The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-18
YOSEMITE AT SAN JUAN.
COMMANDER EMoRY'S STORY OF THE
AUXILIARY CRUISERS WORN.
Report TO Rear Admiral sampson OF the
Bleaching of the LopeE and the En-
gaEement with the Spanish Wnrships.

BLOCKADE orr SAN JUAN. PoBTo Rico,
str:
/. 1 have the honor to report that at about
$50 A. NJ. on the morning OF Tuesday. Juno
%, sighted a steamer TO the westward
about two miles distant. At this time the
Yosemite was clrcling under slow speed with
her port helm a short distance off Salinas
Point. The weather was thick and squally,
which accounts for the steamer not being
sighted previously. This 1 state from personal
observation, as 1 had been on deck some time
before the steamer was sighted. This vessel
name to me still unknown-answered the de-
scription OF the Montserrat, which Capt. SiRs-
bee told me on Sunday was expected at this
port. The vessel had a black hull and red
boot-topping. one smokestack, painted lead
color. three masts. fore and aft rugged. top
masts housed. bowsprit with jlb and flying iib.
haring bow. Moro Castle bore at this time
about Z. s. E.. distant i've miles.
2. The moment the steamer was sighted the
indicator was pushed TO full speed, which was
at once responded to by the engines. The
Yosemite was headed for the stranger. The
latter had just come out Of a rain sduall. and
apparently made out the Yosemite about the
same moment as she herself was sighted. The
steamer turned her head inshore. distance
about three miles. with the evident intention
OF getting under the guns OF Fort Canuelo by
skirting along the edge OF the reefs. Having
overhauled q small vessel the day previously
close to the reef. and about the same position.
Twas not unfamiliar with the photography. so
headed inshore a little more than the stranger.
Seeing our intention. the steamer was instantly
headed for the shore and beached on the reef
six miles to the westward of MORO Castle.
3. The Yosemite went to quarters for battle
manpuvred as. near the Spanish as It
was deemed prudent to 60 on account Of the
seen of. our bowl at a short distance and not
peTmittinE with safety a nearer approach than
Vicinity Of this POSITION for some Time. during Ia Ens
which over 200 5-inch shell and shrapnel and
q t pSm ahe1. 81 Stpounder shell were dischSJrsEed
It was deemed that the steamer was sufficiently
disabled the Yosemite steamed for a Spanish
relief OF the beached steamer. and as the nre
OF the cruisers large gums endangered the
I. During the Period alluded to in the pre-
SSe na Pep paragraph "a l vas very much H. surprised to
t a19 f beiS Sh { f Ead the St e MSeFG range ans t n tS Est 9Gs SSs-
ties position. and were effective at that dis
lance. During this time many projectiles of
fell short more than 200 yards. and one within
a few feet OF, the stern. throwing the spray
will be best appreciated from the fact that the
time Of flight taken was 30 seconds.
%pa al Fns SSE 5 steam aap to e the @est meRtlo 81 sa1 IL
mas Point, and added their fire, to that OF the bat
e5 incb c rhH large Hnd sT pnl sEh had w tina guns gu ey OF : tS or
Yosemite while the latter was still beyond the
range Fl our guns Finding that we could not
range OF 1000 yards opened fire on her with our
seemed to be very effective and made the Span
ish cruiser Join her consort. the Eunboat. in
8. About the same time that we ceased firing
on the Spanish cruiser a torpedo boat was seen
fl0n nf tho hnnnhn1 Sfnnmar hnnhnh nnhnr fT1i
torpedo boat a hot ter! minutes with the main
torpedo boat sought refuge behind the steamer.
Remained off the steamer about ten minutes.
eft. at the same time the Yosemite being under
fire Of the forts and long-range guns OF the
Z. Deeming that all had been done that was
possible with a single vsssel to prevent the
again retired close to the fort.
fire. of the forts awaiting an attack from the
cruiser. gunboat and torpedo boat. but they
8. From the commencement OF this affair
until the end the ship was under fire about
three hours. Although the enemy made excel
lent line shots and some very near to the ship,
10. The spirit and behavior, Of the officers
and crew was In every way highly commenda-
il. InGlosed is the report of the executive
with paragraph 5S25. United IS States Naval Reg
faIIHt have the honor t %. b 4. Y FToF respect
lu" Commander US, n, coimnmanding.
To Chief. U. s. Naval Force.
U. S. s. YOSEMITE.
BLOCKADE Off SAN JUAN. PoRTo Rico.
June 80. 1893.
l. The report Of the Bleaching. of the Span
ish steame and the affair with the Span
ish vessels, did not admit OF a detailed report
regarding the Spanish. torpedo boat that par
ticipated. A description is respectfully sub
mitted.
2. Estimated displacement $50 tons. Hull
painted, black. One smokestack, painted yell
low, Three rapid-fre guns having a range Of
1000 yards. Speed not more than twelve knots.
One signal mast and one signal yard.
3. The Terror. which has three smokestacks,
has not yet made her appearance. 80 that 1t
would appear that the injuries she sustained III
attacking the st. Paul are more serious than a
rupture of the plating.
T.. 1t also develops the fact that the torpedo
boat seen yesterday is one whose presence
here has not been previously reported.
l have the honor to be, very respectfully,
W. H.. EMORY.
Commander u. s. N. commanding.
To, Commander-in-Chief. D. s. Naval Force.