The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-13

from the waters edge to where the
lighthouse stands at the top. Great
clouds of smoke and dust rose contlnu-
ally and when shots hit the rocks sparks
flew back several hundred feet into the
sea.
The rain came down heavily at 8. II.
and the smoke was SO thick that it was
to tell the effect of the shells
and general signal cease firing was
hoisted. By this time the enemy was al
most silenced.
A few minutes later. with more DELHI
eratlon, the attack was recommended.
Commodore Schley's division at this
Time, and until the end of the lombard
ment, could be seen family. WhlGe
clouds rising on the western arm of the
harbor was the only sign that there was
another attacking force besides the east
erly column.
The New York steamed still closer, I'M
til she was 1000 yards east OF the batteries
and tile from tbs shore In this posit-
ion most effective work was done, three
guns on the easterly battery being dis
mounted.
The naval reserves ON the Yankee
cheered vooiferously every few minutes
as shots were seen to land.
The officers on deck at this stage of the
engagement rugged out, in their ''sou
westers'' and oilskins. The admiral went
below. re-appearing in black oilskins and
tramped the forward bridge. Capt. Chad
wick was outside the coming tower, just
below the admiral. s9
IAN il incessant fire was kept up by the
easterly column, then using its starboard
batteries The guns and buildings adj
joining MORO received awful punish
ment. The Spanish flag on Moro Cas-
Tie was shot away, but another was quick
ly hoisted.
At 9.45, when there was no further re-
Spouse from the enemy, the New York
signalled cease firing" and steamed
away.
The Yankee was allowed to still bat
ter away at three guns to the eastward.
all that was left.
AS this New York passed the New Or
leans. Capt. Chadwick hailed her, on the
admiral's order, and shouted TO her
through the megaphone to join the Yam
kee and dismountt the three guns to the
right nj MORO castle.
Capt. Folger shouted back: "Aye,
aye, sir, we can do it. !"
The New Orleans crew gave An enthu-
siastic yell as they heard Capt. Folgers
reply, and following this up with three
ringing cheers for the New York The
fagship's crew gave it back with inter.
est.
Then the Oregon. which was close by,
cheered Justify. The New York's crew
did mot seem TO realize that the Oregon
had cheered them and did not reply.
Answer that cheer, shouted Capt,
Chadwick and such asgreat yell went up
from the New York. a.
The navy regulations forbid cheering;
but, regulations don't count for much
when the enemy's guns are silenced.
The New Orleans proceeded on her err
ioir ha i
banged away merrily at the silent guns.
The New York steamed across the
mouth of the harbor to the westerly col
umn.
One mortar battery inside the harbor,
which had not been seen before. sent one
or two shells in the direction of the flag
ship, but not dangerously close.
The Brooklyn, Texas, Massachusetts,
Marblehead and Vixen were still firing.
At 1921 (not 1.21 as previously cabled),
a. general signal. to cease firing was
hoisted, the smoke cleared away from
the sides of the ships and they resumed
their blockade stations.
One of tho officers Of the flagship was
heard to remark: others is nothing
more to fire at just now. We have sill.
enced their fire effectually, What destrue-
tion was done by. our shells it is ilnpossi-
BILE to tell. The defences of Santiago de
San Juan de Porto Rico. -
The bombardment was little more than
target practice.
The enemy apparently deserted their
guns soon after the firing commenced,
and had it not been that the Merrimac
heroes were understood to be in Moro
Castle there would now be little of that
picturesque pile.
The men behaved splendidly through
out.
Tho commandment of Santiago de Cuba
although perhaps more effective than the
bombardment of San Juan de Porto Rico
cannot be compared with the cannonading
of the latter. The work done this MORN
ing should make it easy for a land attack
by the troops.
AS at Matanzas and at San Juan. smoke
and the distance Juade it impossible to
tell the exact damage done by the shells.
The firing at times was short and wild,
due to these causes. fs8Y5.
a noon, while the Dolphin was lying
close into cove, a few miles east of
MORO Castle, she commenced firing on
the shore, apparently at some troops.
She kept this up for an hour or more.
The other ships lay quietly in their
usual positions and there was nothing to
indicate that heavy bonn hardment had
been in progress few hours before.
Later, the Dolphin signaled that she had
disabled a carload of soldiers and had
Knocked down blockhouse.