The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-14
TWO AMERICANS KILLED
a NUMBER WE'RE WOUNDED By
SPLINTERS.
SAMPSON AND EVANS MARROW ESCAPE
The Engagement Lasted Three Hours, and
Tons of Steel Were Hurled at the
Eneny'-.The Spaniards
were PIuckY.

Copyright 1898 by Associated Press)
On board the flagship Iowa, off San
Juan dc Porto Rico. May 12.-Via st.
Thomas, Danish West Indies, May "a
The forts of San Juan dc Porto Rico
were bombarded by part of Rear Adj
miral SIMPSONS fleet this morning. The
enemys loss is believed to be heavy.
The American loss is two men killed and
seven injured
After three hours firing the Admiral
withdrew the fleet, and, heading for
Key West. he said:
Il am satisfied with the mornings
work / could have taken San Juan; but
| have no force to hold il. | only wanted
TO administer punishment This has
been done. / came for the Spanish fleet
and not for San Juan,
The killed are:
Seaman Frank Widemark, of the New
York.
Gnnners mate -, Of the Am.
phitrite.
The latter died from the effects of the
extreme heat.
OF the injured men three were on
board the Iowa and four ON the New
York.
The names of those slightly injured
on the Iowa are:
Seaman Mitchell.
Private Marine Merklc.
Apprentice IIiIl
The injured on the New York are:
Seaman Samuel I'eltman. seriously.
Seaman Michael Murphy.
Two other enlisted men, slightly I'M
iured.
All the above named were injured by
the bursting of Il shell ON the New York.
| This is u complete list of the killed and
wounded
| The American ships were uninjured.
The engagement began at 5:l5 a. M,
and ended at S:15 a. IN.
The enemy's batteries were NOT 81
fenced. The town in the rear of the for
tiiications probably suffered.
The ships taking part in the action
were the Iowa, Indiana. New York. Ter
ror, Amphitritc Montgomery, Wampa-
| tuck and Porter The enemy's fire was
heavy, but wild. and the Iowa and New
| York were probably the only ships hit.
They went right up under the big guns
in column, delivering brOadsides and
then returned. The line passed thrice
i'll front of the forts, pouring tons of
| steel on shore.
1t is impossible to judge the amount
of damage done to the buildings and for
| titications. They appeared to be riddled
with shot; but the SpaniaEds were
| plucky. The after turret of the Amphi-
| trite 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 retired, their guns be-
ing too small to do much damage. The
| Porter and WamDatuck also STAYED out
of range.
| The smoke hung over everything spoil
| ing 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 coolness and bravery.
The shots flew thick and fast over our
ships.
The men of the Iowa were Injured hy
| splinters thrown by an eight-incb shell.
which came through boat into the sun
erstructure, and scattered fragments in
all directions. The shots coursa was
finally ended on an iron plate an inch
thick. Merkle (MurteD was struck i'm
the arm, and may lose it. All were hurt
by splinters, and fire was startod in
the boat. but was quickly extinguished
Morro battery, on the eastward arm
Of the harbor. was the prjncinoI noint
of attack. Rear Admiral Samnson and
Captain Evans were on the lower bridge
of the Iowa and had Il narrow nscane
from splinters. which injured three men.
The Iowa was hit eight times but the
shells made no impression on her ormor.
The weather was fine but the heavy
sWelis made accurate aim difficult The
brOadsides from the Iowa and Indiana
rumbled i'll the hills ashore for five min
utes after they We're delivered. Clouds
OF dust showed where they struck.
At 3 o'clock in the morning all hands
I were called OH the Iowa n few final
touches i'll clearing ship were made. and
at . General Quarters" sounded. The
men were eager for the fight.
The Wampatuck went ahead and nm
chored, her small boat to tho westward
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 10 the east-
ward, opposite Naltern The Iowa head
ed straight for the shore. Suddenly her
helm flew over, bringing the starboard
) battery to bear on the Notifications. All
5:l6 a. M, the lowa's forward 12-inch
'gnns thundered out at the sleeping hills;