The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-15

did not succeed In hitting such nnall
objects as they rapidly approached.
When within 500 yards Of tho flagship,
the secondary batteries Of the Olympia
sent in q perfect hail of 8 pound
shells, smashing up the leading boat,
killing all on board and driving the SEQ
ond launch back ON the beach with ~
shot holes through her. This boat was
afterward found covered with blood.
by this breakfast time had arrived,
and the commodore gave a. signal to
haul off a short distance. not going to
anchor, however, and the commanding
officers had a consultation. The attack
was resumed at about ii o'clock. This
time we directed our attention to the
Cavite batteries. the Spanish feet hay
inv been practically hnnihilated- The
Baltimore took the lead. She had orders
TO attack the shore batteries, and she
went and did the checklist thing OF the
whole day. The batteries mounted 10
inch guns, a shot from one OF which
would, il IL had struck her, have blown
the Baltimore into atoms The vessel,
however, to the admiration Of the whole
feet, went in full speed until she got
close under the batteries. Then she
swung round and let them have 1t with
q vengeance. II was wonderful to see
her gallantly sail into the teeth OF the
guns and silence them.
mot only the fleet, but all defenses
of any Importance, had by this time been
destroyed. I shall not soon forget the
sight which the harbor presented. The
smoking hulks Of the Spanish vessels
which had not yet sunk were seen to be
strewn with corpses and wounded men,
and bodies were floating about in the
water. / should think the Spanish lost
about 500 men killed and wounded,
while ON our side not o man was lost
and only one badly hurt.
1.-THE first part Of the battle lasted
over two hours. The steady thunder OF
the cannon was kept up. The roar waf
something terrible. The terrific fire was
kept up from the forts and Spanish ships
upon our feet. 1t looked to us from the
McCulloch as though our vessels could
not possibly survive the fusiilade
Heavy shells and solid shot fell arount
them like hail from the clouds, ant
many exploded immediately over tn
ships. At one time / really Thought w
would DO beaten. This was after th
fire had been kept up for an hour.
! looked as though every gun on tho Span
ish ships had turned loose ON us alto
gether, and the shore line was O verits
Bile blaze OF fire from the batteries. Tn
din was simply understandable. Tons w
on toms of shot fell over our ships. Yei
there was steel enough to sink lou
fleets.
"Our salvation was the bad mari
manship Of the Spaniards. They hal
died their pieces like boys. Nearly q
of their shots went wide Of the mari
Most of them were high, flying over Il
feet and falling into the bay beyon'
Some of the batteries, however, wei
: better trained. Several guns maintain
: o raking fire ON the feet. Some OF o
] ships were struck by both large Al
small shots, but no damage OF COM
quence was DONE"
Surgeon Kindleberger adds . Il
facts to Colonel LIQUIDS story. He W
ON the Olympia throughout the nigh
He said:
ssIn the first assault the flagship to
the lead. the other vessels following
n her wake at four ship lengths. I
IN Spanish fleet was approached by lal
at each turn bringing the contestants net
err together. BY this plan the Americ
ly vessels frequently poured broadslt
tn into the enemy, but were themsel'
ps more exposed TO fire. At u time
a smoke became 80 dense that it was n
les essary to draw aside TO allow the Gle
ID. to lift. The vessels were examined, q
nd it was discovered they had sustained
ed damage. The men were badly fagt
lso by the two hours work at the guns
&C. the great heat, and breakfast was &c
ed. Then they re-entered the nght "
lc- the greatest enthusiasm.
aid 1.-The second fight was even m
eet fierce than the first. 1t was in that I
liza the Baltimore was struck. During
first fight the Spanish admirais
steamed bravely out to the line to n
eet the Olympia. The entire American I
our concentrated its fire ON her, and she
IA 40 badly injured that she turned arc
ne, 70 nut back. At this juncture
) Of Olympia let fly an 8 inch she'll wi
mt struck her in the stern and pie
10 through almost her entire length,
. a ploding finally in the engine room
hat wrecking her machinery. This 8
ina killed the captain and 60 men ane
uch the vessel on fire.
hey, "The Spanish admiral immedia
the transferred his flag to the cruiser
as, de Cuba. Several smaller vessels OF
med American fleet and the Boston cent
their fire on this ship, and literally
her to pieces. The admiral was siig
hen wounded and escaped In a small
bat into Bacoor bay and finally 70 Manil
or Gunner Evans Of the Boston, VIII
anne rscted the fire Of one Of the big gur
I in the cruiser, says that throughout
sail. battle the fighting forces of all the
nd l were as cool as If engaged at target
tice.-New York Sun.
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