The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-19

ported the harbor was cellar.
At the end of the third round the
monitor Terror failed to understand
the order to withdraw and engaged
Moro castle alone for half an hour.
AS seen from the despatch boat of
the Associated Press, which occupied
fine point of view, the squatty little
monitor. in tackling the towering fort,
was magnificent display OF daring.
The Terror moved in as II intending to
draw the forts and the Spanish gun
ners evidently became much excited
at her behavior for they fired rapid
ly and without taking any aimt for
the Terror was not touched.
From the despatch boat every shot
fired by the Spaniards could be seen.
The flash and smoke Of their batter
les were followed by great splashings
hundreds of feet from the Terror. The
shells Of the Spaniards ON exploding
would fling up columns Of water sixty
feet high.
The scene was intensely interesting,
but it was not so exciting as had been
expected The Spanish aim was so as
toundingiy bad that absolutely no an
xety was felt for our ships.
In fact, when the Spanish forts fired
volleys which hid them in smoke, fol-
lowed a few seconds later by the gey-
ser-liko spouting and splashing not
dangerously near the Terror derisivH
cheers went up from the Colored crew
of the despatch boat, standing in the
bow Of the latter for they are fierce
hatcr,s Of Sraniards The officers and
reporters on the despatch boat viewed
the bombardment through marine
glasses from the top Of the pilot house.
The heavy swells somewhat affect
ed the aim Of the gunners of the Ter
ror. for some of her shells struck the
sea i'm front of the forts. Finally, the
Terror seemingly grew tired and she
slowly Withdrew. firing as she steamed
away The Spaniards became frantic
with excitement and blazed away at
the monitor until she was long out Of
range.
AFTER THE BATTLE.
After the battle the Associated Press
dispatch boat went among the fleet to
inspect the damage done The sailors
were calmly cleaning the decks and
polishing the guns. on board the Iowa
a boat was struck and caught fire, an
exhaust pine was dentcd. the bridge
railing was shattered and three men
were slightly wounded, and all this
was done by the solitary shell which
struck the Iowa.
one shell which exploded on the New
York killed man, wounded -four
others. shattered two searchlights,
splintered a cutter. tore three holes in
a ventilatur and broke "A small davit-
arm. Pieces of this shell were care
fully gathered up for souvenirs, but
there were not enough pieces 20 go
around.
When the dispatch boat of the Asso-
Ciatcd Press left the vicinity of Sar
Juan H. Porto Rico for the Island of
st. Thcn a. with tn" cable dispatch de-
scrihing the engagement the fleet was
preparing to bury the dead. In addi-
tion to tn, man killed on board the
New York, a gunner's mate on board
the monitor Amuhitrite died from the
effects of tn" heat
of the New York's four wounded
mer, only two were seriously enough
injured 20 call for their transfer to the
hospital ship SUlaCc which Subsequent
ly icincd the fleet.
Tive New York fired 80 shots, il is
said, during thC bombardment.
canlcd to the operator at st. Thomas
carly during the morning of the 18th
announcing that vigorous lombard
men' of the Capital OF Porto Rico was
in progress. adding that he was goins
to take to the woods. 1t is considered
probable that most of the inhahitant:
of the place following his example fec
soon after being awakened by the
IOWa'S first brnadSide
The only war vessel of foreign
power at San Juan during the bonn
hardmcnt was the small French cruiser
Rigault de Genouilly. She had her rig
ging cut by pieces of shell. After thu
humbardment the FrenChman left fO
the Island of ST Thomas, where he
commander told Captain Converse o
the Montgomery that American opera
tiuns We're entirely justiiable, 1t i
understood however, that the Frencl
officers in conversation with other peO
pie, criticized the wisdom of tlH BON
hardment.