The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-05-12

tell, wnile 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 fleet re.
tired for breakfast and, incidentally,
council of war was held on board the
Olympia.
BY this time the Spanish ships were
in desperate condition. The flagship
Reina Christina was riddled with shot
and SHE'LL 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 tn e finishing touches on his glori.
GUS work. There was not much fight
left i'll the Spaniards and, at 3 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 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 a
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 $50 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, lieutent, her chap.
lain and a midshipman 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 common shell
and her steam pipe burst.
After it was over Admiral Dewey
sent an ultimatum to the city battery,
ordering it to cease firing or he would
lombard.
On 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 a close block |
ade of the port while awaiting orders
from Washington.
Meanwhile his ships, such as are not |!
absolutely necessary to maintain the |
blockade, are cruising about the neigh !
boring waters capturing all ships that |
fly the Spanish yellow and red.
The following dispatches were re-
ceived by the navy department at Wash
ingtOn from Commodore Dewey:
MANILA, May l,-Squadron arrived |
at Manila at daybreak this morning,
Immediately engaged the enemy and |
destroyed the following Spanish vessels;
Reina Christins, Don Antonio de Ulloa, |
Isla de Luzon, Isla de Cuba General |
Lezo, Marques de Duero, Correo, Va
lasco, Isla de Mindanao, transport, |
and water battery at Cavite. The |
squadron is uninjured and only few |
men are slightly wounded, Only means
of telegraphing is to American consul |
at Hongkong. l shall communicate |
with him. DEWEY.
CAvITE, MAY 4.-Long, Secretary |
Navy: i have taken possession of the |
naval station at Cavite, Philippine isl |
ands, and destroyed its Notifications. |
liuNO dSoNiOD Ou AOl up IllO DuJ
entrance, patrolling the garrison. l |
control the bay completely and can take |
the city at any time. The squadron in
excellent health and spirits. The Span
ish loss not full known, but very heavy;
100 killed, including the captain of the |
Reina Christina. | am assisting in
protecting the Spanish sick and wound.
ed in hospital within our lines. Much |
pXcitement in Manila Will nrotect
foreign residents. DEWEY.
Immediately after making public
Dewey's second message Secretary Long
gave out his reply to Dewey, which has
been cabled by direction Of the presi-
dent as follows:
dewey, Manila; The president, in
the name of the American people,
thanks you and your officers and men
for your splendid achievement and over
whelming victory. In recognition he
has appointed you acting admiral and
will recommend a vote of thanks to you
by congress. LONG"