Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1898 — SAN JUAN IS SHELLED. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]
SAN JUAN IS SHELLED.
Sampson’s Shots Soon Reduce Spanish Batteries. PORTO RICAN CAPITAL FALLS Antiquated Morro Fort Quickly Leveled to a Heap of Ruins. GOOD WORK OF OUR GUNNERS ' ,■ 4. 4 ~~ ~~ ft*. ■ 4 Americans Force Capitulation, wftb the Loss of but One Sailor.
Beat of Spanish Power in Porto Rico Attacked by Onr Hije Warships Huge Onna of the lowa Fire First Shots—Terrific Cannonade Follows* in Which the Land Defenders Suffer Great Damage and Loss of Life—lnhabitants of the Stricken Town apd Foreign Consuls Flee in Terror front the City to the Open Country. Washington special: Admiral Sampson and tlic fleet of American warships that followed the cruiser New York from the Havana blockade have contributed a nfcw chapter to the glorious naval history of the United States. San Juan de I’orto Rico has gone
down undor the destructive and deadly tire of the great guns of the battleships lowa and Indiana, monitors Amphitrite and Puritan and the cruisers New York, Montgomery and Detroit. Admiral Sampson says in his official report to the Secretary of the Navy that one man was killed on bonrd the New York and seven slightly wounded in the squadron. No serious damage to any ships resulted. The ancient walls and fortifications of the city that was founded nearly 400 years, ago by Ponce de Leon crumbled before the matchless gunnery of the American bluejackets as if they hpd been constructed of paper, and their defenders were either killed or wounded by the 1,000-pound shells from the thirteen-inch guns of the monitors and Imttleships. Great breaches were shot through the walls overhanging the bay, and the monitors by working close to these were enabled to send their terrible broadsides right through the city itself. The fighting began right after sunrise Thursday morning.
When the sentries in the ornamental boxes that adorn the sea wall of the town got their first glimpse of the sea their hearts must have jumped itito their mouths, for there before their «yes, steaming defiantly and majestically past the old lighthouse toward the mouth of the harbor, were the eight floating engines of war, for whose coming they had looked through weary nnd anxious night vigils. The lowa, with hel biggest guns protruding from her forward turret, and eager, impatient bluejackets gathered behind the breeches, waiting for the signal to shoot, led the way. The ships glided into the harbor one after another, moving as noiselessly as
Dewey ran the batteries of Corregidor when he stole upon'Montejo at Manila. Their decks were cleared for action, every gun was shotted and every man was at bis station. As they neared the mouth of-the bay Admiral Sampson's plan of battle began to be apparently the dazed and seemingly paralysed Spaniards. The lowa swung to port, beading directly for the old-fash-ioned circular castle that has been known as the Morro of San Juan. The Indiana followed in her wake at a distance of •bout 300 yards. The New York went to Starboard, followed by the monitors Amphitrite and Puritan, The Detroit followed the admiral, and the Montgomery went with the battleships in the direction of the castle." Presently the flags that conveyed the words, “Remember she Maine,” the shibboleth of revenge to every man who sails under the Stars and Stripes, were snapping from the masthead of the flagship New York. k Scarcely had they keen ru»«p, and their Import comprehended by the eager American sailors when “Fighting Bob” Evans replied to.their command by banging away
at the old castle with one of the lowa’s twelve-lneh guns. He did not wait for the specific signal to commence firing. “Remember the*Maine” -was devised to remind the sean*n of tljp treacherous mtrrder 0f’266 of their fellows in Havana, and i|wa# enough to precipitate the bombardment of San Juan de Porto Rico. Therlowa’s shell struck fair and plump, and a section of the castle, nearly as big as the 'Bide of a gunlioat crumbled as if the ground had sunk under it. The Indiana cut loose one of her cannon at the same mark, and before the effect of the shot could be seen the lowa had swung broadside to the fortification and emptied every gun oil her starboard side. The shore guns began to reply. Half a dozen of them were fired at the same time from the turrets of the castle, but the men on the battleships were not sure whether they were aimed at themselves or the Ykle, three miles away. The Spaniards were poor marksmen, and Admiral Sampson was not long in discovering this fact. He moved the New York to closer quarters. Her eight and six-inch guns, firpd almost with the rapidity of Maxims, were goon pumping shot nnd shell into the fortifications with deadly accuracy and execution. The other cruisers followed the example of the flagship, raking the entire sea wall from end to end. The monitors began creeping closer and closer to the wall. The Puritan got within 800 yards o£ the castle, and at that range her big gnus poumled one hole after another until Nthe ancient