The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-08-13
STOOD THEIR GROUND
Small Garrison Defends Captured
Cape San Juan Lighthouse.
Attacked by Mig Force OF spnniards
-warships Come 40 Their Aid
Enemy Driven on with
Heavy Loss.

Chicago, Aug. 1.-THE Records spe-
cial from its war correspondent, OH
San Juan, says:
A force Of 500 Spanish soldiers made
a desperate attempt TO retake the
lighthouse on Cape San Juan early
Tuesday morning. They were re-
pulsed by heavy fire from American.
warships and by gallant charge OF
sailors fighting on shore. The Spanish
loss In killed and wounded was very
heavy. After the Americans gained
possession of the lighthouse recently
Il was garrisoned by 40 sailors from
the monitor Amphitrite. This force
was commanded by Lieut.. Atwater.
Fierce Night Attack.
The attack by the Spaniards was
begun shortly after midnight Tuesday
morning They advanced from Rio
Grande and Luquillo along the road
leading from the city of San Juan, re-
taking Fajardo and hauling down the
American flag, which had been flying
over that town for several days. Then
the spaniards moved rapidly along the
coast road toward the right. On APP
preaching Cape San Juan lighthouse
they opened on our men with Mausers
and a machine gun. The American
sailors responded with steady volleys
from their carbines. but the Spaniards
continued TO advance in overwhelming
numbers, evidently intending 10 carry
the lighthouse by storm
warshIps Take Part.
Before the Spaniards. however, could
cover the distance, the cruiser Gin
cinnati. which lay near shore, was
sweeping the invaded coast with her
searchlights and had opened on the
enemy with her five-inch rapidfiring
guns. These quickly stopped the Span
fish advance. The Amphitrite also be-
gan 10 hunt for Spaniards with her
searchlights and TO throw among them
shots from her six-pounders. The lit
tie tug Leyden ran in close 10 shore.
and her one-pounders joined in the bat
tie. The firing continued for two
hours, the Spanish troops shielding
themselves as best they could from the
deadly hail coming from the warships.
The little garrison in the lighthouse
kept it's carbincs busy. but IL was too
weak for sortie against the skulking
enemy.
Al last. however, $50 sailors were
landed from the three American war
vessels, and they soon smoked out the
Spaniards, so that by daybreak the enc
my was retreating With shots flying
about their ears and the yelling iaclSies
swarming after them they were sent
whirling down the coast road once
more, past Faiardo and on toward Luz
.quillo. That ended the battle.
spaniards suffer Heavy Loss.
The battle of Cape San Juan was dis
astrous for the Spaniards. One hun
dred dead bodies were strewn along
the shore where the enemy had fought
and then retreated. In the final rout
they left behind them the machine
gun and many rifles and ammunition
boxes, which were thrown away while
the Spaniards were running for their
lives. Not one American was killed
but Cadet William III. Boardman. OF
Lawrence, Mass was so badly wound.
ed that he will die. IL was deemed
prudent 90 withdraw the garrison
from the lighthouse, but IL still flies
the American flag and is guarded from
Spanish attacks by the guns of the
Amphitrite.