The age-herald., 1898-05-20
Vas the Escape of American Squadron
 Without Serious Injury.
THE ENEMY's FIRE WAS TERRIFIC
The Elevation of Their Batteries Gave Them a Tremendous Advantage and Il Is Miracle That Some of Our Ves-
 sells Were Not Sunk.

Key West, Fla, May 19.-An onlooker of the bombardment at San Juan de Porto Rico May 12, by the fleet of Rear Ad- miral Sampson, gave the following details of that engagement. He said: "The most remarkable feature about the lombard ment was the escape of the fleet with so few casualties. The ehemy's fire was heavy and continuous and the elevation of their batteries gave them a tremendous ad- vantage. How they missed hitting the ships no one knows. Their shots fell all around and their guns had capacity for twice the range, yet they only landed two projectiles with any serious effect. The San Juan af- fair strengthens the opinion that the de- molition of well placed Notifications is a hard task for even the strongest battle ships.
 sThe secondary battery fire all the ships was not used after the line had passed once before the forts. This was chiefly on account of the smoke the smaller guns cre- ated. Drifting in front of the turrets, it made the handlers of the big guns liable to lose all sight of land.
 '"The admiral and his assistant chief of staff. staunton, were on the superstructure on the lee of the coming tower. They did
 
 probably not be used in action unless the fire is coming from both sides. So far it has proved a rather useless institution.
 The Flags Made Fast
 "On the forecastle in the lee of the for ward 12-inch turret were Lieutenant March, flag secretary, and Ensign Bennett flag lieutenant, both of whom with Staunton accompanied the admiral from the New York. Bennett had signl buoys with him. His flags on their canvas bags were made fast with a line which ran loosely around the turret barbette. This was to prevent them from being shot overheard.
 Tt took about four broudsides to wake the Spaniards up. In the meantime great yellow whitish clouds were rising from the hillsides, marking where our shells had fallen. Then few puffs of white and lit- tie lines of flames came from hooks in the bluff The water spurted few hundred yards from the Iowa and every one was glad. because every one knew the enemy was returning the fire. Before o'clock the tackles had been glum. By this time the smoke had begun to hang heavily, and the Iowa was moist and covered with salt petre. Marine glasses had to be wiped every few minutes. The mems faces were grimy and their mouths were bitter from the saltpetre. When the big guns in the turret were fired 1t seemed as if the ship was almost drawn from the water in a strain ing effort to follow the projectiles as they whizzed shorewards.
 The Entire Line Engaged
 "When the Iowa turned to go back to the starting point the entire line was en- gagged. The New York, stately, standing out of the water and showing all her grace fulness, but making an easy target, slowly ran the guantlett of two miles, While the enemy's fire was at its hottest two tackles stood at the Iowa's bows without any cover. heaving the lead They worked just as calmly as in any harbor.
 "'They can't hit us, George, sang out one of the men to another in the lee of the tur- ret. Just then a shell whizzed by. Rig line to that thing laughed the man in the chains, pointing derisively to the water that spurted up fifty yards ahead of him.
 ''The feature most discussed was the wonderful pluck of the Detroit and her marvellous escape from being hit. Shells simply rained around her as she lay within 500 yards of the forts and blazed away with her 5-inch guns.
 "The Amphitrite's trouble with her other turets was caused by an accident to the gear which supplies the turret power.
 ssSeveral slight accidents occurred on the ships, but on the whole they were not as numerous as generally happens during heavy target practice.
 'sThe strain on the men was rather severe. The heat of the sun was intense before o'clock.
 'The work done by the engineer officers and their men. who for three hours were under the battle gratings, in the intense heat. cannot be too highly praised.
 ''The firing of the monitors seemed hardly up to the work of the other ships, the heavy swell causing them trouble and prohibiting any degree of accuracy of aim."