The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-05-20
As the Frenehman Saw II.

de Genoailly arrived here this morn
ing from Porto Rico, bringing an in
teresting report of the bombardment
of San Juan de Porto Rico. She
reports that she was anchored in the
harbor when the American squadron
outside at daylight on
Thursday morning. The Iowa came
close in and the firing began imme'
diately.
Those on the French warship were
not positive as to who fired the first
shot, but the understanding that Adj
miral SIMPSONS orders to the war
ships were not to fire until they were
fired upon indicates that the artillery
men at the Moro castle must have
fired first.
The Iowa at once responded to the
shot, her missile striking the old cas-
tie squarely and knocking great
hole in the wall. 1t was then 5,15
o'clock. The rest of the squadron
began firing and the engagement be.
came general.
The Frenchman identified the Iowa
as the flagship of the American COM
mander. 1t was then observed that
the Indiana, Amphitrite and Terror
joined the New York and Iowa in
their maneuverng.
The boats accompanying the squad
ron were not seen In the engagement.
The American gunners were gener-
ally accurate in their firing, while the
craftsmanship of the Spaniards was
inferior.
Some of the American shells, how
ever, passed over the Notifications in.
to the city, where they did terrible
damage. They crashed straight
through rows of buildings and ex-
ploded, killing hundreds of citizens.
Another shell exploded within a
few hundred feet of the French war;
ship, but did no damage to the vessel.
The Notifications were irreparably
injured. Repeatedly masses of ma
sonry were blown skywards by the
shells from the Americans guns.
Fragments from one shell struck
the commandante's residence, which
was situated near the Notifications,
damaging it terriically.
The center of the Moro was al,
most blown away.
Shortly after s o'clock the squad
ron withdrew, with the exception of
one monitor, which remained firing
for fully twenty minutes afterward.
This was the Terror.
All the American warships seemed
to be practically uninjured, although
one of the Spanish shells struck one
of them. If the vessels were dam.
aged seriously it was not visible tC
the Flenchman.
The Admiral Rigault de Genoailly
sailed from San Juan early in the
afternoon of the day of the lombard
ment. She is coaling here this morn
ing. She did not sight the Ameri
cans after the battle.
The present whereabouts of the
American warships is unknown here
The Montgomery arrived this morn
ing and will take on board supplies o.
coal and water. She reports that shI
was engaged twice at San Juan, com
ing up to and passing the fortified
tons. Meanwhile all the ships ma
neuvered continually, the New York
Iowa, Indiana, Terror and Amphi
trite passing and repassing the forti
fications. The Montgomery sustain
ed no injury and none of her Gre,
was injured. She is unable to repor
the exact loss on the fleet, but be
lieves one man was killed on the Ne,
York and seven or eight wounded i
all the fleet.
The weather was foggy at the tim
of the engagement, and the smok
from the guns added to the difficult
of seeing where to aim. The Mont
gomery, except in her two passage
in the engagement, was unable to Sc
clearly.
The Montgomery's men report tho
there was no intention whatever q
ilrst OF attacking the fortlllcatlons
The Iowa was sent to the mouth c
the harbor to see if the Spanish squad
ron was inside. The Moro fired 0
her and the Iowa responded. AG
miral Sampson then ordered the flee
to join in the firing until the SPANS
guns were silenced.
Capt Converse of the Montgon
cry called shortly after his arriv;
9 upon Mr.. Van Horn, the America
, consul, and with him paid form;
visit this afternoon to the DAMS
governor here.
Mr.. Hanna, formerly the America
consul at San Juan, is here awaitin
e developments. 1t is impossible
secure information over the cable b,
cause of the censorship.
The Spanish consul here cable
early todav tn San Imam aekinu for