The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-05-25
SAN JUAN BOMBARDED.
AN EYE WITNESS GIVES AN INTER
ESTlNG DESCRIPTION.

crews and Osher Forts Damaged ana
Slepc d-Iwo ef Oar ships su't.sned
gr!vi Il Injuries.
The following details OF the BON
bardment of San Juan by Admiral
squadron has been brought
to Key West, Fla, by 8 dispatch bost.
Esrly in the morning of May II,
Rear Admiral Sampson's ships ap
preached San Juan, the American
consul at Cape Haitien having IN
formed the admiral of a areport that
thirteen Spanish war>hips had been
sent heading for Porto Rico.
The City cf San Juan is situated IN
8 long narrow pocket. a tongue OF
highland separates it from the ocean.
The entrance of the h2rb2r Is easily
defended, and the same csn &c sad
of the hesdlands OF lofty Cab IS Is
land, which lies in ths throat OF the
age. These headlands have been
fortified by the Spaniards, but they
did not prove in any way dangerous
to our warships. San Juan is On the
ocean side OF the bay aid n the
rear OF the town rise high hills. 10
reach the city ships Rus! pass the
MORO Castle fort;fcations and the
battery OF San Cirlos, situated on 9
promontory at the EIs! entrance OF
the harbor. Beside. they must pass
the Canuelo battery, on Ca5ras Island:
Tbs attack on the forts was planned
SO that our warships could be IN s
position to meet the Spsnisn vesse S
should they emerge from tas har52r.
ORDER OF ATTACK
Admiral Simpsons oroer c. attack
directed the Detroit and WamootucX
to move ahead and continue sounding
while the feet was near the shore.
TIE line OF oattlo was SIS follows: The
Iowa, (dagshiD, Irdiana, New YORK,
Am onlIrite aua Terror. The Mont,
somery was directed to remain in the
resr OF the column, stopping outside
O: the fire from Morro aud Oh the
lookou. for torpedo bo&t destroyers.
If Fort Canuelo fred, she was TO sii
ence it.
There were two objects o. attack,
the batteries on the Moro and the
Spanish feet, the principal point be
ing to destroy the ships. A sharp
watch vas to bs KEEP! for torpedo boa.
destroyers.
Although it was known q. Sln Juan
that the American fset wss near, the
Spsniards apparently kept no Lockout.
The soldiers in the forts and the peo,
pie IN the town were fast asleep when
our warships approached.
The plan of the admiral was thoc.
oughly carried cut.
"A TREMENDOUS FIRE
TIE fact steamed into the hsrbor
and opened tremendous fire oo the
forli6cstions. Three times the war
ships made the circuit outlined Il the
{ fl ,ial plan. The forts withstocd Inc
first round, but the Montgomery, from
her station near Fort Canuelo on
Cabras Island, wrought complete de,
strucuon. With glasses, the officers
of the Montgomery could s-e the &C
cupaats Of the fort jumping over tho
walls and running away.
The Detroit, winch went nearest to
the Moro, had to train her guns at q
high angle. Her shots, directed at the
North SIDE Of the Moro, cat deep fur
rows in the face OF the fortiications.
TIE iowa, leading the fleet, delivered
her deadly missiles with great accuracy
upon Morro's northern walls.
The rest of The feet fired in ord r,
first on Moro AMI then on San Car
los, according to position.
On the second round tho Spanish
gunners were thoroughly awakened
and stood by thejl guns oravely, Keep.
ing up fu.ious but almless FIRE.
From their Jrm foundation and high
elevation Ihey had a splendid oppoc-
tunity to cripple our feet, but the
Spanish gun seemed to fire regard
less cf am and as If oaly desirous Of
emptying their magazines.
From the Associated Press dispatch
boat We could see the American shells
fall among the forts and among the
troops OF the garrison, raising clouds
of dust and causing fires to break OUT.
II was hopsd the Spanish fact would
emerge from the harbor as soon as the
firing began, and feeling OF deep
disappointment spread through the
feet when the loOkouts reported the
harbor WAS clear.
THE TERRIBLE TERROR
At the end Of the third round the
monitor Terror failed to understand
the order 10 Withdraw and engaged
Morro Castle alone for half an hour.
As seen from the dispatch boat OF the
Assc c:at.d Press, winch occupied a
grandstand position, the sqlatty little
monitor, in lackling the towering fort,
making g magnificent display of oar.
ing. The Terror moved 10 as if in
tending to ram the forts, and tne Span
ish gunners evidently became greatly
exclled a! her behavior, for they hred
rapidly and without aim. Tne Terror
was not touched.
The scene was intensely interesting,
but il was not SO exciting as had been
expected The Spanish aim was SO
astoundingly bad that absolutely no
anxiety was felt tor Our ships. Ii
fact, when the Spanish forts hced vol
lsys which hid them in smoke, fol
10 wed few seconds later by the gay
ser Like spou!ing and splashing not
dangerously near the Terror, derlslge
cheers went up from the coIored ere Il
CT the dispatch boat Standing il her
oow. The neavy swellS somewhat al
fecled the aim Of the gunnerS CT the
Tsrror, for soma OF her shells struck
the sea in front Of the forts. Finally
the Terror seemingly grew tired, aud
withdrew, firing IS she steamed away.
Then the Spanlards became almost
frantic with excitement and b!sz ID
away a. the monitor until she vas
long out OF range.
DAMAGE TO THE SHIPS.
On boarG lne Iowa boat was struck
and caught fire, an exhaust pipe was
dented, Inc bridge railing was shatter'
Cd, and three men were slightly
wounded. All this was done oy in5
sI,I,t.-u h ell rhich etr,,ol- tha =, 80