The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-05-19
ANOTHER BIG BATTLE WON
Admiral SIMPSONS Fleet Of Nine
Ships BOmbard San Juan.
FIGHT LASTED THREE HOURS
The Spanish Cape Verde Fleet Being Closely
Watched BY American Ships-TrOops
Are Preparing to Sail
for Manila.
FIGHT LASTED THREE HOURS

| Word came to hand Friday announc-
iug the bombardment of San Juan by
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet. Nine war
ships were in the engagement, which be-
gan at sunrise and lasted three hours
At 3 O'Clock in the morning all hands
were called up on the Iowa, few final
touches in clearing ship were made, and
at o'clock general quarters" sounded
The men were eager for the fight. The
ting Waumpautuck went ahead and an
showing 10 fathoms, but there was not a
sign OF life from the forts, which stood
boldly against the sky on the eastern
hill. The Detroit steamed fast to the
eastward, opposite Naltern. The Iowa
headed straight for the shore. Suddenly
her helm flew over, bringing the star
board battery to bear on the Notifications
At > l6 n. M. the Iowa's Finch guns
thunderel out at the sleeping hills, and
for IA minutes she poured starboard
broadside on the coast.
Mesnw bile, the Indiana, the New York
and other ships repeated the dose from
the rear The Iowa turned and came back
to the Waumpautuck's boat, and again
led the column. the fort replying tiercey,
about 700 yards away.
! Utter indifference Was shown for the
enemy's fire. The wounded we're quick
ly attended to, the blood WAS washed
away, and everything proceeded like tar
get practice.
At Z 40 a. m. Admiral Sampson sig
nailed cease firing" Return" was
sounded on the Iowa, and she headed
from the shore. The Terror was the last
ship in the line, and, failing to see the
signal, she banged away alone for about
half an hour, the concert OF shore guns
roaring at her and the water flying high
around her from the exploding shells.
But she possessed a charmed life, and
reluctantly retired at S:l5
As at Mstanzas, the unsatisfactory con-
ditions, the smoke and the distance, pre-
vented any important conclusions being
drawn. The town of San Juan must have
suffered. Although somewhat protected
by the hills, the high shots must have
reached it. No traces of the bonn bard.
ment were discernible on the forts, except
small fires, which were apparently eX-
| tinguished before the fleet left.
Two men were killed and seven
wounded on the American side. The
Spanish loss WAS heavy
Fleet Movements.
The Spanish Cape Verde fleet at the
present writing is in the neighborhood of
the West Indies and is presumed to be
planning the capture of the Oregon or an
attempt to break the blockade of Havana
or Cardenss. The North Atlantic squad
ron and the flying squadron are in the
same neighborhood ready to meet either
OF these moves.
Troops for Manila.
Very active preparations are being
made to dispatch troops from San Fran.
cisco to the Philippines, and the number
to go is variously estimated at from II, 900
to 10000. 1t was expected the first de-
tachment would get away during the
present week, but this now seems hardly
| probable. The large number of troops
that will probably be needed IN the Phil
/ ippines and in Cuba will reduce the home
force to such an extent that it is an
nounced the president will make call
for another 100000 volunteers.
/ Two battalions of the first Washington
volunteers have lett for San Francisco
Yakima's Company + being in the first,
but the third battalion still remains at
Camp Rogers.