Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-08-12
ATTEMPT TO RETAKE LIGHTHOUSE
AT CAPE SAN JUAN.
MARINES DROVE THEM BACK
sPANIARDs HAD ALREADY RETAK-
EN- TOWN OF FAJARDO.
American Flag Hauled Down-inhab.
tt.nt. in Mortal Fear of the
Spaniards and Desert the
Town-1OO Spaniards
Were Killed.

CHICAGO, Aug ia special dispatch TO
the Record from Cape San Juan says:
force of 500 Spanish soldiers made !
desnerste attemp. to retake the lighthouse D.!
on Cape San Juan early Tuesday morning. !
They we're repulsed by heavy fire from |
American warships and by gallant charee
of sailors fighting on shore. The spahish
loss in killed and wounded was very hea's.
After the Americans gained possession OF
the lighthouse recently 1t was garrisoheo
by forty sailors from the monitor Amphi-
rite rbjs force was commanded by Lieu
tenant Atwater. The other officers at the
lighthouse were Assistant Engineer Jen-
k;ns Ensign Blonson and Gunner Camp
| bell
The attack by the Spaniards was begun
| shortly after midnight Tuesday morning
They advanced from Rio Grande and Luz
ouiiIo along the road leading from the city
| of San Juan. retaking Fajardo and hauling
down the American flag. which had been
| fying over that town for several DAYS.
Then the Spaniards moved rapidly along
the coast road toward the right on ap-
preaching Cape San Juan lighthouse they
opened on our men with Mausers and
machine gun. The American sailors re-
sponded with steady volieys from their
carbines. but the Spaniards continued TO
advance in Overwhelming numbers. evil
IDENTIFY intending to carry the lighthouse by
storm.
Before the Spaniards, however. could COW
!: er the distance, the cruiser Cinclnnati.
which lay near the shore, was sweeping
the invaded coast with her searchsights
and had opened on the enemy with her D.
!; inch rapid-tiring guns. These quickly
. stopped the Spanish advance. Ihe AM
phitrite also began to hunt for Spaniards
, with her searchlights and to throw among
, them shots from her 6-rounders. The lit
: tie tug Leyden ran in close to shore, ano
( her 1-pounders Joined In the battle
The firing continued for two hours. the
q Spanish troops shielding themselves as
hest thev could from the deadly hail com
ing from the warships. The little garrison
: in the lighthouse kept its carbines busy
r but it was too weak for a sortie against
: the skulking enemy. At last, however. -
sailors were landed from the three Amer
n lean war vessels, and they soon smoked
e out the Spaniards. SO that by daybreas
+ the enemy was retreating. With shot
= from the warships flying about their ear
= and the yelling jackies swarning aIte
d them they were sent whirling down tn
coast road once more. past Fajardo an
Il on toward Luquilio. That ended the battle
q The inhabitants of Fajardo are in morta
| terror OF the SDaEldrCS, WHO Tesdi0 theh
e as traitors because they have permltte
? the American flag to wave over their town
" They fed from their homes to save thai
l. lives when the Spanish soldiers marche
"a In upon them. After the rout OF tn
Standards the frightened villagers woul
not return to their houses. but rushed
ut the seashore and begged the protection c
s. the Americans. As it was clear that tnei
le lives would be in peril at Faiardo. ever
er man. woman and child was taken on boar
t, the Leyden, which then steamed ava
to with them to Ponce. Fajardo is now con
IN pletely deserted.
g. The battle of Cape San Juan was di
a. ! astrous for the Spaniards. One hundre
e. dead bodies were strewn along the snol
where the enemy had fought and then
p treated. In the final rout they left behir
IS. them the machine gun and many rifles al
ammunition boxes. which were throw
n away while the Spaniards were runniT
for their lives. Not one American W
killed but Cadet William H. Boardma
OF Lawrence, Mass, was so badly woun
ed that he will die. Three Chicago bo
- were in the lighthouse during the batt
They are E. ]. Strubeir. W. j. Leona
and o. Oleson. all of the Amphitrtte. NO
i. of the three was hurt.
IT was deemed prudent to withdraw t
es' garrison from the lighthouse. but it 81
ne flies the American flag and is guard
from Spanish attacks by the guns of
Amrhitrite. The Cincinnati has gone
San Juan for blockade duty and the LIE
al den has not yet returned from her trip
.,n Port Of Ponce with the Fajardo refuge