The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-05-19
DEWEY'S VICTORY.
Ills War Cry Was: Remember
the Maine"
THE SPANISH FLEET DESTROYED


Manila, Philippine Islands, (via
Eongkong). Not one Spanish nag flies
in Manila Bay. Not one Spanish war
ship floats, except as our prize.
More than 200 Spanish dead and
from 500 TO 700 wounded attest the
accuracy OF the American fire.
Commodore Dewey attacked the
Spanish position at Cavite. He swept
Ave times along the line and scored one
of the most brilliant successes in
modern warfare.
That our loss IL trifiing adds to the
pleasure Of the victory without detract-
ing from its value.
The number OF hits our vessels re-
ceived proved how brave and stubborn
was the defense made by the Spanish
forces
Miraculous as il may appear, none Of
our men were killed, and only eight
were wounded. Those who were
wounded suffered only slight injury
Commodore Dewey arrived of Manila
Bay and decided to enter the bay at
once. With all its lights out the
squadron steamed into Boca Grande,
with the crews at the guns. This
was the order Of the squadron. which
was kept during the whole time OF the
first battle:
The flagship Olympia, the Baltimore,
the Raleigh, the Petrol, the Concord,
the Boston.
II was just o'clock, bright moon
light night, but the flagship passed
Corregidor Island without a sign being
given that the Spaniards were aware of
its approach. Not until the flagship
was mile beyond Corregidor was a
gun fired. Then one heavy shot went
screaming over the Raleigh and Gym
pia, followed by second, which fell
farther astern.
The Raleigh, Concord and Boston re-
piled, the Concord's shells exploding,
apparently, exactly inside the shore
battery, which fired no more.
Our squadron slowed down TO barely
steerage way and the men were allowed
10 sleep alongside their guns.
Commodore Dewey had timed our
arrival 50 that we were within five
miles OF the city Of Manila at day
break. We then sighted the Spanish
squadron, Rear-Admiral Montejo COM
manding, off Cavite pronounced Ka-
veetay, with accent on ''vee"). Here
the Spaniards had we'll prepared
navy-yarJ, called Cavite arsenal.
Admiral Montejo's flag was flying on
the 3500-ton protected cruiser Riena
Cristina. The protected cruiser Cas-.
tilla, OF 5000 tons, was moored ahead,
and astern to the port and to seward
were the cruisers Don Juan de Austria,
Don Antonio de Ulloa Isla de Cuba,
lsla de Luzon Quiros, Marquis de Onero
and General Lezox. These ships and the
flagship remained under way during
most OF the action.
With the United States flag flying at
ali their mastheads, our ships moved
to attack in line ahead, with speed Of
eight knots, first passing in front Of
Manila, where the action was begun by
three batteries mounting guns powerful
enough to send shells over us at a dis
lance OF five miles.
The Concord $ guns doomed out a re.
ply to these batteries with two shots.
No more were fired, because Commo.
dore Dewey could not engage with these
batteries without sending death and
destruction into the crowded city.
As we neared Cavite two very power
full submarine mines were exploded
ahead of the flagship. This was at six
minutes past o'clock. The Spaniards
had evidently misjudged our position.
Immense volumes of water were thrown
high in the air, by these destroyers,
but no harm was done to our ships.
Commodore Dewey had fought with
Farragut at New Orleans and Mobile
Bay, where he had his first experience
with torpedoes. Not knowing how
many more mines there might be
ahead, he still kept on without falter.
ing. No other mines were exploded.
and it is believed that the Spaniads
had only these two in place.
Only few minutes later shore
battery at Cavite Point sent over the
flagship shot that nearly hit battery
in Manila, but soon the guns got better
range and shells began to strike near
us or to burst close aboard, from both
the shore batteries and the Spanish
vessels.
The men striped off all their cloth.
ing except their trousers.
As the Olympia drew nearer to the
Spanish fleet all was as silent on board
as II the ship had been empty, except
for the whirr Of the blowers and throb
OF engines. Suddenly shell burst
directly over us. From the boatswain,s
mate Of the after five-inch gun came
the hoarse cry, Remember the
Maine and the chorus arose from the
threats OF 500 men at the guns. This
watchword was caught up in the turrets
and firerooms, wherever seaman or
! fireman stood at his post.
Remember the Mainei' had rung
out for defiance and revenge.
Its utterances seemed unprecedented
but the thought was evidently in every
mans mind, and now that the moment
had come to make adequate reply ia
the murder Of the Names crew every
man shouted what was in his heart.
The Olympia was now ready to begin
the fight. Commodore Dewey, his chieI
Of staff Commander Lamberton, an aid
with Executive Officer Lieutenant
Reese and Navigator Lieutenant Cal
klns, who conned the ship most admir-.
ably, were on the forward bridge. Cap.
tain Gridley was in the coming tower,
as il was Thought unsafe TO risk losing
all the senior officers by one shell.
You may fire when ready, Gridley, .
said the commodore, and at n minutes