Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-19
FIRST DETAILS
oA Sanjuan Was Bombard
ed BY Sampson.
ACCOMPLISHED
ierro Castle In Ruins, Carbras Fort sIenc
Ms Sod and ,he San Carlos Battery serl-
onsly Damaged. American
Ships Not Injured.

od and the San Carlos Battery Serl-
onsly Damaged. American
Ships Not Injured.
Copyright. 1898. by Associated Press,
ION BOARD THE ASSOCIATED
SSKEY WEST. FLA. May 1S.-The
SaHnt1ess. dispatch boat of the Associ-
lted Press. arrived here this morning
and brought the first detailed account
5f@fhe shombardment of San Juan de
Porto Rico, by portion OF the fleet
1naer the command of Rear-Admiral
Sampson on May IL.
asTheSAmerican warships sustained
r only trivial injury and lost only one
nan Killed. After the engagement the
aoEthsend OF Moro Castle was in ruins.
EaeSEabras Island fort was silenced
and.the San Carlos battery was dam
NO shots were aimed at the city,
ana lis not known whether any dam
RgsEWas done there. Spaniards at ST
Ihnnas claim that a school house was
stTAckSandsthat the master and his pu-
piassHeres killed, but this is not believed
4o#bestrue as the bombardment took
place early in the morning. and the
school chtldren-were not likely to have
sbeen in the building at that time.
~ hes plans Of the fortiications furn-
Nsned to the fleet were very misleading
MSgEyass known that the Spanish forts
a1sdgbeen recently strengthened with
new guns. but other facts developed
which showed miscalculations We're
made by those who drew up the plans.
sssReTugees In ST. Thomas told the cor
respondents who touched there after
the engagement that the Spaniards
sahonght the forts at San Juan were
stronger than the forts at Havana
The United States fleet left Key
West on May 3. to intercept and destroy
@the% Spanish fleet, which had left the
sGapesVerde Islands. This was the on
aly8infornation the Navy Department
MandsAdmiral Sampson had on the ruo-
RSect Our warships proceeded slowly
%sastWard and on May 3 wc;e off Cape
gsHaytien, Republic Of Eayti. Attempts
AHeTe made there to obtain information
Mregardfng observation-disclosures Of the Span
slards, bEf no definite knowledge was
contained Early in the morning of May
Simpsons ships APP
s@arnachea San Juan the American CON
Cope Haytien having informed
aMs admiral Of a report that thirteen
sss spanish 3warships had been seen head
ass dngsfor Porto Rico.
The city of San Juan is situated in
narrow pocket. A tongue of
highlands separates it from the ocean
Tine entrance to the harbor is easily
snefended. and the same can be said of
ss:#4 he eadIands of lofty Cabras Island
lies in the throat of the pas
sSsage.
s ss These headlands have been fortified
the Spaniards. but they cid not
l.proyes in any way dangerous to our
side OF the bay and in the rear OF the
M town rise high hills To reach the city
s sss the ships must pass the MORO Castle
SOrtifications and the battery of San
sSsss Carlos, situated on a promontary sit
ssMated at the east end Of the harbor
sssssss Beside they must pass the Canuela bat
sSSssfery, on Cabras Island.
The attack on the forts was planned
that our warships could be in a
position to meet the Spanish fleet
fMs should they emerge from the harbor,
Admiral Simpsons order of attack
sgsdirected the Detroit and Nia1n1,atuck to
move ahead and continue sounding
SH he the fleet VAS near the shore
HE Of battle was as follows:
Ihe5 iowa, agship; Indiana, New
RotksSs Amphitrite and Terror. The
was directed to remain in
sssti he rear ear Of the column, stopping out
slide of the fire from MORO, and on the
okout for torpedo boat destroyers. If
ssE Sort anuelo fired she was to- silence it.
sssss here We're two objects OF attack the
sshatteries on the Moro and the Spanish
fleet, the principal point being to de-
saffpy the ships. Sharp watch was to be
e kept for torpedo boat destroyers
S#Ssss1 The fleet assembled off San Juan
about 3 O'Clock on Thursday last and
ssnrspared fer battle. stripping the
decks and getting the guns, ammuni-
s#SinnM and appliances for handling the
ssEounded, ready
sas Rear-Admiral Sampson had trans
sferred his flag to. the Iowa and the at
tack on the forts began at Sis and last
ed three hours.
although it was known at San Juan
chat the American fleet was near. the
apparently kept no lookout.
The soldiers in the forts and the peo-
SspNrswar5 ships approached. The plan of
admiral was thoroughly carried
fleet steamed into the harbor
III and opened a tremendous fire on the
Three times the war
ssHhtpss made the circuit outlined in the
sOffieiai plan. The forts withstood the
d first round but the Montgomery. from
Ssaber station. near Fort Canuelo on
Dill ahEas Island, wrought complete de-
gsatrncttnE. With glasses the officers Of
Montgomery could see the &C
8:cnpants Of the fort jumping over the
and running away
s The Detroit which went nearest to
ssssdorro, had to train her guns at a high
sgsangle. Her shots, directed at the
north side of the Moro. cut deep fur
lows I'm the face of the Qualifications.
sss The Iowa, leading the fleet, delivered
sghsr deadly missiles with great accuracy
##lpon $Morro's northern walls. The rest
iissp the fleet fired in order first on
Moro and then on San Carlos accord
ling 20 position. On the second round
sssthe# Spanish gunners Were thoroughly
and stood by their guns
keeping up furious but aim
3asssasssa fire. From their firm foundation
high elevation they had splendid
to cripple our fleet, but
sss1 ne Spanish gunners seemed to fire
Tsgardless OF aim and as if only de-
sSsirelis Of emptying their magazines.
from the Associated Press dispatch
SbOat NE could see the American shells
fail Namong the forts and among the
stknops OF the garrison. raising clouds of
sadzJss5 and causing fires to break out.
was hoped that the Spanish fleet
sssESnld emerge from the harbor as soon
sNShsSsthe firing began, and a feeling of
Asep55 disappointment spread through
fhe fleet when the lookouts reported
81. sastsSharbor was clear. s5
the end of the third round the
70 ia md ia nd