The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-05-18
PROGRESS OF THE WAR.
The Latest Developments in
the War Between United
States and Spain.
Bombardment Of San Juan.

PoRro Rico, May 13.-Admiral
Sampson, after having pounded SO
vigorously against the old walls Of the
Notifications Of San Juan, now walks
the deck of his flagship a conqueror.
There were indications last night
that the admiral had grown tired of
waiting for the fleet which never
came, and that he had decided upon
the alternative movement Of reducing
Porto Rico. The ships, riding grandly
upon the waters, kept maneuvering
for position, and when sunrise could
be discerned, swift messenger went
belching forth from one Of the guns Of
the Iowa, and sent terror into the
hearts Of the inmates of the Moro
whose history in Porto Rice is fully
as repulsive as that of its namcsake
in Cuba.
1t was with grim face, full Of deter
mination, that Captain Robley D.
Evans found himself commissioned to
send shot and shell into the midst of
the hated Spaniards. No sooner had
the Iowa's sizzling messenger reached
its destination than the guns of the
Indiana we're trained upon the fortih-
cations.
From the slowness with which the
first answer came back it would appear
as if the garrison must have been
asleep, and even when the shells from
the American vessels must have
aroused them to full wakefulness,
thei. answer was feeble, and as the
walls began crambling around them
they abandoned their guns, and San
Juan lay at the mercy Of Admiral
Sampson.
The work was so quickly done and
with such little resistance that the
officers Of the feet could scarcely
believe that the end had come, but
with no enemy in sight, with no re-
spending shots, it was useless to con-
tinue the fight. This ending, how
ever, was in strange contrast with the
-impudencc and insulting messages
which the Spanish officers have sent
during the last day or two. They
would not surrender, but showing
their teeth in white rage, hissed the
challenge. "Come and take US if you
can.
The people of San Juan who could get
away have been seeking the interior
for week past. 1t was we'll known
there that a conflict was at hand; that
the bombardment Of the city was
inevitable, whether the Spanish fleet
came or not. Admiral Sampson did
not wish to 60 any farther than the
reduction Of the Notifications. That
accomplished, the end Of Spanish
power in Porto Rico has been brought
about. 1t brings with it, however,
the necessity Of providing for the pub.
lie safety, for with the destruction OF
Spanish authority, generalization
reigns in Porto Rico This will make
necessary quick action on our part in
order to prevent excesses which the
lawless may commit.
During the ten days which the feet
of Admiral Sampson has been at sea,
it has been closely watched for every
move. 1t was confidently expected
on Sunday last that the Cape Verde
fleet would be met somewhere on the
north coast of Hayti. As a conse-
quencc the fleet kept in battle form
and pushed its way slowly so as to
prevent an unexpected meeting and to
be ready for any emergency which
might come. AS Monday and Tuesday
Of this week passed away, it brought
the conviction that the Spanish fleet
must not be in these waters. Admlral
Sampson, stcaming clear away from
| the shore of Porto Rico, passed the
island and went considerably out to
sea, until he became thoroughly salts
fed that there could be no fleet eli
this side of the Atlantic
Then he made up his mind to take
possession of Porto Rico, and his fleet
was turned toward the bay Of San
Juan with the result already told.
Az incident of the day was the cap
ture Of. the Spanish steamer Rita by
the Yale. The Rita was disposed to
be saucy, but it was no go, and she
had to surrender.