Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-05-09

The American squadron, which had
been led into the bay and through the
channel by the flagship Olympia, did
not reply, though the shells of the
Spaniards began to strike the water
around them, but moved majestically
onward When nearing Baker bay
sudden upheaval of water a short dis
lance ahead of the Olympia showed that
the Spaniards had exploded a mine or a
torpedo. This was followed by a second
and similar explosion. They were both
utterly unsuccessful.
The American fleet was then drawing
nearer and nearer to the Spaniards,
whose gunnery was very poor. The
American fleet entered the bay in the
following order: The flagship Olympia,
the Baltimore, the Raleigh, Concord,
Boston, Petrol and McCulloch, with the
two store ships, the Nanshan and Ia
fro, bringing up the rear.
Though the Spaniards had opened fire
at 5000 yards the Americans reserved
their fire until within 1000 yards of the
enemy, when the real battle began.
The Reina Christina, Castillo, Don
Antonio de Ulloa, Isla de Cuba, Isla de
Luzon and the Mindanao were in line
of battle outside of Cavite at tina time
with four gunboats and the torped )boats
inside the harbor.
The American ships then passed back
ward and forward six times across the
front of the Spanish yards pouring upon
the latter a perfect hail Of shot and
shell. Every American shot seemed to
tell, while almost every Spanish shot
missed the mark. After having thus
scattered death and Generalization
among the Spanish fleet and in the
Spanish batteries the American feet re-
tired for breakfast and, incidentally, a
council of war was held on board the
Olympia.
By this time the Spanish ships were
i'll desperate condition. The flagship
Reina Christina was riddled with shot
and shell, one of her steam pipes had
burst and she was believed to be on fire.
The Castillo was certainly on fire, and
soon afterwards their condition became
worse and worse, until they were
eventually burned to the waters edge
During the engagement Spanish
torpedoboat crept along the shore and
round the offing in an attempt to at
tack the American storeships, but she
was promptly discovered, was driven
ashore and was actually shot to pieces.
The Mindanao had in the meanwhile
been run ashore to save her from sink
ing, and the Spanish small craft had
sought shelter from the steel storm be-
hind the breakwater.
The battle was resumed about noon,
when Commodore Dewey started in to
put the finishing touches on his glori-
GUS work. There was not much fight
left III the Spaniards and, at p. m,
the Petrol had shot the Cavite batteries
into silence, leaving them heaps of ruin
and floating the white flag.
The Spanish gunboats were then scut-
tied, the arsenal was on fire and the ex-
plosion of a Spanish magazine caused
further mortality among the defenders
of Spain on shore.
On the water the burning, sunken or
destroyed Spanish vessels could be seen,
while only the cruiser Baltimore had
suffered in any way from the fire of the
enemy. A shot which struck her ex-
ploded some ammunition near one of
her guns and slightly injured half
dozen of the crew.
Several shots passed dangerously
close to Commodore Dewey, but little
damage was done on board the flagship.
On the other hand about 100 men are
said to have been killed on board the
Spanish ship. which was totally de-
stroyed. Admiral Montejo, the Spanish
commander transferred his flag to the
Isla de Cuba when his ship caught fire,
but the latter was destroyed also in due
course of time. The Reina Christina
lost her captain, a Ieutent, her chap
lain and a midshiplnan by one shot
which struck her bridge
About 100 men were killed and 60
wounded ON board the Castillo. In
deed some estimate the number of
Spanish wounded during the engage
ment at over 1000 men.
Even when the Spanish flagship was
shot half away her commander, though
wounded, refused to leave the bridge
till the ship was burning and sinking,
her stern shattered by a common shell
and her steam pipe burst.
After it was over Admiral Dewey
sent an ultlmatum to the city battery,
ordering it to cease firing or he would
lombard.
On a proposal to the existing authori-
ties to continue temporarily under the
American flag, pending the termination
of the war, the Spaniards delayed their
decision and kept wiring TO Madrid
The Americans requested the privilege
of using the wire, and when it was re-
fused they cut the cable.
There are still two or three Spanish
gunboats about the Philippines, but no
resistance from them is probable. One
recently captured an American bark.
Commodore Dewey is now in full pos
session of the entrance to the harbor of
Manila and maintaining close block
ade of the port while awaiting orders