The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-19
HIDDEN IN THE HARBOR
GUNS WERE NOT AIMED NJ THE
TOWN.
THE TERROR AN AMERICAN BULL DOG
Spaniards Thought She was Going to Run the
forts--Kept up the Battle for Half an
Hour Unaided- --Dauntless
Brings the News,
Brings the News.
Copyright by the Associated Press.)

Brings the News.
Copyright by the Associated Press.)
On board the Associated Press dis
patch boat Dauntless, Key West, Fla.
May 1S.-The Dauntless, dispatch boat
of the Associated Press, arrived here
this morning, and brought the first de-
tailed account of the bombardment of
San Juan de Porto Rico, by portion of
the fleet under the command of Rear
Admiral Sampson, on May 18th last.
The American warships sustained only
trivial injury, and lost only one man kill
ed. After the engagement, the north end
of MORO Castle was in ruins, the Cabras
Island fort was silenced, and the San
Carlos battery was damaged. No shots
were aimed at the city, and it is not
known whether any damage was done
there. Spaniards at ST. Thomas claim
that school house was struck, and that
the master and his pupils were killed. but
this is not believed to be true, as the
bombardment took place early in the
morning and the school children are not
likely to have been i'll the building at
the time.
The plans of the Notifications furnish
ed to the fleet were very misleading. 1t
was known that the Spanish forts had
recently been strengthened with new
guns; but other facts developed which
showed miscalculations were made by
those who drew up the plans. Refugees
in st. Thomas told the correspondents
who touched there after the engagement
that the Spaniards thought the forts al
San Juan We're stronger than the forts
OF Havana.
The United States fleet left Key West
on May to intercept and destroy. the
Spaiiish fleet, which had left the Cape
Verde Islands. This was the only infor-
nation the Navy Department and Ad-
miral Sampson bad on the subject
Our warships proceeded slowly east.
ward, and on May were off Cape
Haytien, Republic of Hayti. Attempts
were made there to obtain information
regarding the whereabouts of the Span
iards. but no definite knowledge was OBJ
tanned.
Early in the morning of May 18th
Rear Admiral SIMPSONS ships approach
ed San Juan, the American Consul a
Cape Haytien having informed the Ad
miral of a report that thirteen Spanisl
warships had been sent, heading fo
Porto Rico.
The City of San Juan is situated i'll
long narrow pocket. A tongue of high
land separates it from the ocean. Th'
entrance of the larbor is easily defend
ed, and the same can be said of til,
headIands of lofty Cabras Island whicl
lies in the throat Of the passage. Thes,
headlands have been fortified by tn,
Spaniards, but they did not prove in an.
way dangerous to our warships. SaI
is.. lta ell af4 4b.. kotr
and in the rear of the town, rise higl
hills To reach the city ships must pas
the Moro Castle Notifications and tn,
battery of San Carlos, situated on
promontory at the east entrance of thu
llarbor. Beside, they must pass the
Canuelo battery, on Cabras Island.
The attack on the forts was planned
so that our warships could be in posi-
ton to meet the Spanish vessels should
they emerge from the harbor.
Admiral SIMPSONS order of attack di
rected the Detroit and Wamputuck tC
move ahead and continue sounding
while the fleet was near the shore. The
line of battle was as follows:
The Iowa. flagship; Indiana, New
York, Amphitrite and Terror. The
Montgomery was directed to remain il
the rear of the column, stopping outside
of the fire from MORO and on the look
out for torpedo boat destroyers. If For
Canuelo fired she was 10 silence it.
There were two objects of attack. thu
batteries on the Moro and the Spanish
fleet. the principal point being to de
stroy the ships, sharp watch was to b'
kept for torpedo boat destroyers
The fleet assembled off San Juan abou
: o'clock on Thursday last and prepared
for battle, stripping the decks and get
ting the guns, ammunition and appliances
for handling the wounded. ready.
Rear Admiral Sampson had transfer
red his flag to the Iowa, and the attacI
on the forts began at 5:15 and LASTED
three hours.
Although it was known at Sal
Juan that the American fleet was near
the Spaniards apparently kept no look
out. The soldiers in the forts and The
people in the town were fast asleep wher
our warships approached.
The plan of the Admiral was thorough
ly carried out.
The fleet steamed into the harbor anf
opened tremendous fire on the fortifi
cations. Three times the warships mad,
the circuit outlined in the official plan
The forts withstood the first round bu
the Montgomery, from her station. nea
Fort Canuelo. on Cabras Island. wrough
complete destruction. With glasses tn
officers of the Montgomery could see tn
occupants of the fort jumping over tn
walls and running away.
The Detroit, which went nearest t