defense looked as if it would fall of its own weight. The Amphitrite did similar service at the other £ud. The lowa and Indiana concentrated their fire on the castle until its defenders were forced out and its guns silenced. At times for a period of five, and even ten, minutes smoke hung in such dense clouds that the Spaniards could not see the ships, nor could the Americans see the fortifications. The gunners on the ships did not need the walls before their eyes to continue the execution which was begun with the first shot. They had the range of the wall. That was enough for them, and their shells, shrapnel and solid shot sw'ept one position after another, destroyed guns, exploded ammunition, crumbled bastions and killed Spaniards just as if their targets were In plain sight. It is to the credit of the Spaniards who defended San Juan that they put up a gallant and even dogged resistance. They stuck to their guns until they were destroyed or disabled, and if their aim was
bad their courage was magnificent. They were frightfully handicapped by the masonry that was thrown up at every discharge of an American shell. The inhabitants of San Junn'iled in terror as soon as they heard the first discharges of the guns of the lowa and Indiana. The foreign consuls followed the refugees into the country, and the volunteers fled. Location of Ban Juan. San Juan is 1,000 miles ,due southeast from Havana, 500 miles from Cape Maisi, the eastern tip of Cuba, and only 1,600 miles from New York. The nearest port is St:. Thomas, distant only sixty-nine miles. The city of San Juan is situated on an island in the bay and is connected with the main island by a bridge and Causeway of ancient military construction. It is inclosed by a heavy wall of stone that is from fifty to one hundred feet high in places. The harbor is one of the finest in the world. It offers a safe anchorage to vessels of all sizes. Next to Cuba Porto Rico is the richest and most desirable of Spain*!!.possessions, It possesses an ideal climate anil vast resources. Its population Is nearly 800,000, 90 per cent of whom are negroes and mulattoes. , The reduction and occupation of Porto Rico were determined on just ns soon as the news of Dewey’s victory came from Manila. The port of San Juan was the only harbpr where a Spanish fleet coming to this side of the Atlantic for a fight could take refuge. Its capture leaves them to the mercy of the open sea and the American squadrons.. 1 Only seven shots were fired frbm the guns of the American fleet before Morro fort was a crumbling ruin. Her guns were silent and her gunners killed or in flight. Then the attack on the land batteries began and the fortifications about the Government buildings and the palace were assailed. The cruisers did effective service here and soon the postofllce and Jhe governor’s palace were tumbled about the heads of the officials, the guns dismounted or abandoned. The town surrendered at" 6 o’clock in the evening; The battleship lowa fired 230 shots; the cruiser Detroit fired ISO. During the last half of the bombardment the warships’ guns did terrible execution. Gen/Schofield, president of the National Volunteer Reserves, says that organization is assuming immense proportions.
AID FOH DEWEY.
Cruiser Charleston la Ordered to the Philippines. The Navy I>epurtment ordered the cruiser Charleston, at San Francisco, to proceed at once to Manila without waiting for the City of Pekin. The Charleston is loaded with ammunition for Admiral Dewey’s squadron. It was considered advisable to get this ammunition to Dewey as soon as possible that he may be prepared for any emergency. The campaign in the Philippines is to be carried forward at the same time with the campaign in Culm and Porto Rico. Troops are to be sent to Manila as soon as they can go on board the City of Pekin. The purpose is to send enough troops to Manila to take possession and hold it. This
Government will be responsible for order and peace in Manila. If 12,000 are not enough another 12,000 will be sent. Orders were issued by Major directing that ail of the troops frhm fee six States west of the Mississippi river, which had been intended for mobilization at Chickamauga national park and at Washington, D. C., proceed as soon a 9 possible to San Francisco. Major Gen. Wesley Merritt, commanding the Department qf the East, goes to the Philippine Islands in charge of the expedition sent to re-en-force Admiral Dewey. He is accompanied by Gen. Otis. In the event of suc-
