.
A Magnificent Spectacle.
The bombardment as a spectacle was
magnificent. During the first hour haze
overhung the shore. Before the firing be-
gan one could just see the hills and an in
distinct line Of forts. The mastheads OF
the ships with the Stars and Stripes wav-
ing from them stood out more clearly. and
through the smoke flashed gun after gun
Spanish shot kept falling all about the
ships. sending up great columns Of water.
Big rings OF smoke rolling along overhead
showed where shells burst in the air The
fortified hilltop. too. was veiled In smoke.
At quick intervals heavy pufns and flashes
indicated the location of the guns.
Great clouds of dirt and debris rising
here and there showed where our shells
were bursting. Every now and then
shell passed over the forts into the town
beyond. and 1t was soon ablaze in sew
eral places. Just what damage was done
to the town by the bombardment cannot
be stated. It must have been very great.
Spanish reports which reached st.
Thomas that day admitted that.
Hundreds of Spanisrds killed.
On Friday. the French man-of- war Ad-
miral Rigault de Genouilly arrived at st.
Thomas from San Juan. This vessel was
in the harbor during the battle. Her
captain said that several hundred Span
iards had been killed. Moro fort prac-
ticaliy destroyed. and a number of houses
in the town were wrecked. The resi-
dence of the Spanish commandant had
been wrecked by q shot. The Spaniards
seemed to have about ten effective guns
left after the battle. conservative es-
innate of the number Of modern pieces
fought at the beginning Of the fight Is
twenty-five. A number of old-time guns
were also used.
After the engagement the squadron lay
for a few hours on San Juan The cruiser
Montgomery went to St. Thomas to coal
and send advices to the Government. If
Sampson had had a landing force there
is little doubt that he could have taken
San Juan on the day of the 'bombardn1ent
had he so desired. .- 's'e .-