The herald., 1898-08-27
HAD A LOOK AT DEWEY
JOHN r. GRAY WRITES OF THE
HERO OF MANILA
Scene Of the Destruction Of Montijo's
Eleet-something About the
Country and the Islands

The Herald is in receipt Of a letter from
John A. Gray of Battery X, Third artillery.
dated Manila. July 18th, from which the
following is taken:
At last we have reached the scene Of
Dewey's victory, after a pleasant trip, with
fair weather and a quiet sea, except that
yesterday afternoon, when we were well
into the China sea. we ran through a
typhoon, which caused the boat to pitch so
badly that many of the boys were sea-
sick, but for myself can say that The voy-
age has been pleasant, and now 1t seems
that am almost dreaming as look
around at things SO new and unfamiliar.
We entered the mouth Of the harbor this
morning, after having steamed along the
coast of the island since Saturday night,
and about noon passed the Olympia. which
gave us a rousing welcome,
The sailors of the Charleston, Baltimore.
Concord and Petrol gave US such hearty
cheers that we felt quite at home. We
dropped anchor about 200 yards from the
Olympia, and beyond us lay the Charles
ton and Baltimore. Around us within
speaking distance are the transports OF the
second expedition.
| Today soon after we had anchored Dewey
came aboard to visit the general. I got a
good look at him as he left, and was lit
tie surprised, but not disappointed, at find
| ing him different from what l had pic
tured him. He Is short, tanned and looks
every inch a hero. His moustache and hair
are quite gray and his eyes have a de-
cided snap. AS he and General Merritt
left to go on the Olympia we made the very
h RI OH 70 wi he
gracefully responded by lifting his cap.
| We heard Friday of SIMPSONS splendid
victory and the annexation Of Hawaii, and
we again did honor with our lungs.
This afternoon we have been hanging
over the side numbering" at the natives,
who surrounded the ship with their long
canoes and sold us fruit and tobacco.
Tobacco is the cheapest thing over here
and the best. For penny one can get a
| fine cigar, and native fruit, pineapples,
bananas, cocoanuts ad two or three kinds
| Of fruit 1 never saw before can be had in
abundance at a small cost. The shores are
low, green and lovely Cavite looms up
| low and black, mile away, but not
formidable. Manila can be seen, but indis-
tinctly. and the foreign warshps lying out
side have very solid look. But outside of
Dewey's feet by far the most interesting
sight Is the sunken Spanish vessels, with
rnasts and smokestacks sticking up, a re-
minder of the efficiency Of American guns
and gunners.
| 1 heard some desultory firing today over
on land, which indicated a fight between
the Spaniards and insurgents. Numerous
funny stories are told about the way they
conduct a fight, or rather 'scrimmage.
The Spaniards are said to fire few rounds
mutilating everything but their enemies
and then the enemy responds in like man.
ner.- Then they lay of for a day or two
smoking cigarettes and gambling, and Their
awaken to the fact that they have an enemy
TO overcome and go at 1t again. We may
have chance to show them how Ameri-
can soldiers can fight or they may surrender
without giving us chance at them.
July B.-The Aston battery is preparing
to go ashore at o'clock. We go later in
the day to join General Green's command
The bay looks fine and everything is clear
and distinct. Clouds hang over US, but for
a wonder 1t Is not raining.
South Of us, lying close to shore, is wha,
was the Spanish flagship, which ran
aground.
was on guard last night and had good
chance to look around. The harbor was
dark, no lights to be seen but the search.
lights of the warships guarding the bay
Beyond the electric lights of Manila APP
peared in long row. We shall be busy
all the morning getting ready to go ashore
so l will close.