The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-14

the only SHIPS nit. Tney went right up
under the guns in column, delivering
broadsides and then returned
The line passed thrice in front of the
fcrts, pouring tons Of steal on shore.
1t is impossible to judge the amount
of damage done to the buildings and
fCrts. They appeared to be riddled with
shot; but the Spaniards were plucky.
The after turret of the Amphitrite
got out of order temporarily during the
engagement, but she banged away with
her forward guns.
After the first passage before the
forts the Detroit and the Montgomery
do much damage. The Porter and
Wampatuck also stayed out Of range.
SMOKE HUNG HEAVY:
The smoke hung over everything,
spelling the aim of the gunners and
making it impossible to tell where our
shots struck. The officers and men Of
all the ships behaved with GOODNESS and
bravery. The shots flew thick and fast
over all our ships.
The men of the Iowa who were hurt
during the action were injured by
splinters thrown by an eight-inch shell
which came through a boat into the
superstructure and scattered fragments
in all directions. The shots course was
finally ended on an iron plate an inch
thick.
Merkle was struck in the arm, and
may lose It, All were hurt by splinters,
and a fire started in the boat was quick
ly extinguished.
MORRO ATTACKED.
MORO battery, on the eastward arm
Of the harbor, was the principal point of
attack. Rear Admiral Sampson and
Capt. Evans were on the lower bridge
Of the Iowa and had narrow escape
from flying splinters, which injured
three men. The Iowa was hit eight
times, but the shells made no impress
sion on her armor. The weather was
fine, but the heavy swells made ac-
curate aim difficult.
The broadsides from the Iowa and
Indiana rumbled in the hills ashore for
five minutes after they were delivered.
Clouds of dust showed where the shells
struck, but the smoke hung over ev-
erything. The shells screeching over
head and dropping around showed that
the Spaniards still stuck to their guns.
GENERAL QUARTERS.
At 8 o'clock in the morning all hands
were called on the Iowa, and a few final
touches in clearing ship were made,
and at general quarters sounded.
The men were eager for the fight.
The tug Wampatuck went ahead and
anchored, her small boat to the west
ward showing ten fathoms, but there
was not sign of life from the fort,
which stood boldly against the sky on
the eastern hills hiding the town.
The Detroit steamed far to the east
ward opposite Valtern. The Iowa head
ed straight for the shore. Suddenly her
helm flew over, bringing the starboard
battery to the near Notifications.
GUNS THUNDERED.
At SIG a. m. the Iowa's forward
twelve-inch guns thundered out at the
sleeping hills and for fourteen minutes
she poured starboard broadsides on the
coast. Meanwhile, the Indiana, the New
York and other ships repeated the dose
from the rear.
The Iowa turned and came back to
the Wampatuck's boat and again led
the column, the forts replying, con-
centrating their fire on the Detroit,
which was about 700 yards away. All
the batteries were on the eastward
arm of the harbor
Thrice the column passed from the
entrance of the harbor to the extreme
eastward battery.
Utter Indifference was shown for the
enemy's fire. The wounded were quick
ly attended, the blood was washed
away and everything proceeded like
target practice.
At 7:45 a. m. Admiral Sampson sig
nailed cease firing"
Retire was sounded on the Iowa
and she headed from the shore. The
Terror was the last ship in the line.
and failing to see the signal banged
away alone for half an hour, the con-
| cert Of shore guns roaring at her and
the water flying high around her from
| the exploded shells.
But she possessed charmed life and
| reluctantly retired at 6:15.
CITY SUFFERED.
AS at Matanzas, unsatisfactory con-
ditions, the smoke and the distances
| prevented any important conclusions
| being drawn.
The town Of San Juan must have