The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-17
Little Effort Made to
Return the Fire.
THE FORT SILENCED.
The Iowa Fires the First Shot. Which
In Eneetive-The Yale Captures a
Spanish Steamer-An n eIf.hms n on
Board q British Warship Writes OF
the Rattle Of Maniia-Omeers Of Our
Fleet. COmPlimented Spaniards for
their Valiant Defense.

Copyright by Associated Press.)
Port au Prince. May 12-The American
fleet under Rear Admiral Sampson, bonn.
barded San Juan de Porto Rico today.
The following are the details of the bonn.
bardment thus far received:
The bombardment began this morning.
Rear Admiral Sampson, with nine war
ships, arrived before San Juan lust be-
fore u rise. AT a signal the ba ttleship
Iowa fired the first shot, which took eff
feet.
Then the battleship Indiana opened fire
and in a few minutes Moro fort was re-
duced to a heap of ruins. The fort made
little effort to respond and was silenced
almost Immediately.
The Spanish steamer Rita was captured
by the United States auxiliary cruiser
Yale, which took her crew on board.
Thousands of the population and the
foreign consuls have sought refuge in
the interior of the island.
London, May 13.-The Hong Kong cor
respondent of The Times who arrived
there on board the British gunboat Lin
net, from Manila, says:
Il had a conversation with Admire
MonteJo, who, recognizing the superior
lty OF the American squadron, admitted
bHoI MS SLliS ODJtCl was 10 seek the
protection of the Cavite forts. He fought
in the Reina Maria Christina till she was
on fire fore and aft and had fifty-two kill
ed. On the advice of his flag lieutenant,
ne transferred his flag to the Isla de
Cuba. After two and a half hours fight
ing he gave the signal to scuttle and
abandon her. Commodore Dewey ceased
fire and asked permission of the forts to
tejo replied: 'The ships are at your mer-
cy; do as You like The American fire
was then resumed till the Spanish squad
ron was completely annihilated.
The captain of the Boston, who car
ried the flag of truce, said: You COM
batted US with -four very bad ships, not
warships. We have never seen before
Drawer lighting under such unequal con-
ditions. 1t is a great pity you exposed
your lives on vessels not fit for fighting
Commodore Dewey sent a message to
Admiral Montejo as follows: Il have
pleasure in clasping your hand and offer
ing my congratulations on the gallant
manner in which you fought Admiral
Montejo attributes the responsibility of
his defeat to the government in Madrid.
He had only obsolete vessels, though he
ships. He had no torpedoes except some
which he himself constructed out of in
effective material. His original intention
was to remain at Subic and offer battle;
Subj forts were inadequate.
During the bombardment of the Cavite
arsenal, Commodore Dewey suspended
fire at the request of the Spaniards to
allow the women and children to be re
nov to a place of safety. 1 witnessed
the second bombardment. The American
vessels were admirably handled The
rebels looted Cavite Immediately. the
Spaniards flying to Manila and encoun-
tiers with the rebels were frequent in the
suburbs. When L landed on May End,
found the city panic-stricken, and the
shops remained closed for three days.
Finding that an armistice had been
agreed upon many civilians returned.
The run on the Spanish bank was check
ed by the Hong Kong chartered bank
opening to negotiate Spanish notes. The
position Of the British section of the
community was precariOus, owing to the
scattered position of their houses. Food
was scarce and at famine prices; the
soldiers had remained unpaid for several
weeks and looting was feared.
o. Friday before the bombardmen
the steamer Gulfof Martiban left for
Singapore and London with Spanish and
English women and children on board;
but many English families still remain
ashore. The Spaniards are not expected
to capitulate. Commodore Dewey has Ma
Mia at his mercy. but it would be use
less to bombard the city without a suffi-
Gent force to hold it,"