The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-19
SAN JUAN BOMBARDMENT
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE
SHELLING OF ITS FORTS

Terror's Duel With MORO Castle
the Most Exciting Event of the
Battle--The Dead and Wounded.
KEY WEST, Fla, May 1S.-The
Dauntless. dispatch boat, arrived here
this morning, and brought the first de-
tailed account of the bombardment of
San Juan de Porto Rico, by a portion
of the fleet under command of Admiral
Sampson. on May 70, last.
The American Warships sustained
trivial injury, and lost but one man
killed.
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
1T 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 We're killed, but this is not
thought likely, as the bombardment
the school children probably were not
in the building at the time
PLANS WE'RE MISLEADING.
The plans of the Notifications fur
nfshed to the fleet were very mislead-
ing. 1t was known that the Spanish
forts had recently been strengthened
with new guns, but other facts de-
veloped which showed miscaIculation
by those who drew the plans. The
refugees in ST. Thomas told the corre-
spondents who touched there after the
engagement that the Spanish thought
the forts at San Juan were Stronger
than those at Havana
The United States fleet left Key West
ny1 Tow 70 s.,,to
the Spanish fleet, which had left the
Cape Verde islands. This was the only
information the United States navy de-
partment and Admiral Sampson had on
the subject.
Our warships proceeded slowly east
ward, and, on May 8, were off Cape
Haytien. Attempts were made there
to obtain information regarding the
whereabouts of the Spaniards, but no
definite knowledge was obtained. Early
in the morning Of May Il, Read Adj
miral SIMPSONS ships approached San
Juan. the American consul at Cape
Hayden having informed the admiral
he had heard a report that thirteen
Spanish warships had been seen head
ing for Porto Rico.
The city of Sam JUAN is situated in
long, narrow pocket. A tongue of
high land separates it from the ocean.
defended, and the same can be said
of the headlands Of lofty Cabras ISL
and, which lies in the throat Of the
passage. Those headlands have been
fortified by the Spaniards, but they did
not prove in any way dangerous to our
warships. The town of San Juan Is on
one side Of the bay and in the rear of
the town rise high hills To reach the
city ships must pass the Moro castle
Notifications, and the battery of San
Carlos, situated on a promontory at
the east entrance of the harbor. Be-
sides, they must pass the Cannelo bat
terry on Cabras island.
PLACING THE SHIPS.
The attack on the forts was planned
so that our warships could be in a
position to meet the Spanish vessels
should they emerge from the harbor.
The fleet assembled off San Juan
about 3 o'clock on Thursday last and
prepared for battle, stripping the decks
and getting the guns. ammunition and
appliances for handling the wounded
ready.
Admiral Sampson had transferred his
flag to the Iowa, and the attack on
the forts began at 5:15, and lasted three
hours
Although it was known at San Juan
Spaniards apparently kept no lookout
The soldiers in the forts and the peo-
pie in the town were fast asleep when
our Warships approached. 1t was not
yet broad daylight. and the coast of
the island was yelled in unusual haze
A large range of broken hills came
almost down to the ocean, and further
the sky, rose a tall range of noun
tains. Overhead the sky was deep
blue, but nearer the horizon We're great
masses Of cotton-looking clouds. A
ten-knot easterly breeze was blowing,
and long, heavy swell gave a grace
full motion to the sea. The plans of
the admiral were thoroughly carried
out. The fleet steamed majestically
into the harbor, and, in due course or
time, opened a tremendous fire upon
the Notifications.
Three times the warships made the
circuit outlined in the official plan. The
forts withstood the first round, but the
Montgomery, from her station near
Canuelo fort, wrought complete de-
the Montgomery could see the occu-
pants of the fort jumping over the
walls and running away.
The Detroit, which went nearest to
MORO, had to train her guns to high
angle. Her shots, directed to the north
side of MORO, cut deep burrows in the
face Of the Notifications.
WITH DEADLY ACCURACY.
The Iowa, leading the fleet, delivered
her deadly missiles with great accu-
racy upon Morro's northern wall, the
rest of the fleet in order, first on MORO
and then on San Carlos, according to
position.
On the second round, the Spanish
gunners were thoroughly awakened,
and stood by their guns bravely, keep
ing up a furious but aimless fire. From
their fine foundation and high eleva-
ton. they had a splendid opportunity
to cripple our feet, but they seemed
to fire regardless to aim.
From the Associated Press dispatch
boat we could see the American shells
bursting among the troops of the gar
rison, raising clouds of dust and caus-
ing fires to break out.
1t was hoped the Spanish fleet would
emerge from the harbor as soon as the
firing begun, and a feeling of deep dis
appointment spread through the fleet
when the scouts reported that the har-
Dor was clear.
At the end Of the third round the
Terror failed to understand the order
to withdraw, and engaged Moro cas-
tie alone for an hour.
AS seen from the Associated Press
dispatch boat, which occupied a grand
stand position, the squatty little meni-
tor, in tackling the towering fort, was
making a magnificent display of dar-
ing. The Terror moved In as If in
tending to ram the forts, and the Span
ic1,