Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1898-05-19

the mornings work could have taken
San Juan. but l have no force 70 hold II I
only wanted TO administer punishment
This has been done. Icame for the spanish
feet. and not for San Juan
Killed and wo.nded-
The men killed were seaman Frank
Widemark. OF the New York. AMI Cur
uer's Mate --. Of the Amphitrtte. The lat
ter died from effects % the extrsme heat.
OF the injured men three were on board
the Iowa and four on board the New York.
The names of those slightly injured on the
Iowa arr: seaman Mitchell Private Ma
rine Nerkle. Apprentice NIL The injured
on the New York are. seaman Samuel
Feltmsu. seriously. SEAMAN Michael Muir
ply. two other enlisted men. slightly Ia
iured All the above-named were injured
BY the bursting Of a shell on the New York.
This - a complete list OF the killed and
wounded. The American ships we're un-
Injured
story of the Battle.
The engagement began at 5is q m. and
ended al SIS a m. The euemy's batteries
were not -ilenesd. The town in the rear
of the fortiacationz pruba bly, suffered. The
ships taking part tn the action were the
Iowa. Indiana. New York. Terror. Am
phltri5e. Detroit. Montgomery. Nampa-
tuck and Porter. The eusmy's nriug was
heavy but Mild and the iowa and New
York we're probably the only ships hit
They went right up under the gun. IN col
ulnn. delivering broaksides. ard then re-
turned The line passed thrice In from ot
the forts. pouring tons Of steel on shore.
Morre Battery the Target.
Morro battery. on the eastward arm ot
the harhor. was the principal Poiut % at
tack Rear Admiral Sampson and Capt
Evans were on the lower bridge OF ths Iowa
and had a narrow escape from fyirg sriin-
ters. which injured three men The Iowa
was hit eight times. but the shells made no
Impression on her armor. The weather y a.
fine. huf the heavy swelis made accurate
aim difficult. The broadsldss from the
Iowa and Indiana rumhled IN the hills
ashore for fiye minutes after they were de-
llvered Clouds Of dust showed where the
shells struck. but the smoke hung over
everything The shells sereschiug oves-
head and dropping around showed that
the Spanlards still stuck 10 their guns.
AT three o'clock In the morning all hands
we're called on the Iowa. a few final touches
in ct.sring ship were made. and at nve
general quarters" sounded. The men we're
eager for the fight. The tug WamPatuek
went ahead and anchored. her small boat
to the westward showing ten fathotns. but
there was not a sign OF life from the iofi,
which stood boldly against the sky on ihe
eastern hills hiding the town The Detroit
steamed far to the eastward opposite Val
tern. The Iowa headed straight s"r the
shore. Suddenly her helm fiew over brin e
ing her starboard battery to bear on the
fortificatious. At 5i5 a. m the Iowa = fqr-
ward l2-inch guns thundered out at the
sleeping hills. and for IL minutes she
poured starboard broadsides on the coast.
Meanwhile the Indiana. the New York and
other ships repeated the dose from the
rear. The Iowa turned and came back to
the wampatuck's boat and again led the
column, the forts replying fierceiy- concen-
trattng on the Detroit. which was about
100 yards away. all the batteries on the east
ward arm Of the harbor. Thrice the column
passed from the entrance of the barber to
the extreme eastward battery.
ships Retire.
AT 7:45 a. m. Admiral Sampson signaisd
Cease firing'' Retire" was sounded on
the Iowa. and she headed from the shore.
The Terror was the last ship In the line.
and. failing to see the signal banged away
alone for about half an hour. the concert
OF shore guns roaring at her and the water
flying high around her from the exploded
shells. But she possessed charmed life
and reluctantly retired at s:la
I.nicted Much Damage.
TT impossible to Judge Of the amount OF
damage done 10 the buildings and forts
They appeared TO be riddied with shot, hut
the Spaniards were plucky. After the FIRST
passage before the forts the Detroit and
the Montgomery retired. their guns being
too small to do much damage. The Porter
ard wampatuek also stayed out Of ranss-
The smoke hung over everything. spelling
the aim OF the ginners and making II inn
possible TO tell where our shots struck. The
ofaeers and ruen OF all the sh!ps behaved
thIes sSs fAss sYsf sa or sbieA