The record-union., 1898-05-14

The tug Waumpatuck 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
Vlatern. The Iowa headed straight for
the shore. Suddenly her helm flew over.
bringing the starboard battery to bear
on the Notifications. At 5:16 a. M. the
lowa's forward twelve-inch guns thun-
dered out at the sleeping hills and for
fourteen minutes she poured starboard
broadsides on the coast Meanwhile
the Indiana the New York and other
ships repeated the doses from the rear.
The Iowa turned and came back
TO the Waumpatuck's boat, and again
lead the column, the fort replying
nercely, concentrating on the Detroit,
which was about 700 yards away from
the batteries on the eastward of the
harbor. Utter Indifference was shown
for the enemy's fire. The wounded
were quickly attended, the blood
washed away and everything proceeded
like target practice.
AT 7:4o a. m. Admiral Sampson sig
nailed Cease firing Retire" was
sounded on the Detroit, and she headed
from the shore. The Terror was the
last ship in the line, and failing to see
the signal banged alone for about half
an hour, the concert of shore guns
roaring at her. and the water fying
around her from the exploded shells.
But she possessed charmed life, and
reluctantly retired at S:15.
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 bonn
bardment were discernible on the forts
but small fires, which were apparently
extinguished before the fleet left.
SIMPSONS TELEGRAM.
WASHINGTON, May 13-At 7:2O
o'clock this morning the Navy Depart
ment received the following dispatch
from Admiral Sampson, dated St
Thomas, May 18th: A>
A portion of the squadron under my
command reached San Juan this morn
ing at daybreak. No armed vessels
were found in port. AS soon as it was
sufficiently light 1 commenced an at
tack upon the batteries defending the
city This attack lasted about three
hours, and resulted in much damage to
batteries and incidentally to a portion
of the city adjacent to the batteries.
The batteries replied to our fire, but
without material effect. One man was
killed on board the New York and seven
slightly wounded in the squadron. No
serious damage to any ships resulted.
SAMPSON
Admiral SIMPSONS statement that he
attacked with only portion of his fleet
is taken to indicate he did not find it
expedient to take the entire squadron
into the harbor, though it is not be-
Iieved he separated his fleet. The Navy
Department officials were at a loss to
know how his dispatch reached ST..
Thomas, until the Associated Press
dispatch announced the presence Of the
Yale at ST. Thomas.
SAMPSON AFTER SPANISH FLEET.
LONDON, May 13.-The Evening
News" this afternoon publishes a dis
patch from ST. Thomas, Danish West
Indies, saying Don Juan de Porto Rico
surrendered at 6 o'clock yesterday
evening The dispatch adds that i'm
mediate damage was done to the city,
and that a number of important build
ings collapsed.
The Iowa and Detroit according to-
this dispatch, fired 430 shots, with ter
rible effect.
not attempt to take possession of or
destroy the town, beyond razing the
Notifications.
All the American warships except the
Montgomery steamed in elliptical form
alton before the Notifications at San
Juan de Porto Rico, which fired twenty
to thirty guns, seven of which were
good guns. The fleet first fired too low,
but at the second discharge got the
elevation, and soon silenced MORO Cas-
tie and set fire to the town, driving the
Spaniards from their guns repeatedly.
The shore guns fired hundreds of shots.
The New York was hit once, and one
seaman was killed and four were
wounded. The Iowa was hit once, and
two men were slightly wounded.
The dispatch winds up with announc-
ing that the American fleet under Rear
Admiral Sampson is now outside of San
Juan de Porto Rico, awaiting the COM
ing of the Spanish fleet commanded by
Admiral Cervera, who last reported off
Port de France, Island Of Martinique,
French West Indies.
SPANISH ACCOUNT.
MADRID, May 13.--Noon.-An official
dispatch from San Juan de Porto Rico
says the American squadron was re-
pulsed off Porto Rico. Although the
eleven warships bombarded the place,
the attackers We're gloriously beaten
back. The Spanish batteries armed
with six-inch guns We're especially eff
fective.
This alleged victory of the Spaniards
has aroused great enthusiasm here.
Another official dispatch from Porto
Rico says: THE bombardment only
caucod eli eyht damage To the hr r,.a clrc