Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1898 — BATTLE WAS FIERCE [ARTICLE]

BATTLE WAS FIERCE

v Garrison of Cape San Juan Lighthouse Fights Nobly. DESPERATE ASSAULT BY SPANIARDS Marine* Stand Their Ground Until Aided by Wamlilp*—Foe Driven Back With Heavy Lou—No American* Killed. Chicago, Aug. 11.—The Record’s special from its war correspondent, off San Juan, says: A force of 800 Spanish soldiers made a desperate attempt to retake the lighthouse on Cape San Juan early Tuesday mohning. They were repulsed by a heavy fire from American warships and by a gallant charge of sailors fighting on shore. The Spanish loss in killed and wounded was very heavy. After the Americans gained possession of the lighthouse recently it was garrisoned by 40 sailors from the monitor Amphitrite. This force was commanded by Lieut. Atwater. Fleece Night Attack. The attack by the Spaniards was begun shortly after midnight Tuesday morning. They advanced from Rio Grande and Luquilio along the road leading from the city of San Juan, retaking Fajardo and hauling down the American flag, which had been flying over that town for several days. Then the Spaniards moved rapidly along the coast road toward the right. On approaching Cape San Juan lighthouse they opened on our men with Mausers and a machine gun. The American sailors responded with steady volleys from their carbines, but the Spaniards continued to advance in overwhelming numbers, evidently intending to carry the lighthouse by storm. Warship* Take Part. Before the Spaniards, however, could cover the distance, the cruiser Cincinnati, which lay near shore, was sweeping the invaded coast with her searchlights and had opened on the enemy with her five-inch rapid-firing guns. These quickly stopped the Spanish' advance. The Amphitrite also began to hunt for Spaniards with her searchlights and to throw among them shots from her six-pounders. The little tug Leyden ran in close to shpre, and her one-pounders joined in the battle. The firing continued for two hours, the Spanish troops shielding themselves as best they could from the deadly hail coining from the warships. The little garrison in the lighthouse kept its carbines busy, but it was too weak for a sortie against the skulking enemy. At last, however, 250 sailors were landed from the three American war vessels, and they soan smoked out the Spaniards, so that by daybreak the enemy was retreating. With shots flying n"bout their ears and the yelling jackies swarming after them they were sent whirling down the coast road once more, past Fajardo and on toward Luquilio. That ended the battle. Spaniard* Salter Heavy Lou. The battle of Cape San Juan was disastrous for the Spaniards. One hundred dead bodies were strewn along the shore where the enemy had fought and then retreated. In the final rout they left behind them the machine gun and many rifles and ammunition boxes, which were thrown away while the Spaniards were running for their live*. .Not one American was killed, but Cadet William H. Boardman, of Lawrence, Mass., was so badly wounded that he will die. It was deemed prudent to withdraw the garrison from the lighthouse, but it still flies the American flag and is guarded from Spanish attacks by the guns of the Amphitrite.