The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-23
RIGHT FROM sAMpsON's FLEET.
scamen Who Were in the Fight ut
san Juan on Their Way North.


san Juan on Their Way North.
Several seamen who have already fig
ured prominently In the war with Spain
arrived In Savannah last night from Key
West on their way to New York. They
are Ehrat Lee just from Admiral Samp-
sons cruiser, The Detroit; 7. J. Grinder,
also of the Detroit, and Charles Berg
man, boatswain's mate on the Maine when
she went down in Havana harbor BERG
man was rescued after having gone down
with the ship.
The first two men are apprentices, hay
ing been honorably discharged, after serv-
ing their time, while the third was also
honorably discharged. Their discharges,
signed by Capt Thornton of the Detroit,
slate they can return to the ship within
three months, in which case they viii be
entitled to the pay due them had they
remained. After visiting their families in
New York and Philadelphia, the men say
IL is their intention to return believing they
can accomplish more for themselves there
than elsewhere.
All We're with Admiral SIMPSONS fleet
when the Notifications at San Juan were
bombarded. Lee tells an interesting story
of the feet after it left Key West, where
the ships coaled, until the Detroit led the
way in the channel to Fort Moro. After
leaving Key West the Detroit was sig
nailed from the flagship New York TO
follow the Iowa. The cruiser steamed out,
soon overhauling the Indiana, between
her and the Iowa, and took her place. At
Cardenas they joined the Amphitrite Ter
ror, Montgomery, Porter and the Niagara,
a coal collier. The ships all coaled at
Cape Hayden after which they put out,
all the time hunting for the Spanish fleet.
The night before the attack on Fort
Moro at san Juan, Admiral Sampson sig
naied The Detroit that she was to lead in
the channel. Admiral Sampson had by
this time removed his flag to the Iowa
The Detroit was signaled before daylight
the morning of the attack, to steam ahead
Loo yards. Everything was in readiness
for fighting, all wood and other ignitible
things having been thrown overheard. The
Iowa, just behind the Detroit, fired three
6-pounders INTO Moro to get the range
The FIRE was at once returned from the
fort, and then fighting began in earnest.
1t seems to have been understood that
arouse the Spanish fleet, supposed to have
been in the harbor Orders were given
that the fire should be concentrated on
the first Spanish warshlp sighted in the
harbor. The warships did not appear,
though, and after Smelling the fort heavi-
ly, the final shots being made as the ships
ctrcled around, each pouring shell into the
fOrtihcations, Admiral Sampson retired.
From the story given, however, the forth
dcatOnS were not reduced and the last
shot was fired from the fort Lee said
there was some disappointment by the
men that the Spanish ships did not appear
as expected.
During the three hours the bombardment
continued Lee said 10 5-inch shells, 1874 g.
Founders and 10 1-pounders were fired from
the Detroit The commandment continued
about three hours, he states.
William Anthony. the orderly who gained
so much renOwn by advising Capt Sigs-
bee that the ship had been blown up and
was sinking, is now on the Detroit All The
men rescued from the battleship Maine
after recovering from their injuries in hos
pitfalls at Havana, We're taken to Key. West
and detailed TO different ships Nineteen
We're detailed 10 the Detroit
Interesting accounts are given by the
men of the anxiety the crews feel in
hunting the Spanish fleet. They seem to
regard the present maneuvering as a sort
of hlde-and-seek, the Spanish fleet doing
the hiding
AS soon as they visit their homes the
men will return to the Detroit, turn over
their honorable discharges, and start on
another hunt for the enemy's fleet if some
thing is not heard of it in the meantime
They viii then receive $50 a month instead
of 81 and rank as third-class quartermas-
ters