The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-20
An Eyewitness Describes San Juan
BOmbardment.
GOODNESS OF JACKIES
SPANISH GUNNERY TREATED
WITH CONTEMPT.
Required Four Broadsides TO Wake
Up the Spaniards-Monitors of
Little Use In Heavy Swell-Con-
ming Tower Useless Institution
Battleships In Action.

Key West, Fla, May 19.-An on-looker
of the bombardment of the Publications of
San Juan de Puerto Rico on Nay y
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 escape of the
fleet with so few casualties. The enemy s
fire was heavy and continuous. and the
elevation Of their batteries gave them a
tremendous advantage. How they missed
hitting the ships no one knows. Their
shots fell all around and their guns had
capacity for twice the range Yet they
only landed two projectiles with any Sc
riOus effect. The San Juan affair
strengthens the opinion that well placed
Notifications are q hard task for even the
strongest bdttieships.
THE secondary batteries of the ships
We're not used after the line had passed
before the forts. This was chiefly on ac-
count of smoke drifting in front of the
turrets. which made the handlers of the
big guns liable to lose all sight of land
The admiral and his assistant chief
of staff. Taunton, We're on the super
structure on the lee side of the coming
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 rather
useless institution.
In the forecastIe. in the lee of the for
ward 12-lnch turret. were Lieutenant
March. flag secretary. and Ensign Ben
nett, flag lieutenant. both of whom, with
Taunton accompanied the admiral from
the New York
Bennett had signal buoys with him.
His signal flags, in the canvas bags. were
made fast with a line which ran around
the turret barbette This was to prevent
them from being shot overheard.
1t took about four broadsides to wake
the Spaniards UP. In the meantime. great
yellowish white clouds were rising from
the hillside marking where our shells
had fallen. Then 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 every
body was glad, because they knew that
the enemy was returning the fire. Be
lore that the JackieS had been glum. BY
this time the smoke had begun 10 hang
heavily and the Iowa was moist and
covered with saltpetre. Marine glasses
mems faces were grimy and their mouths
were bitter from the saltpetre. When
the big guns in the turret were fired it
seemed as if the ship was almost drawn
follow the projectiles as they whizzed
shorewards. Behind. the Indianas port
side looked like a huge fort, her own
smoke hiding her starDoard side.
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 al
her gracefulness. but making an easy
miles
While the enemy's fire was at its hot
test. two jackies stood at the Iowas
bows, without any cover, heaving the
lead.
They can't hit US. George. sang out
one of the men TO another in lee of the
turrct. Just then a shell whizzed by.
Rig line 10 that thing, laughed the
man in the chains. pointing derlsively to
the water that spurted up 80 yards ahead
of him. The feature most discussed was
the wonderful pluck of the Terror and
her escape from being hit. Shells simply
rained about her as she lay within so
yards of the forts and blazed away with
her five-inch rapid fire batteries
The Amphitrite's trouble was with her
after turret. and was caused by an ac-
rident to the gear which supplies the
turret power.
Several slight accidents occurred on the
ships. but on the whole they were not as
numerous as generally happens during
heavy target practice. The strain on the
men was rather severe. The heat of the
sun was intense before o'clock The
work done by the engineer officers and
their men, who for three hours. were
under the battle gratings in the intense
heat, cannot be too highly praised. The
firing of the monitors seemed hardly up
TO the mark of the other ships very
heavy swell causing them trouble and
any degree OF accuracy of
aim"