The Lamar register., 1898-05-14

1EcA gun IN tDA ltfWdlh tAFNt ftHttl
forth compliment TO the Spanish
forts.
Presently similar guns from the Bal
tiniore and tile Boston sent 250-pound
shells hurllng toward the Castillo and
the Reina Cristina for accuracy
The Spaninrtls seemed encouraged to
fire faster. knowing exactly our dis
tance. while we had 10 guess theirs
Their ship and shore guns were max
ing things hot for us. The piercing
scream of shot was varied often by
the bursting OF time fuse shells, frag-
ments OF which would lash the water
like schrapnel or cut our hull or rig
sinG.
Few shots were fired from our ship.
yet still the flagship steamed for the
center Of the Spanish lire. and as our
other ships We're aEtern, the Olympia
received most Of the Spanish attention.
Owing to our deep drauEht. Commo-
dore Dewey felt constrained to change
his course At q distance OF 4.0po yards
and run parallel TO the Spanish col
umn.
open with all guns, he said. and
the ship brought her port brOadside
bearing. The roar Of all the fiagship's
iive-inch rapid firing Euns was fol-
lowed by a deep dEapas0n OF her tuf-
ret eight-inrhers
Soon al our vessels were equally
hard at work and ". could see that
our shells were making Cavite harbor
hotter for the Spaniards than they
Ind made the approach for Us
Protected by their shore batteries
and made safe from close attack by
shallow water. the Spaniards were In
strong position. They put up n gal
-.
sailing back and forth behind the Cas-
tilln aud their flre. too. was hot.
One shot struck the Baltimore and
passed clean through her. fortunately
hitting no one. Another rlpped up her
main deck. disabled slN-inch gun and
exploded n box OF throe-pounder am
munition. wouniing eight men
The Olympic. was struck abreast the
gun In the ward room by shell.
which burst outside. doing little dam
age
The signal halyErds were cut from
Lieutenant Brumby's hand on the aft
er bridge A shell entered the Boston's
port quarter ana burst in Ensign Doi-
ridges staieroom, starting a hot fire.
and fire was also caused by shell
which burst In the port hammock net
ting Both these fires were quickly put
out.
After having made -four runs along
the Spanish line. finding the chart iu-
correct. Lieutenant CaikiEs. the olym-
pia's navigator. told the commodore
he believed he could take the ship
nearer TO the enemy with the lead go
ing TO watch the depth of wafer. The
flagship started over the course for
the fifth time, running within 2Op0
yards OF the Spanish vessels.
At this range even six-poundCFs were
effective. and the storm OF shells
poured upon the unfortunate Spanish
began to show marked results Three
of the enemy's vessels were seen
burning and their fire slackcued.
ON finishing this run Commodore
Dewey decided TO give the men break
fast. as they had been At the guns
two hours with only one cup Of coffee,
The vessels Withdrew ont OF range of
the enemy's guns and remained there
until II O'Clock, when the battle was
renewed.
The Spaniards replied very slowly.
and the commodore slgnaled the Raj
eigh. the Boston. the Concord and tine
Petrol to go into the inner harbor and
destroy all the enemy's ships.
BY her light drauEht the little Petrol
was enabled to move within 1000
yards. Her firing. swift. but accurate.
commanded everything still flying the
Spanish iiag.
Other ships were also doing their
whole duty. and soon not one red and
yellow ensign remained nloft except
on the coast. The Spanish flagship
and the Castillo had long been burn
ing fiercely, and the last vessel TO be
abandoned was the Don Antonio de
uiloa. which lurched over md sank.
Then the Spanish dag on the arsenal
stan was hauled down and at half
past IL o'clock white tlng was hoist
ed there. Signal was made TO the. Pc
trel TO destroy all the vessels in the
Inner harbor and Lieutenant Hughes,
with an armed boats crew, set fire 10
the Don Juan de Austria, Marques
Duero, the Isla de Cuba and the Cor
REQ. The large transport Manila and
many tug boats and small craft fell
into our hands.
Following wounded. all Baltimore:
Lieutenant F. w. Kellogg. Ensign u.
f. Erwin and enlisted men Barlow,
Budinger, Covert, o'Keefe, RiCeiar-
delli and Luelgrove, wounded during
first hour of engagement.
The forts made a nominal resistance,
but were quickly overpowered. The
shore garrison did not capituIate.
however. and when the American fleet
ceased firing the Spaniards ON shore
were still defiant
Cavite is in utter rcin and has sur
a.