La Junta tribune., 1898-05-14

I EoOu all our Sc>Seis were equaHy
hard Mt work and we could see that
| our shells were making Cavite harbos
hotter for the Spaniards than they
had mse the approach for us
Prote,ed by their shore batteries
and made safe from close attack ty
shallow water. the Spaniards were In
n strong position. They put up gal
liant fight. The Spanish ships were
smiling back and forth behind the Cas-
tilla ami their fire, too, was hot.
One shot struck the Baltimore and
passed clean through her. fortunately
hitting no one Another ripped up her
main deck. disabled "A six-ineh gun and
exploded a box OF threc-pounder am
munition. woundiug eight men.
The Olympia was struck abreast the
gun in the ward room by shell.
which burst outside. doing little dam
age
The signal halyards were cut from
Lieutenant Brumby's hand on the aft
er bridge. A shell entered the Bostou's
port quarter and burst In Ensign Dod-
ridges stateroom. starting hot fire.
and fire was also caused by shell
which burst in the port hammock net
ting. Both these fires were quickly put
out.
Another shell passed through the
Boston's foremast just In front OF
Captain Wildes, on the bridge.
After having made four runs alon.
the Spanish line. finding the chart in
correct. Lieutenant CaIkins, the Olym-
pia's navigator. told the commodore
he believed he could take the ship
rearer 10 the enemy with the lead go
ing To watch the depth Of water. The
flagship started over the course for
the fifth time, running within 2,oc1
yards OF the Spanish vessels.
AT this range even six-pounders were
effective. and the storm of shells
poured upon the unfortunate Spanish
began to show marked results. Three
Of the enemy's vessels We're seen
burning and their fire slackened.
ON finishing this run Commodore
Dewey decided to give the men break
fast. ns they had been nt the guns
two hours with only one cup OF coffee.
The vessels withdrew out OF range of
the eneiny's guns and remained there
until IL O'Clock. when the battle was
renewed.
The Spaniards replied very slowly.
and the commodore signaied the Raj
eIgh. the Boston. the Concord and the
Petrol to go into the inner harbor and
destroy NIL the enemy's ships.
BY her light draught the little Petrol
was enabled to move within 1-oO0
yards. Her firing. swift. but accurate,
commanded everything still flying the
Spanish dag.
Other ships were also doing their
whole duty, and soon not one red and
yellow ensign remained a}oft except
on the coast The Spanish flagship
and the Castillo had long been burn
Ing ferceiy. and the last vessel to be
abandoned was the Don Antonio tie
Ulloa, which lurched over and sank.
Then the Spanish flag on the arsenal
stafr was hauled down and mt half
past IL O'Clock IA white flag 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 TO
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 +. W. Kellogg. Ensign L.
f. Erwin and eulisted men Barlow.
Budinger, Covert. O'keefe, Ricciar-
delli and Lueigroye. wounded during
first hour OF engagement.
The forts made u nominal resistance.
bu. We're quickly oyerpowered. The
shore garrison did not capitulate.
however. and when the American fleet
ceased firing the Spaniards ON shore
were still defiant.
Cayite Is In utter ruin and has sur
rendered. the gunboats have been
scuttled and the arsenal was on fire
and exploded. causing great mortality.
The commodore of the fleet on board
the Heina Christina was wounded, and
| her captain. lieutenant, chaplain and
midshipmen were killed by shell
striking the bridge. Eighty of her
crew were killed and sixty wounded.
On the Castillo one hundred were
killed and sixty wounded. On the Cas-
tilia one hundred were killed and six
ty wounded.
The terms of capitulation are still
unsettled. Commodore Dewey fears
rioting by the rebels II he attempts q
bombardment. The forts Mt the en-
trance to the bay capitulated and were
dismantled on Wednesday. The Amer
| leans cut the cable. but the Spaniards
refused to permit cable operators to
come to the ships, as they are willing
| to do.