Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-19
oy south.

up positions just outside the har-
Dor, the Montgomery to the east
ward and the Detroit to the west
ward, with her batteries ready and
the men at the guns. They will
show no lights.
"The other ships in succession
will sweep the entrance of the
harbor and the channel leading
into the anchorage with search
lights to keep the torpedo boat de-
strCyers from coming out.
I'm case the enemy should at
tempt to escape from the port, fire
is to be concentrated on the lead
ing ship. Should the attempt be
made at night the searchlights in
use are to be turned on her bridge
and coming tower and are to be
held there"
The fleet assembled off San Juan
about 8 o'clock Thursday last and
prepared for battle, stripping the
decks and getting the guns, am
munition and appliances for hand
ling the wounded ready.
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, the Spaniards apparently kept
no lookout The soldiers in the
forts and the people in the town
were fast asleep when our warships
approached.
The fleet steamed majestically
into the harbor, and in due course
of time opened a tremendous fire
upon the Notifications. Three
times the warships made the cir
cult outlined in the official plan.
The forts withstood the first
round but the Montgomery, from
her station near Fort Caneulo,
on Cabras Island, wrought COM
plete destruction. With glasses the
officers of the Montgomery could
see the occupants of the forts jump
ing over the walls and running
away.
The Iowa, leading the fleet, de-
livered her deadly missiles with
great accuracy upon Morro's north
ern walls.
The rest of the fleet fired in or
der, first on MORO and then on
San Carlos, according to position.
On the second round the Spanish
gunners were thoroughly awaken
ed and stood by their guns bravely,
keeping up furious but aimless
fire. From their firm foundation
and high elevation they had splen-
did opportunity to cripple our fleet,
but the Spanish gunners seemed
to fire regardless of aim and as if
only DESTROYS of emptying their
magazines.
At the end Of the third round
the monitor Terror failed to under
stand the order to withdraw and
engaged MORO Castle alone for
hat an hour.
The scene was intensely interest
ing, but it was not so exciting as
had been expected. The Spanish
aim SO astoundingly bad that alb
solutely no anxiety was felt for our
ships.
In fact, when the Spanish forts
fired volleys which hid them in
smoke, followed a few seconds later
by the geyser-like spouting and
splashing not dangerously near the
Terror, derisive cheers went up
from the colored crew of the dis
patch boat standing in her bow.
Finally, the Terror, seemingly grew
tired, and slowly withdrew, firing
as she steamed away. Then the
Spaniards became almost frantic
with excitement and blaZed away
at the monitor until she was long
out of range.
After the battle the Associated
Press dispatch boat went among
the feet to inspect the damage done.
The sailors were calmly cleaning
the decks and polishing the guns.
On beard the Iowa a boat was
struck and caught fire. an exhaust
pipe was dented. the bridge railing
was shattered and three men were
slightly wounded. All this was
done by the solitary shell which
struck the Iowa
One shell which exploded on the
New York killed Nan, wounded
four others, shattered two search
lights, splintered cutter. tore
three holes in ventilator and
broke a small davit arm. The
New York was hit only once
When the dispatch boat of the
of San Juan for the island of st.
Thomas with the dispatch describ-
ing the engagement, the fleet was
preparing to bury the dead. In adj
dition to the man killed on board
the New York, gunner's mate on
board the monitor Amphitrite died
from the effects of the heat.
Of the New York's aour wound
ed men only two were seriously
enough injured to call for their
transfer to the hospital ship Sol
ace, which subsequently Joined the
fleet.
After the bombardment, the
Frenchman left for the island of st.
Thomas, where b>r commander
told Captain Converse. of the
Montgomery. that the American OPP
erations were entirely justifiable
1t is understood, however, .inat the