The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-15


on the bridge and narrowly escaped the
flying fragments. In all the Iowa was nit
nine times.
Later a shell burst on the New York. kill
ing one man. injuring another severely and
several slightly.
At o'clock the day had become furious
ly hot, SO that men were fainting below
the decks, and at the guns the gunners
were streaming sweat as no man ever
sweats, even in the hot room of Turkish
bath. One man, gunner's mate. on the
Amphitrlte, was overcome and died In a
few hours But the battle went on. The
fleet was steaming across the fortified
front of the island, for the third time. The
fire from the ships was undated, but
many Of the Spanish guns were silenced
and while the shower of shells seemed as
thick as ever. the thinner cloud Of smoke,
tho leaping flames from burning houses
close to the shore, but behind the FORTH
cations, made the Americans know their
work was not as vain as the frenzied firing
Of the Spaniards.
In the old part of the town Of San Juan,
adjoining the Notifications, whole blocks
were blazing. The swelling made 1t diff
cult for the Americans to confine their
fire to the batteries. Many of the shells
flew over and burst among ancient build
ing from which the population had fed at
dawn. So fierce was the American fire
that had the intention been to lombard the
residence part of San Juan, the damage
could hardly have been greater. The
lighthouses were demolished soon after
the firing began. Later on, the houses
In Ballaja Square, in St. Christopher
street, In San Jose street and in San Sebas-
tan street, were in flames. The st. Cathe-
rine Institute. an ancient palace, the Or
phan Asylum, and the old churches. were
burned or almost demolished.
The American officers, through their
glasses, could see the Spaniards at work
in many places where the Notifications
had been blown down.
The Spaniards seemed drunk with fury.
they loaded and fired like mad men, with
out aiming, without any appearance of
discipline or direction. At times their
crazed condition led them to many absurd
acts, such as drawing swords, shaking fists
and discharging pistols at the American
line, which was barely within their guns
Of longest range.
Toward 8 o'clock the heat became abso-
lutely unbearabie on the American ships.
1t became evident that the Spanish forts
could not be silenced short of another
hours work. Men on the American ships
were dropping on all sides, not from Span
ish shots, but from the accurate and ter
rifle bombardment under the tropical sun.
After consultation Admiral Sampson
signaled cease firing" and turned away
westward. The other ships slowly fol-
lowed, all except the monitor Terror. She
did not or would not see the signal of the
Admiral. She remained in her position, In
range of the unsilenced guns Of the Span
iards.
For half an hour she kept roaring away
at the forts and entertainments with an al
most incessant fire from her ten-inch guns.
The Spaniards concentrated upon her. But
her audacity seemed to infuriate them be-
yond even attempts at craftsmanship.
Many Of the shells struck the sea mile
and half from her. Only few came
anywhere in her neighborhood. Still fewer
struck her low-lying deck, and these
glanced away as harmlessly as ea-shoot-
err slugs from the shell of turtle.
The Terrors guns are noisy. but their
roars were drowned in the tempestuous
booming of the Spanish batteries. Before
she steamed reluctantly away she had the
satisfaction of noting that she had made
many a deep wound in the Spanish line
and silenced several guns that might have
made trouble later on.
The fleet steamed to the westward about
twenty miles and then stopped to remove
the CRIME of battle and to rest and refresh
the weary but happy sailors.
The Spaniards evidently got the idea
that the departure was retreat and that
the Americans had been driven off. So thcy
sent out dispatches about great Spanish
victory, just as they did at Manila when
Dewey steamed away to rest and get break
fast. While the fleet was at anchor twenty
miles from San Juan, a German steamer
the Bolivia, came by. She was on her way
to st. Thomas. Admiral Sampson decided
that it would be best to find out more
about her and sent the Montgomery in
pursuit. She was presently overhauled and
while she steamed along Lieutenant Field
went aboard, examined her papers and
looked over her passengers to make sure
that she was not going to call at San
Juan on her way.
AS the Montgomery started back, having
gone nearly to San Juan, she espied the
Spanish cruiser Isabella an almost
useless old warship, crawling out of San
Juan harbor and sneaking along inshore,
evidently going to see what had become of
the American fleet, and whether 1t was
flying. as the Spanish wished to think, or
was only preparing anew to complete the
ruin of San Juan.
When the Isabella saw the Montgomery
she put about hastily and went back home.
A French Visitor