Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-05-13
SAN JUAN FIGHT
Bombardment Lasted Three Hours
Resulting in Much Damage to
Batteries and City.
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED
Wild Shooting by Spanish Gunners- s-New
York and Iowa Hit Once Each
Madrid Report Says Amer
leans Were Beaten.

Washington, May 13.-At 7:S0 thi
morning the navy department received
the following cablegram from Admra
Sampson, dated, ST. Thomas, May IL
A portion of the squadron under my
command reached San Juan this morn
ing at daybreak No armed vessels
were found in the port. AS soon as il
was sufficiently light l commenced an
attack upon the batteries defending the
city. This attack lasted about three
hours and resulted in much damage to
the batteries and, incidentally, to a
portion of the city adjacent to the
batteries. The batteries replied to our
fire but without material effect. One
man was killed on board the New York
and seven slightly wounded in the
squadron. No serious damage to any
ships resulted.
Associated Press Account Of the Battle.
Copyrighted by Associated Press-On
st. Thomas. Danish w. l., May 13.-
Fort San Juan de Porto Rico has been
bombarded by portion of the fleet un-
der command of Rear Admiral Sampson.
The remarkable feature of the bombs
ment was the bad Workmanship of the
Spanish gunners, hardly shot from
the forts striking the ships. Most of
the proiectiles fell very wide of the YES
sells. At the close of the bombardment
the Notifications had very dilapidated
appearance but the gunboats were as
active as ever. The United States
| monitor Terror had magnificent half
hour duel with the forts.
The batteries bravely threw shot and
shell at her until she seemed to occupy
the center of great geyser basin. The
Spanish gunners, crazed by excitement,
sometimes dropped shells mile away
from the Terror. The latter fired one shot
to the forts three, and when the moni-
tor retired she did so slowly and con-
temptuously. still firing at the Spanish
forts. The Spaniards continued to fire
on her until she was miles out of range.
After the engagement the Dauntless
steamed among the feet, whose crews
were cleaning decks and polishing guns.
The only marks on the Iowa were a dent
on an exhaust pipe and slight injury
to the railing of her bridge. The New
York had several small holes in one of
her ventilators. Each vessel in action
carried two large American flags.
The Killed and Wounded.
New York, May 13.-A special from
st. Thomas says the casualties to the
United States fleet in the bombardment
of San Juan, were as follows: Killed:
Seaman Frank Widomark, of the New
York. Wounded: Samuel Feltman,
leg broken, and four others, seamen.
On the New York. M. G. Nerkle, ma
rine, elbow broken, and r. G. Hill and
John Mitchell, seamen, were slightly
hurt
Reported Surrender of San Juan.
London, May 13.-The Evening News
publishes dispatch from St. Thomas,
saying that San Juan de Porto Rico sur
rendered yesterday evening. The dis
patch adds that immense damage was
done to the city and many important
buildings collapsed. The Iowa and De-
troit fired 430 shots with terrible effect.
The Americans did not attempt to take
possession or destroy the town, beyond
raizing the Notifications.
Spaniards Repeatedly Driven From Guns
London, May 13.-All the American
warships, dispatch to the Evening
News from st. Thomas says, except the
Montgomery, steamed in an elliptical
formation before the Notifications at
San Juan de Porto Rico which fired 20
to 30 guns, seven Of which were good
guns. The feet at first fired too low,
but at the second discharge got the ele-
walton and soon silenced Moroy castle
and set fire to the town, driving the
Spaniards from their guns repeatedly.
The shore guns fired hundreds of shots.
The New York was hit once and one
seaman was killed and four wounded.
The Iowa was hit once and two men
slightly wounded.
Spanish Official Report.
Havana, May 13, via Kingston, Ja-
maica.-The Spanish official report of
the bombardment of San Juan de Porto
Rico says the damage done was incon-
siderable and the loss insignificant.
A Madrid Version.
Madrid, May 13.-The official version
here of the bombardment of San Juan
de Porto Rico is that the American fleet
was "Gloriously beaten back"