Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-05-21

the coast. Meanwhile the Indiana, the
New York and other ships repeated
the dose from the rear. The Iowa
turned and came back to the Wampa-
tuck's boat and again led the column,
the forts replying fiercely, concentrat-
ing on the Detroit, which was about
700 yards away, all the batteries on the
eastern arm of the harbor. Thrice the
column passed from the entrance Of
the harbor to the extreme eastward
battery.
Utter indifference was shown for the
enemy's fire. The wounded were
quickly attended, the blood washed
away and everything proceeded like
target practice.
Ordered TO Retire.
At 7:46 a. N. Admiral Sampson sig
nailed Cease firing"
Retire" was sounded on the Iowa
and she headed from the shore. The
Terror was the last ship in the line
and failing to see the admiral's signal,
banged away alone for about half an
hour, the concert of shore guns roar
ing at her and the water flying high
around her from the exploding shells.
But she possessed n charmed life and
reluctantly retired at S:15.
AS at MatanZas the unsatisfactory
conditions, the smoke and the distance,
prevented and important conclusions
being drawn. The town of San Juan
must have suffered, although protected
by the hills, as the high shots must
have reached it. No traces Of the bonn
bardment were discernible on the forts
except small fires which were appar-
emily extinguished before the feet re-
tired.
The Casualties.
New York, May 13.-St. Thomas spe-
cial: The casualties TO the Americans
In the bombardment of San Juan were
Is follows:
Killed:
Frank Widemark, seaman
Wounded:
Samuel Feltman, leg broken, and
four other seamen, Of the New York.
Marine NJ. G. Merkle, elbow broken.
Seamen Il. G. Hill and John Mitch
ell. slightly.
One American was shot in the back.
1t is believed the Spanish loss was
heavy.
Confirmation From London.
London, May 13.-The Evening News
of this city yesterday published n dis
patch from New York saying a cable
message received there from Port an
Prince, Hayti, IL that nine
American warships are bombarding
San Juan de Puerto Rico, and adds
that the Notifications of that place
are rapidly crumbling under the fire of
the American feet.
by Way Of London.
London, May 13.-(Special TO Even
ing News.)-All the American ships
except the Montgomery steamed in an
elliptical formation before the forts,
which fired twenty to thirty guns,
seven Of which were good. The feet
fired too low, but at the second shot
got the elevation and soon silenced
MORO castle, set fire to the town, driv-
ing the Spaniards from the guns re-
peatedly. The shore guns fired 100
shots. The New York was hit once.
One seaman was killed and four
wounded. The Iowa was hit once, tive
being slightly wounded.
Spanish Report.
Havana, May 10 (Via Kingston).-
The Spanish official report of the
bombardment of San Juan SAYS:
Eleven of the enemy's ships ap-
peared during the early hours (yester-
day. before San Juan and opened fire
without warning. The port battery
replied and a severe cannonade vas
continued until 0 o'clock. The damage
done was inconsiderable and the loss
insignificant"
Excitement Mt Washington.
Washington, May 13.-The navy de.
partment was all excitement this
morning upon the receipt of the news
that SIMPSONS squadron had begun
the bombardment Of San Juan de Puet'
IT, Rico, and fuel was added to the
flames when the news came later that
the Spanish flying squadron had been
sighted off Martinique, giving promise
of heavy fighting TO come. The factthat
the admiral gave notice of his inten-
ton to lombard San Juan, as report
ed from ST. Thomas, is an indication
that the movement upon San Juan waa
not a suddenly conceived project, but
part Of n well mateured plan. Whether
or not the orders to the admiral in-
cluded a bombardment is not disclosed
by the navy department. Indeed there
Is nothing in Simpsons report to indi-
cate that he really did lombard the
place. He merely attacked the forts
at the entrance of the harbor, and il
any shells struck within the town it,
self they were stray shots.
1t is surmised hat SIMPSONS object
OF making the attack i'm this fashion,
without landing n force of troops in
reserve to occupy the town if captured,
was to destroy the Notifications and
make the harbor useless to the Spanish
flying squadron as n place of refuge.
Reports so far received show that he
did not complete the undertaking yes
terday, and the question now is wheth'
err he will resume work today or be d.
verted from it by the report Of the
presence of the Spanish flying squad
ron in the neighborhood Of Marti-
niQue.
Gunncrs Were still There.
On Board Associated Press Boat,
Dauntless, st. Thomas, West Indies,
May 13.-(Copyrighted by the Associ-
ated Press.)-The forts at San Juan de
Puerto Rico have been bombarded by
a portion of Simpsons feet. The re-
markable feature of the bombardment
was the bad craftsmanship OF the
Spanish gunners. Hardly a shot from
the forts struck the ships, while the
runners struck the forts repeatedly.
Most of the Spanish projectiles fell
very wide and at the close of the en-
gagement the Notifications had a very
dilapidated appearance, but the guns
were as active as ever.