Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-19
SAN Juan SHELLED.
Adm. Sampson Bombards the Place
and Soon Silences a Fort.
PopULACE FLEE TO The INTERIOR.
me Spanish stesmer Rita Captured BY the
Yale-The Opinion 10 London-Noth.
Ing Heard from Adm. sampson
Yet Mt Washington.

rOhI Az IhlNCE, Muy u" ho hnS'
lean feet under Rear Admiral Samp-
son bombarded San Juan de Porto Rico
yesterday. The following are the de-
tails Of the bombardment thus for re-
eeived: The bombardment began In
the morning. Rear Admiral Sampson,
with nine warships, arrived before San
Juan just before sunrise. At q signal
the battleship Iowa fred the first shot,
which took effect, Then the battle
ship Indiana opened fire; In few min
utes Moro fort was reduced 70 heap
OF ruins. The fort made little effort
to respond and was silenced almost
Immediately. The Spanish steamer
Rita was captured by the United States
auxiliary cruiser Yale, which took her
crew on board. Thousands Of the
population and the foreign consuls
sought refuge in the interior Of the
island.
THE OPINION IN LONDON.
LONDON. May l3.-The bombardment
Of San Juan de Porto Rico Is held here
10 indicate that Rear Admiral Samp'
son has pretty accurate knowledge
Of the whereabouts OF the Spanish
squadron, at any rate that it is too far
distant to interfere with his proceed
ings. No definite news, however, is
vet Obtainable as 10 the locality OF
Adm. Cervera's feet, although 1t Is be.
lieved to be at the Canaries, waiting
to Join the Cadiz ships at some pre-
determined rendezvous The news is
fully expected Of the fall Of San Juan
and that Adm. Sampson has sufficient
force handy to land and hold the place.
II SO his feat will be regarded as al.
most, as dashin1 as Dewey's 1t Is sup
posed that the news that the lombard
ment has begun was dispatched by
some one who had command Of the
wires at San Juan or permission to
send message. The Spanish reports
recently have said that the San Juan
forts had been much strengthened;
but, looking TO the state Of affairs at
Manila, little credit is given TO this
report and II Is judged that Adm.
SIMPSONS task will not be very diff
cult The Cardenas and Cienfuegos
/. affairs are not regarded as very seri-
Gus, except as showing that an inva'
sion Of Cuba will not be q walkover,
although II San Juan has fallen it will
be utterly impossible for the Spaniards
to do much to prevent the invasion.
NOTHING HEARD FROM SAMPSON.
WASHINGTON, May l3.-The setback
received by the American blockading
squadron in the engagement In Car
denas harbor yesterday and the loss Of
five lives on board the torpedo boat
Winslow had SOLDERING effect on the
element In the navy which Is crying
ont for rapid action and efforts at
destroying batteries with anarmored
shipa There probably will be some
sort Of inquiry instituted to as
certain the responsibility for
sending such unprotected shells
~ the Winslow against fortified ports.
II Is miraculous In the opinion of the
older officers Of the department that
the damage and loss Of life were con-
fined to the Winslow, for the other
boats with her were very little better
of In the matter Of protection, and
scarcely any Of them could resist the
fire ofasmall rifle. 1t Is likely that II
such work as was attempted at Carde.
mas Is TO be done hereafter, the task
will be assigned to more formidable
craft Notwithstanding the multitude
Of rumors that came from oil parts Of
the West Indies as to the lombard
ment Of Juan de Porto Rico, and other
sanguinary engagements between
SIMPSONS battleships and the Spanish
forces, the navy department was in Of
ficial ignorance Of any such event. At
the close OF Office hours 1t was said
that nothing had been heard from
Adm. Sampson.