The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-28
THE AMPHITRITE'S
WORK JUAN
Letter From a Richmonder Who Was
Aboard the Monitor.
THE VESSELS EFFECTIVE SHOTS
She Was Complimented by the Rest OF
the Fleet-Mrs. John j. Bolan, or
Fulton, Gets q Letter from
Her Husband.
THE VESSELS EFFECTIVE SHOTS

The following is a part of a letter re-
Gently received by Mrs. John j. Boian'
of Fulton, from her husband. VINO Is
aboard the double-turret monitor Am
phitrite, now in Cuban waters.
This vessel, the Amphitrite. was in the
second division OF the blockading squad
ron off MatanZas and Cardenas, CuDa,
patrOling up and down the coast until the
night Of May 4th The New York alag
ship. an armored cruiser. the Iowa and
Indiana. two first-class battleshlps, the
Amphitrte and Terror two double-tur-
reted monitors. the Detroit and Mont
gonery. two third rate protected cruisers
and one torpedo boat the Porter, and a
collier steamed out together in south
easterly direction for a cruise under seal
al orders. on the second night out we
caught a Spanish bark and sent her 70
Key West with a prize crew on board.
BOMBARDED SAN JUAN.
1--WE were out looking for a Spanish
feet OF thirteen vessels. Our orders were
either 10 capture them or destroy them.
We went cruising off the West India
Islands until the morning OF May 18th,
when we were OF the coast Of Porto
Rico. 1t was Just at the break OF day
when we steamed up towards the capitol
city (San Juan del Porto Rico. and at
nineteen minutes past 5 the Iowa In
diana. New York Amphtrite and Terror
formed in column. while the Montgomery,
Detroit and Porter stayed quarter OF
a mile out from the firing column 20
watch out for torpedo boats and other
ships Of war coming out 70 engage US.
The Iowa opened Up on the forts and on
the castle, and the rest OF the ships
opened up and poured thunderous broad
sides and in about four or fvo minutes
the forts answered. We went steaming
around in a circle, using our starbOard
batteries. and each time we went closer
to the forts The fighting kept up for
two hours and forty minutes We had
silenced four Of their batteries. destroyed
one of their lighthouses blew up their
main magazine and set fire TO several
OF their buildings, NOT knowing how
many lives were destroyed or MANNED.
The Iowa was hit four times. doing no
damage. but the Indiana Amphltrite
and Terror were not touched. The New
York was hit once by a flying piece of
shrapnel shell. killing one and wounding
four.
ONE LIFE LOST
ION board this ship We had n death-a
gunners mate had died from the effects
Of heat during the engagement.
THE Amphitrite was complimented by
the rest OF the feet for good and effective
shooting / must say the Spaniards are
very poor marksmen; their firing was
very bad. When our men saw what
kind Of marksmen the Spanish were they
went through their work in a reckless way
by exposing themselves. IL was the Ad-
mirals intention 10 draw the Spanish
fleet ont n they were near, but there
was no Spanish fleet, and we were all
disappointed. for we expected fight,
and drew away from Porto Rico, not
having enough mon 10 spare for a land
ing party without crippling the compile
ment of the ships in the fleet. We
steamed away that night looking for the
enemys fleet. Two days afterwards we
got orders 10 return 20 Key West for
coal 9mmunItlons and provisions"