cessful occupation of the islands, Gen. Merritt will be made the military governor. STARVATION REIGNS IN HAVANA. Prices for Food Rival Those that Obtain in the Klondike, The city of Havana is a sad sight. There are still a few of the reconcentrados almut the streets now, but starvation has ended the misery of most of them, and their bones have been thrown into the trenches outside of the city. Starvation now faces the Spanish citizens themselves. Havana is a graveyard. Twothirds of the inhabitants have fled. The prices rival those of Klondike. Beefsteak is $1 a pound. Chickens are $1 each. Flour is SSO a barrel. Everything Is being confiscated for Blanco’s army. Sleek, well-fed persons are daUy threatened with death to make them divulge the whereabouts of their hidden stores of provisions. Several provision stores in the side streets have been broken into and looted. „ Blanco has personally taken command of Mariena battery, nnd is directing the erection of new sand batteries ail along the water front west of the entrance to Havana' bay. Lieut. Gen. Perrado is making Guanabacoa his headquarters, nnA is planting new batteries and strengthening the fortifications as much as pofaible. Over 300 draymen are engaged in the hauling of sand from the mouth of Almandrea for use in the coo-
struction of the earthworks along th« const. The streets are riotous with halfdrunken Spanish volunteers crying foi American and Cuban blood. At night ths city is wrapped in darkness, all gas and electric lights being shut off by order ol Blanco. Spanish soldiers are taking advantage of this to commit shocking outrages upon unprotected Cuban families. In spite of direful circumstances Blanco ordered the decoration of the city, hoping to incite the patriotism of the populace. ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND HEADY. This Number of United States Troops Available for Armies of Occupation. On Saturday the War Department reported that there had been mustered into the service of the United States 75,000 volunteers. With the 25,000 regulars now in the field, this gives an arailnble force of 100,000 ready for service. Constant additions will be made until the entire force of 125.000 volunteers and 70,000 regulars is ready. This .will enable the administration to send nrmies of occupation wherever needed and to maintain sufficient reserves for coast defenses. Every energy has been put forth by the War Department to get in motion the army of occupation for Cuba. Haste is necessary in this instance so that the department may next get in readiness the second expedition for the Philippines. After that will come the army of occupation for Porto Rico. Because of the large number of Spanish troops in Porto Rico it is very probable that at least 15,000 men will be sent in the first division and even a larger number may be necessary to hold the island. - x. ... RIOT IN MILAN. Tbree Hundred Persons Reported Killed and a Thousand Wounded.; Sunday was a terrible day for Milan, Italy. The bread riots are increasing in violence, and in many cases the troops are powerless to repress the uprising. About 1 o’clock itable battle occurred in the Via Somtrarie. Thousands of tiles nnd chimneys were hurled from the roofs upon the troops, who were compelled to retire. A similar fight took place in the Via Tarino, and it is believed that no fe\yer than 300 werg killed and I,OGG injured. Eight thousand troops are quartered in the city. The law courts, schools and public offices are closed and guarded by artillery. The mobs are well organized. They marched in columns from the different city gates and converged upon the center of the town. The troops, horse, foot and artillery, bivouacked in the Piazzo del Duonjo, and troops were pouring into the city throughout the night. Twenty-five of the sixty-nine provinces of Italy are now under martial law.
MAS9ACREB IN MANILA. Oppressed Natives Seek Revenge on Spanish Masters, According to Shanghai advices, massacres are reported to' have occurred outside of Manila, the insurgents butchering even the Spanish women and children. It is reported that Admiral Montejo, the commander of the Spanish fleet, who escaped from Cavite by running along the shore to Manila with his two sons, was killed by the populace of the latter place. It is added that the Hospital of San Roque, filled with Spanish soldiers, was accidentally set on fire by shells from the Boston, and that Sisters of Charity were killed by a native mob while removing the wounded.
Spanish Warship Rnnk. A cablegram from Hong Kong, based on reports made by,officers of a trading vessel that came from the Philippines, tells of a fierce battle off Iloilo between a Spanish gunboat and the United States gunboat Concord. The Spanish boat was blown up and sank with colors flying. It was assisted by land batteries, but no damage was done to the Concord or her crew. It is stated that there are only two Spanish vessels remaining in Asiatic, waters. One is now in dry dock at Hong Kong, and, of course, will not be permitted to leave. The cruiser Boston is reported to lie searching for the other with orders to capture or destroy it
Ansrustin Saya 018 Are Killed. An official dispatch received at Madrid from Gen. Augustin, governor general of the Philippines, by way of Laban, Borneo, says: “The enemy seized Cavite and the arsenal, owing to the destruction of the Spanish squadron, and established a close blockade. A thousand sailors arrived here yesterday evening from our destroyed squadron, the losses of which numbei 618.”
REAR ADMIRAL W. T. SAMPSON.
FORTIFICATION AT SAN JUAN.
MAP SHOWING PORTO RICO AND NEIGHBORING WATERS.
U. S. TROOPS AT TAMPA EMBARKING FOR CUBA