With Terror and several other naval vessels at their disposal, the Spanish decided to make an attempt at breaking the blockade.

Terror and the old cruiser Isabel II set off from San Juan to engage St. Paul while a crowd of jubilant locals at the harbor cheered them on.

Terror attempted to cover the cruiser's escape with a torpedo attack but was thwarted when fire from St. Paul put her rudder out of action.

The ship then turned, which allowed St. Paul to score direct hits near Terror's waterline.

The Americans had inflicted several casualties on the Spanish, put Terror out of action for the rest of the war, and maintained their blockade.