The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-05-11
THE BATTLE OF MANILA.
Story told by Officer Who was There
Under Fire.

Chicago, May 1.-The Chronicle
has the following: Hong Kong, May Z.
Commodore Dcwcy's flag lieutenant,
Thomas NJ. Brumby, arrived at Hong
Kong this morning on the United
States revenue cutter Hugh McCul-
loch, with the first official news of the
greatest naval battle of modern times.
that at Manila harbor.
The official dispatches were at once
forwarded by cable to the United.
States government at Washington. :
The first connected story Of the en-
gagemcnt was told by the officers of
the McCulloch, who saw it and partic-
ipated in it. They said that SPANS
feet of ten vessels was wholly de-
| stroyed.
The Reina Maria Christiana, flag
ship of the Spanish squadron, was
the center Of attack at the beginning
of the action, and under the hot fire
poured in on her from the American
ships, she was soon burning from stem
to stern.
Admiral Montejo, the Spanish ad-
miral, was c.mpellcd to escape in a
small boat to the Isla de Cuba, anoth-
err of the Spanish vessels. and as soon
as his flag was hoisted the guns of the
F, American fleet were turned on it and
| in Il few minutes it was destroyed.
The admiral was again forced to cs-
cape in a small boat. The defenses Of
Manila aud its batteries, as we'll as
those at Cavite, were silcnced aud
beaten to the ground by the rain of
shot and shell.
During Saturday night the vessels
of the American squadron crept inside
the bay through u supposed maze of
mines and to%rpedocs. They were not
observed by any Of the watchers on
the Spanish garrisons until somc stray
sparks were emitted from the funnel
Of the dispatch boat McCulloch.
Then q few shots were exchanged
with the garrison on Corregidor Is
land, but, owing to the darkness, they
were ineffective.
There was no patrol established, nor
were any searchlights placed at the
entrance to Manila bay.
| OThe vessels of the American squad
ron never stopped or slowed down un-
til they had assumed 4 position direct
ly opposite the city Of Manila. This
was just at daybreak.
| The order Of battle assumed by the
Spanish feet at the beginning Of the
engagement was with all small craft
inside Cavite harbor, which is pro-
tccted by stone and timber ~breakwa-
ters, and the larger ships maneuvering
off Cavite and Manila. The Ameri-
can battle line was led by the flagship
Olympia and the cruiser Raleigh. The
Boston, Baltimore, Concord and Pc
trel and the event cutter McCulloch
followed. The American feet in easy
speech approached the Spanish ships,
which were drawn out in two lines, the
Reina Maria Christiana, the flagship,
in the center.
As the dawn broke and the position
of the American squadron was discov-
cred, the Spanish feet Immediately
opened fire, supported by the Cavite
forts. The Spaniards fired the first
shot. The challenge was given by the
Reipa Maria Christina.
The Olympia replied and at once the
entire American fleet was in action.
The Spanish ships did not hesitate in
their fire aud the Cavite batteries let
loose their heavy guns. The. best
gunners in the American feet manned
the most destructive weapons on the
ships, and the havoc wrought was
frightful. The engagement soon be-
came general. The Hugh McCulioch
remained at some distance from the
brunt of the and the enc
my's shells passed but did not touch
her.
The craftsmanship Of the Spanish
gunners seemed to be wild from the
outset. Meanwhile the main ships of
the American squadron we're pouring
in q deadly FIRE, doing great execution
both in the Spanish feet and in the
Cavite Notifications on land.
The American crr 4 Baltimore at
one period Of the engsg .ment received
the brunt Of the enemy's fire and suf-
American squadron. From Eve to ten
tons Of the enemy's shots took effect
CT the Baltimore, Dut none OF her Of
GERS or crew were seriously burt.
As soon as the Spanish admiral left
the. Reina Marie Cristina and boarded
the Isla de, Cuba, the fire was directed
at the latter mercilessly, every 8-inch
gun on every ship joining those Of the
flagship. The Isla de Cuba was rid
died. After a fewronnds she was put
outof action, and almost before Admi-
raj Montejo had had time to ge. his
bearings he was driven out q second
time.
The Spanish cruiser Castillo burst
into flames under the remarkable gun.
merry Of Dewey's men. The American
commodore then directed a hot FIRE
against the batteries. This was q
surprise to Admiral M~ontejo, who ap-
parently thought himself secure un-
der the gus Of the Cavite fortifca-
t;oas.
"A little boy a coming home
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