The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-19


er time.
"The Indiana, New YORK and the mon
itors will follow the motions Of the flag
ship and remain in column
The course after Fort Canuelo is
brought into range with the west end OF
Cabras island will be east by south.
Should nightfall come with the port in
the enemys hands and the ships inside,
the cruisers will take up positions just
outside the harbOr, the Montgomery to the
eastward and the Detroit to the west
ward, with their batteries ready and the
men at the guns. They viii show no
lights.
THE other ships, in succession, viii
sweep the entrance of the harbor and
the channel leading into the anchorage
with searchlights to keep the torpedo
! boat destroyers from coming out.
In case the enemy should attempt TO
/ escape from the port, fire is to be concen-
/ trated on the leading ship. Should the
| attempt be made at night, the search
| lights in use are to be turned on her
/ bridge and coming tower and are to be
! held there
| The fleet assembled OF San Juan about
/ 3 o'clock Thursday and prepared for bat
tie, stripping the decks and getting the
guns, ammunition and appliance for hand
ling the wounded ready.
I Rear Admiral Sampson had transferred
his flag TO the Iowa and the attack on
the forts began at 5:15 and lasted three
hours. Although it was known at San
Juan that the American fleet was near,
I 4 he,
The soldiers in the forts and the people
, in the town were fast asleep when our
warsE!Ps approached. 1t was not yet
broad daylight and the coast of the island
was yelled in an unusual haze. A range
of broken hills came down almost to the
ocean and further inland, making a sharp
line against the sky, rose tail range Of
mountains. Overhead the sky was a deep
blue. A cen-knot easterly breeze was
blowing ard a long heavy swell gave a
graceful notion to the sea.
The plans of the admiral were thor
oughIy carried cut.
The feet steamed majestically into the
harbor and in due course of time opened
a tremendous fire on the fortifications.
Three times the warships made the circuit
outlined in the official plan. The forts
wi;hs;cod the first round. but the Mont
gOmery from her station near Fort Can
ueis wrought destruction. With glasses
the officers Of the Montgomery could see
tie occupants OF the forts jumping over
the walls and lunring away. The De-
troit which wenI heal est to Moro had TO
train her guns at a high angle. Her shots,
directed at the north side of the MORO,
cut deep burrows in the face of the forti-
ficadons.
The Iowa leading the feet. delivered her
missiles with great accuracy upon Nor
ro's northern walls.
The rest Of the fleet fred in order
first on Moro and then on San Carlos,
according to position.
On the second round the Spanish gun
ners were thoroughly awakened and stood
by their guns bravely. keeping up a furious
but aimless fire. From their firm founda-
ton and nigh elevation they had a splen-
did opportunity 10 cripple our fleet, but
the Spanish gunners seemed to fire re-
CARELESS of aim and as If only DESTROYS
of emptying their magazines.
From the Associated Press dispatch boat
we could see the American shells fall
among the forts and among the troops OF
the garrison. raising clouds of dust and
causing fires 10 break out. II was hoped
the Spanish fleet would emerge from the
harbor as soon as the firing began and a
feeling Of deep disappointment spread
through the fleet when the scouts re-
ported that the harbor was clear.
At the end Of the third round the mon
itor Terror failed TO understand the order
to withdraw and engage MORO Castle
alone for half an hour.
As seen from the dispatch boat of the
Associated Press. which occupied a grand
stand position, the squatty little monitor.
in tackling the towering fort was making
a magnificent display of daring. The Ter
ror moved in as if II intended to ram
the forts and the Spanish gunners evil
IDENTIFY became much excited AZ her be-
havior, for they fred rapidly and without
taking any aim, for the Terror was not
touched.
From the dispatch boat every sho. fired
by the Spaniards could be seen. = flash
and smoke OF the batteries were followed
by great splashings hundreds Of feet from
the Terror. The shells Of the Span.ards
on exploding would fling columns of
water sixty feet nigh.
The battle was intensely interesting: but
it was not so exciting as had been ex-
pected. The Spanish atm was 50 astound-
ingly bad that absolutely no anxiety vas
felt for our ships.
In fact. when the Spanish forts fired
voAeys which MD them in smoke. followed
a few seconds later by the geyser-l.ke /
spou-ing and sp,ashing not dangerously
near the Terror. derisive cheers went up
frcn the colored crew of The diSnatch
boat, standing in her bow. The officers
AM reporters on the dispatch boat viewed
the bombardment through marine glasses /
from The top Of the p.lo, house. The 4
heavy swell somewhat affected che aim Of /
the gunners Of the Terror, for some OF her /
shells struck the sea in front OF the for.s.
Finally. the Terror seemingly grew tired. I.
and slowly withdrew. firing as she
steamed away. Then The Snauiaris be- 4
came almost frantic wiki excEemen. am 1
blazed away al the monitor until she was +
long out Of range.
After the battle the Associated Press
dispatch boat went among the feet % in
spect the damage done The sailors vera /
calmly cleaning the decks and polishing
the guns. On board the Iowa a bsa. WAS 4
struck and caught FIRE. an exhaust pipe
was dented. the bridge railing was shat /
tered s1d three men slightly woundes-