The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14
UNITED sTArKs srRAMsHrP IOWA.


Some OF the men Of the Iowa were
injured by splinters thrown by an eight
inch shell which came through boat
into the superstructure and scattered
fragments in all directions. The shots
course was finally ended on an iron plate
an inch thick. Merkle was struck In the
arm and may lose 1t. All were hurt by
splinters. and q fire was started In the
boat, but was quickly extinguished.
Frederick Widemarck. q seaman OF the
New York. was killed.
MORO battery. on the eastward arm of
the harbor, was the principal point OF
attack. Rear Admiral Sampson and
Captain Evans were on the lower bridge
OF the Iowa and had a narrow escape
from splinters which injured three men.
The Iowa was hit eight times. but the
shells made no impression on her armor
The weather was fine, but the heavy
swells made accurate aim difficult. The
broadsides from the Iowa and Indiana
rumbled In the hills ashore for FIVE min
utes after they were delivered. Clouds
OF dust showed where they struck; but
the smoke hung over everything. The
shells screachlng overhead and dropping
around were the only signs that the
Spanlards still stuck to their guns
At 3 o'clock In the morning all hands
were called on the Iowa. few final
touches in clearing ship were made and
at general quarters" sounded. The
men were eager for the fight. The tug
Wampatuck went ahead and anchored
her small boat TO the westward, showing
10 fathoms, but there was not a sign OF
life from the fort, which stood boldly
against the sky on the eastern hills. hid
ing the town. The Detroit steamed far
TO the eastward. opposite valtern. The
Iowa headed straight for the shore.
Suddenly her helm few over, bringing
the starboard battery 10 bear on the
Notifications. At 5:ls a. IN the Iowa's
forward 12-inch guns thundered out at
the sleeping hills. and for IA minutes
she poured starboard broadsides on 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 Wampatuck's boat, and
again led the column, the forts replying
fiercely and concentrating on the De-
troit. which was about 700 yards away,
all the batteries on the eastward arm
Of the harbor. Thrice the column passed
from the entrance OF the harbor TO the
extreme eastward battery. Utter in
difference was shown for the enemy's
fire. The wounded were quickly at
tended to; the blood was washed away.
and everything proceeded like target
practice.
At 7:45 a. m. Admiral Sampson sig
nailed Cease firing" Retire" was
sounded on the Iowa. and she headed
from the shore. The Terror was the last
ship I'm the line and, failing to see the
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 exploded shells:
but she possessed a charmed life and
reluctantly retired atS:i5.
As at Matanzas. the unsatlsfactory
conditions. the smoke and the distance
prevented important conclusions being
drawn. The town OF San Juan must
have suffered, although projected b. the
hills, as the high shofs must have
reached II. No traces OF the lombard
ment were discernlble on the fort ex-
cept small fires which were apparently
extlnguished before the feet lef,.