The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-14
Two Americans Killed and Several
Wounded.
THE SQUADRON UNINJURED,
Admiral Sampson Poured a Storm Of
Shot and Shell Into the Batteries,
But IL Was impossible to Asccr-
tain the Damage Donc-Thc
Town of san Juan Sut-
fered Much Injury.

ON BOARD THE FLAGSHIP IOWA,
OF SAN JUAN DE PORTO RICO, May
12.-(yia ST. Thomas. Danish West In
dies, May 13)-The forts Of San Juan
de Porto Rico. were bombarded by part
Of Rear-Admiral SIMPSONS fleet this
morning The enemy's loss is believed to
be heavy. The American loss is two
killed and seven injured.
After three hours firing the Admiral
withdrew the feet, and, heading for Key
West, he said
81 am satisfied with the morning
work. 1 could have taken San Juan,
but / nave no force 10 hoid IT, 1 onil
wanted 10 administer punishment. This
has been done. 1 came for the Spanish
fleet, and not for San Juan
KILLED AND WOUNDED.
The killed are:
Seaman Frank Widemark, or the New
York.
Gunner's mate OF the Amphitrlte.
The latter died from the effects OF the
extreme heat.
OF the injured men three were on board
the Iowa and four on the New York.
The names Of those slightly injured on
the Iowa are;
Seaman Mitchell.
Private Marine Merkle.
Apprentice Hill.
The injured on the New York are:
Seaman Samuel Feltman, seriously.
Seaman Michael Murphy
Two other enlisted men slightly in
iured.
An the above named were injured by
the bursting Of a shell on the New York.
This is a complete list Of the killed and
wounded.
The American ships were uninjured.
The engagement began at 0i5 A. NJ
and ended at s:l5 A. NJ.
The enemy's batteries were not 81
fenced. The town in rear OF the FORUM
cations probably suffered.
ENEMY's POOR MARKsMANsHIP.
The ships taking part in the action were
the Iowa Indiana, New York, Terror
Amphitrite. Detroit, NJ ontgomery' Wam-
patuck and Porter. The enemy's hring
was heavy bat wild and the Iowa ana
New York were probably the only shlps
hit. They went right up under the big
grns in column delivering broadsides and
then returned. The line passed thrice IN
front OF the forts, pouring tons OF steel
on shore.
It Is impossible to judge the amount OF
damage done 20 the buildings and forts.
They appeared 10 be riddled with shot,
but the Spaniards were plucky. The az
ter turret OF the Amphitrite got out or
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 10 90
much damage. The Porter ana Nampd-
- .frF Of
The smoke hung over everything, spoil
ing the aim OF the gunners and making
| II impossible to tell where our shots
struck. The officers and men of all the
ships behaved with coOlness and bravery.
The shots few thick and fast over our
ships.
INJURED BY SPLINTERS.
The men OF the Iowa were injured by
splinters thrown by an eight-inch shell
which came through boat into the su-
perstructure and scattered fragments IN
an directions. The shots course was
finally ended on an iron plate an men
thick. Merkle ,Murtle) was struck IN the
arm and may lose II. All were hurt py
spllnters and a fire was started III the
boat. but was quickly eXtinguished. MOT
70 battery, on the eastward arm OF tne
harbor, was the principal point Oh at
tack.
Rear Admiral Sampson ana Cdp'ain
Evans were on the lower bridge Oh the
Iowa and had narrow escape from
snlInters. 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 sweIls
made accurate aim difficult The broad
sides from the Iowa and Indiana rumoled
in the hills ashore for five minutes atter
they were delivered. Clouds OF DUST
showed where they struck.
At 3 o'clock In the morning all hahds
were called on the Iowa. Few nnal
touches In clearing ship were made ana
At General quarters sounded The
men we're eager for the fight.
COMMANDMENT BEGUN.
The tug Wampatuck went ahead snd