The Portland daily press., 1898-05-20
BoMBARDMENT OF ST. JUAN.
An Eye Witness Describes the Engage
ment Off Porto Rico.

Key West, Fla, May 19-An onlooker
of the commandment of the forts of San
Juan de Porto Rico on May 10, by the
fleet of Rear Admiral Sampson, gave the
following details of that engagement.
The most remarkable feature about the
bombardInent was the escape of the fleet
with SO few casualties The enemy's
fire was heavy and continuous and the
elevation of their batteries gave them o
tremendous advantage. How. they missed
hitting the ships no one understands.
Their shots fell around and their guns
had capacity for twice the range, yet they
only landed two. projectiles with any
serious effect.
The San Juan affair strengthens the
opinion that the demolition of we'll placed
Notifications is hard task for even the
strongest battleships. I'M,
The secondary battery fire on all the
ships was not used after the line had
passed once before the forts. This was
chiefly on account Of the smoke the
smaller guns created. as
The admiral and his assistant chief OF
staff, Stanton, were on the superstruc-
ture on the lee OF the coming tower.
They did not go inside the coming tower,
which will probably not be used unless
the fire is coming from both sides. So
far it has proved rather useless institu-
ton.
On the forecastle in the lee Of the for
ward 12.inch turret were Lieut.. March,
flag secretary and Ensign Bennett, flag
lieutenant, both of whom, with Stanton,
accompanied tie admiral from New
York. Bennett had the signal boys with
him.
1t took about four broadsides to wake
the Spaniards up. In the meantime great
yellow whitish clouds were rising from
the hill tops, marking where our shells
fell. Then q few pnffs of white and little
lines of flames came from the hooks in
the bluff. The water spurted few hun
dred yards from the Iowa and every one
was glad because every one knew the
enemy was returning the fire. $50
Before, the jackies had been glum. By
this time, the smoke had begunsto hang
heavily and the Iowa was moist and
covered with saltpetre. Marine glasse
had to be wiped every few minutes. The
mems faces were grimy and their mouths
were bitter from the saltpetre. When the
big guns in the turrets were fired it
seemed as If the ship was almost drawn
from the water in straining effort to
follow the projectiles as they whizzed
shore wards.
When the Iowa turned to go back to the
starting point the entire line was en-
gagged. The New York, stately, standing
out Of the water, and showing all her
gracefulness, but making an easy target,
The Terror and Amplitude followed,
sticking up like ammunition boxes. The
Detroit and Montgomery were little spit
| fires and on their starboard sides was a
thick mass of yellow smoke The shot
that fell ON board the Iowa, inJuring
three men, was ten inch Armstrong
shell, manufactured In 1896. 1t was
wonder no more damage was done.
The shot which hit the New York was
an eight-incn shell. 1t struck the ship
exactly In the same place where the Iowa
was struck, coming in at port quarter
and exploding on the iron stanchion OF
the superstructure.
1t then flew into thousand pieces.
While the enenly's fire was at its hottest,
| two tackles stood at the lowa's bows
without any cover, heaving the lend.
They worked just as calmly as II IN New
| York harbor. :,
"They can't hit you George" sang one
of them to a man in the lee OF the tur-
ret.
Jut then shell whizzed by.
"Rig line to that thing" laughed the
man in the chains pointing der1slvely to
the water that spurted up DO yards ahead
Admiral Sampson and his captains
ought to be proud of their crews.
The feature most discussed was the
wonderful pluck of the Detroit and her
marvellous escape from being ny. smells aI
in Is Yards of the forts. The Amphitrite
had trouble with her after turrets by an
accident to the gear which supplied the
Several slight accidents occurred on
the ships but on the whole they were
not as numerous as generally happen
during heavy target practice.