The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-05-14
STORY OF THE VICTORY.
Detailed Account of Dcsvcy's Bold
Dash ana Its Results,

tailed account of the battle. was brought
here by the McCuloch:
Manila Bay. May Last night Commo.
dore Dewey arrived off Manila bay and with-
out consulting his officers decided to make
a dash into the inner harbor. From his
flagship, the Olympia. he signalcd the COM
,nanders Of the fleet to follow him. and with
all lights out the squadron Of sea f1ght-
ers steamed into tho bay with the crews
at their guns. AS they passed the fortifica-
lions at Corregidor the order Of the ves-
sells was as follows: Olympia. Baltimore,
Raleigh. Petrol. Concord. Boston.
Flight o'clock had just struck when the
stately flagship steamed silently past tho
frownine batteries that command the en-
trance to the bay and in spite Of the fact
that the moon was shining brightly the fleet
was we'll up the harbor before the Span
Corregidor lay a mile behind them when
tho first gun doomed Its warning that the
enemy was at hand.
First Shot from spaniards.
zone heavy proJectile screamed over the
anfoating ships and plunged into the water
far away. This was followed by second.
which dropped astern. Instantly the
cepted the challenge. A shell from the
Concord described a long curve and APP
parently landed exactly inside the shore
battery, which fired no more. Slowly the
oQuduAOu cueSo It's way toward MANIA
and the men. worn with long watching,
were allowed to drop beside their guns tor
nap on deck, So closely had the arrival
Of the fleet been timed that at break of
day Dewey was within five miles Of Manila.
Here he sighted the Spanish squadron,
Admiral Montejo's flag was seen fiuttering
from the cruiser Reina Christina. Just
ahead OF 1t was moored the Castillo, a pro-
tected cruiser Of $500 tons. Astern and to
seward in line OF battle were arranged
the cruisers DON Ina IN rio nop
tonic de Ulla. Isla de Cuba, Isla de Luzon.
Quiros. Marquis del Onero and General
Lezo. With the flagship. they remained
under way In anticipation Of the action
the attack In single file at uniform speed
of eight knots, and as they passed in front
Of Manila three great batteries mounting
powerful guns opened up at distance Of
five miles. Suddenly the Concord's guns
doomed out reply For moment there
was silence and expectation. ommodore
Dewey signaled not to attack these bat
&eries. for fear Of sending his shells into the
crowded city.
Mines Explode.
"veering up the bay. he passed slowly In
front of Cavite, where two powerful SUBJ
marine mines were exploded ahead of the
flagship. The commodore coolly glanced
at his watch as he stood impassively on the
bridge and called the attention Of one Of his
officers to the fact that 1t was exactly six
minutes past five o'clock. AS the mines let
go smile fitted over his face. because Of
the fact that the Spaniards In exploding
the mines had misjudged the position Of
the flagship. AS 1t was. tremendous vol
tunes OF water were hurled into the air.
But there was no hesitation. Dewey evil
IDENTIFY had no fear OF the mines. He sig
nailed the ships to steam ahead and In a
moment he was within range of the guns
Of the batteries at Cavite. By this time tho
Spanish gunners had got the range and
the shells began bursting close aboard.
Flagship tho Target.
1.-THE Spanish vessels also opened up with
their guns and the missiles flew all about
the flagship, which was evidently the mark
at which they were directing their fire.
Aboard the American fleet the heat was
intense. The men. stripped to the waist,
stood at their guns waiting for the signal
TO open up. All was silent aboard the
and the steady throb of the engines. All at
once a shell screamed through the air and
burst directly over the deck Of the nag
ship. Then came the signal from tho boat
SWANS mate.
"Remember tho Maine."
Remember the Malnel' was the defiant
cry that rang out in the American ships.
On the forward edge OF the flagship stood
Admiral Dewey, with his chief of staff Ex-
ecutive Ohicer Rees, and Navigat tor Lieut..
ship, from tie coming tower awaited the
order to begin the engagement. Dewey
looked at the batteries. from which puffs
Of smoke were rising, and said. grfmly:
Shoot whenever you get ready. Gridley.'
eat 10 minutes Of six the starboard eight
inch gun In the forward turret of the Olyn-
pia belched forth welcome to the dons at
4 distance Of $500 yards. The firing was
taken UP by the Baltimore and Boston In
turn, and she'll after shell from their great
guns was sent hurtling toward the Cas-,
tilla and the Reina Christina. At first Il,
was all guesswork. The spsniarde. know
ing the exact distance. fired rapidly.
Encouraged by the small amount Of DAM
age that was being done by the guns from
tho Spanish ships and batteries. the dag