The times., 1898-05-15
THE VICTORY 1T SAN JUAN
A Graphic Description of the
Splendid Engagement.
F.GqTiNG FOB POUNDS MORRO
The First Shot From the Iowa
knocked Great Hole I'm the
Fncrtfncatfon's NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Ehip of American Gunners Ac-
curate.


ST Thomas, D W /, May 1.-THE
French yyarship Admiral Rigault de Cen
uilly arrived here this morning from Pu-
erto Rico, bringing report of the bonn
bardment at san Juan de Puerto, as wit
messed by the officers of the vessels.
She reports that she was anchored in
the harbor when the American squadron
appeared outside At daylight Thursday
morning. The Iowa came close in and the
firing commenced Immediately. Those on
the French warshiD were not positive as
10 who fred the first shot, but the under
standing that Admiral Sampson's orders
TO the warships were not TO FIRE until
they were hred upon indicates that the ar
tfllervmen at AIorro Castle must have
fired first
The Iowa at once responded TO the shot
her missile striking the old castle square
ly and knocking a great hole in the wall
1t was then 5:15 o'clock. The rest Of the
squadron began firing. and the engage
ment became general. The Frenchman
American commander and saw Admiral
Sampson signaling. II was then observed
that the Indiana. Amphitrite and Terror
Joined the New York and Iowa in their
maneUvering.
The Montgomery nd Nashville and the
transports accompanying the squadron
were not seen in the engagement
The American gunners were generally
accurate in their firing, while the marks
manship of the SpaniaTcs was inferior.
Some Of the American shells, however
passed over the fortifications into the
city, where they did terrible damage
They crashed straight through rows OF
buildings and exploded, killing hundreds
Of citizens. one shell struck school
house, Killing many children though the
Frenchmen do not explain what the chill
dren were doing at the school at that
early hour.
Another shell exploded within a few
hundred feet Of the French warship. but
did no damage 10 the vessel The foru-
fcations Were irreparably injured. Re
peatedly masses of masonry were blown
skyward by the shells Of the American
guns
fragments from one shell struck the
co.nmandanI's residence. which was stu
ated near the foruhcauons, damaging it
greatly.
The center OF Morro was almost blown
away.
shortly after o'clock the squadron
withdrew with the exception Of one mon
ftor. which remained firing for fully
twenty minutes afterward.
All the American warships seemed 10 be
practically uninjured, although one Of the
Spanish shells struck one Of them If the
vessel was damaged seriously II was not
visible by the Frenchmen.
The Admiral Risault de Genuilly sailed
from san Juan early in The afternoon OF
the day Of the bombardmenL She is coal
ine here today. She did not sight the
Americans after the bombardment. The
present whereabouts of the American
warships is unknown here.
The Montgomery arrived this morning
and viii take on board supplies of coal
and water. She reports that she was en-
gagged twice al San Juan, coming up 10
and passing the fortincations. Meanwhile
ali the ships maneuvered continually, the
New York. Iowa. Indiana, Terror and
AmphitriJe passing and repassins the for
tificatious. The Montgomery sustained no
injury and none of her crew was injured.
She is unable TO report the exact loss on
the feet but believes one man was kill
ed on the New York and seven or eight
wounded IN all the feet
The weather was foggy at the time Of
the enlargement and the smoke from the
guns added to the difficulty Of seeing
where to aim. The Montgomery, except
in her two passages in the engagement
was unable TO see clearly.
The Montgomery men report that
there was no intention whatever al first
Of attacking the fortihcauons.
The Iowa was sent 10 the mouth of the
harbor 10 see if the Spanish squadron was
inside The Morro fired on her and the
Iowa responded. Admiral Sampson then
ordered the feet TO join in the firing until
the Spanish guns were silenced.
Capt. Converse, of the Montgomery,
called shortly after his arrival upon Mr.
Van Horn. the American consul, and with
him paid formal visit this afternoon on
the Danish governor here.
Mr. Hanna. formerly the American con-
SUI at San Juan. is here awaiting deveI-
opments. Ii is impossible to secure in
formation over the cable because Of the
censorship.
The Spanish consul here cabled early
today 20 San Juan asking for a report OF
the engagement Up to 2 O'Clock his dis
patcl had not been answered.
The American auxiliary cruiser St
Louis sailed from this port early thi:
morning. The Yale is due to arrive Today
for new orders from Washington
The Kanapaha, one of the New Yorl
Suns dispatch boats, viii rejoin the flee
tonight
Rumors AT Key West.
Key West. May l4.--In addition to othe
rumors as 10 the whereabouts Of III
Spanish fleet, one floats around Ke,
West that the feet is headed this way
and viii arrive off the harbor in a fey
days There Is nothing to indicate pre-
cautions on the part Of the naval authOri
ties, but the number OF warships in tn
harbor is sufficiently large to quiet III
fears Of the timOrous.
Spanish Cruisers sighted.
Buenos Ayres. May IA dispatch fror
Pernambuce says that the steamer Ri
de Janeiro. which arrived there toda,
reports that on Wednesday night sh
passed three warships. believed to hav
been Spanish, cruising off Cape Sa
AgostinO.
Only One Vessel Entered.
Madrid. May IA telegram from MAJ
Unique says that only one Spanish wal
ship. torpedo boat destroyer. carryin
dispatches, has entered the harbor {
Fort de France
French Forces Increased.
Berlin, May H.-It is learned that tn
French garrison at AIartinique, whic
now consists of one battalion of marine
one company of deported soldiers an
one battery, is being increased by Ii
.l.Fs. 20 "a