Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-05-21
SAMPSON HITS THE
PUERTO RICO FORTS
Works at San Juan Are Destroyed
by the Guns Of His 4.
Fleet.
THE RESPONSE IS VERY FEEBLE
inhabitants and ConsuIs Take Re-
fuge in the In
terror.
THE WORKS CRUMBLED EASILY
SPANS Base of supply Is Undopbt.
edly by This Time "A Part OF
Territory Controlled by
Uncle Sam,

London, May 14.-Evening News
st. Thomas Special: San Juan, Porto
Rico, surrendered Mt q O'Clock yes.
tcrdny evening.
Washington, May 14.-At 1880 this
morning the navy department received
the following from Sampson, dated st.
Thomas, May IL:
"A portioIrof the squadron under my
command reached San Juan this morn
ing at day-break. No armed vessels
were found in port. As soon as sufh-
GENTLY light | commenced an attack
upon the batteries defending the city.
This attack lasted about three hours
and resulted in much damage to the
batteries and incidentally TO that por-
ton Of the city adjacent to the batter
les. The batteries replied to our fleet
without material effect. One man
was killed on board the New York, and
several slightly wounded in the squad
ron. No serious damage TO any of the
ships resulted. Sampson"
SIMPSONS statement that he at
tackled with only n portion Of the fleet
is taken to indicate that he did not
find il cXpcdicnt to take the entire
squadron into the harbor, though il is
not believed he had separated the feet.
The navy department were at a loss
to know how his dispatch reached St
Thomas until reading the Associated
Press dispatch announcing the pres
cncc Of the Yale at st. Thomas.
Story OF the Battle.
On Board the Flagship Iowa, May 10.
The engagement began at 5:15 a. III.
and ended at 1918 a. m. The enemy's
batteries were not silenced. The town
in the rcar Of the Notifications prob
ably suffered.
The ships taking part in the action
were the Iowa, Indiana, New York,
Terror, Amphitrite, Detroit, Montgom-
cry, Wampatuck and Porter: The en-
cmy's fire was heavy, but wild and the
Iowa and New York were probably the
only ships hit. They went right up
under the guns in column, delivering
broadsidcs and then returned. The
line passed twice in front of the forts,
lDlllllk NbllN Vi lNN VII bliolNs ~ IN
impossible TO Judge the amount Of
damage done 10 the buildings and
forts. They appeared to be riddled
with shot; but the Spaniards were
plucky. The after turret of the Am
phitritc got out Of order temporarily
during the engagement, but she banged
away with her forward guns. After
the first passage before the forts the
Detroit and the Montgomery retired,
their guns being too small TO do much
damage. The Porter and Wampatuck
also STAYED out of range. The smoke
hung over everything, spelling the aim
Of the guns and making II impossible
20 tell where our shots struck. The of
ficcrs and men of all the ships be
havcd with GOODNESS and bravery. The
shots flew thick over all our ships.
The men Of the Iowa who were hurt
during the action were injured by
splinters caused by an S-inch shell,
which came through a boat into the
supcrstructure and scattered frag-
mcnts in all directions. The shots
course was finally ended on an iron
plate an inch thick.
Merkle MurteD was struck in the arm
ana may lose 1t. All were hurt by splinters
and a tire was started In the boat, but was
quickly eXtinquishcd.
Morrow battery on the eastward arm or
the harbor was the principal point OF at
tack. Rear Admiral Sampson and Cap
tain Evans were on the lower bridge OF the
Iowa and had a narrow escape from flying
spllntcrs which injured three men. The
Iowa was hit eight times, but the shells
made no impression on her armor. The
weather was fine, but the heavy swells
made accurate aim difficult.
The ~broadsides from the Iowa and Indi-
ana rumbled in the hills ashore for five
minutes after they were delivered. Cloud
Of dust showed where the shells struck,
but shells screening overhead and drop
ping around showed that the Spaniards
still stuck to their runs.
At 3 o'clock in the morning all hands
were called on the Iowa, a few final
touches in clearing the ship were
made, aud at 5 general quarters
were sounded. The men were eager
for the fight.
The tug Wampatuck went ahead and
anchored, her small boat TO the west
ward showing ten fatnoms, but there
was not Il sign of life from the forts
which stood boldly against the sky on
the eastern hills of the town.
The Detroit steamed far to the east
ward opposite Valtern. The Iowa
headed straight for the shore. Sud
denly her helm flew over, bringing the
starboard battery to bear on the forts.