The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-05-20
COMMANDMENT AT SAN JUAN.
An On-Looker Gives Details of the
Enhancement.

KEY WEST (F1a.), May 19.-An on
locker of the bombardment of the for
tifications of San Juan on May 18th
by the fleet of Rear Admiral Sampson
gave the following details of that en-
gagement. He said:
THE most remarkable feature about
the bombardment was the es
cape of the fleet with so few casual
ties. The enemy's fire was heavy and
continuous, and the elevation of their
batteries gave them a tremendous adj
vantage. How the 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 af-
fair strengthens the opinion that well
placed Notifications is a hard task for
even the strongest battleships.
1.-The secondary batteries of the ships
were not used after the line had passed
before the forts. This was chiefly on
account of smoke. Drifting in front
of the turrets, it made the handlers
of the big guns liable to lose all sight
of land.
The Admiral and his assistant chief
of staff, Staunton, were on the super
structure on the lee side of the con-
ming tower. They did not go inside
the coming tower, which will probably
not be used in action unless the fire is
coming from both sides. So far it has
proved a rather useless institution.
ION the forecastle, in the lee of the
forward 12-inch turret, were Lieuten-
ant March, Flag Secretary, and En-
sign Bennett, Flag Lieutenant, both
of whom, with Stanton, accompanied
the Admiral from the New York. Ben
nett had signal buoys with him. His
signal flags, in the canvas bags, were
made fast with line which ran around
the turret barbette. This was to pre-
vent them from being shot overheard.
1T took about four broadsides to
wake the Spaniards up. In the mean
time great yellowish white clouds were
rising from the hillside, marking where
our shells had fallen. Then a few
puffs of white and little lines of flame
came from hooks in the bluff. The
water spurted a few hundred yards
from the Iowa, and everybody was
glad because they knew that the enc
nv was returning the fire. Before
that the jackies had been glum. BY
this time the smoke had begun to hang
heavily. and the Iowa was moist and
covered with saltpetre Marine glasses
had to be wiped every few minutes.
The mems faces were grimy and
their mouths were bitter from the salt
petre When the big guns in the tur-
ret were fired it seemed as ~ the ship
was almost drawn from the water in
a straining effort to follow the projec-
tiles as they whizzed shorewards Be
hind. the Indiana's port side looked
like a huge fort. her own smoke hiding
her starboardside.
when the Iowa was turned to go
back to the starting point the entire
line was engaged. The New York,
stately. standing high out of the water
and showing all her gracefulness, but
making an easy target, slowly ran the
gauntlet of two miles.
while the enemys fire was at its
hottest. two jackies stood at the Iowa s
bows, without any cover, heaving the
| lead. They worked just as calmly as
if in New York harbor.
They can't hit US, George sang out
| one of the men to another in the lee of
| the turret Just then a shell whizzed
| by. Rig a line to that thing laughed
| the man in the chains. pointing de-
risively TO the water that sourted fifty
| yards ahead of them.