The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-03
DR.. Page Sends an Account From a
Manila Paper.
CASTILLlAN BOMBAST IN STYLE.
Gloom and Surprise Was General When
the American Squadron in Perfect
Line Was Sighted by the Pco-
pie of Manila.

VIN d
which a most interesting account is given
OF the battle at Manila Surgeon Page
sent a copy Of the log Of the Olmpla OF
April s0th and May LIST. the SUBSTANCE
OF which has already been published ana
also a clipping from the "Diaro ore Ma
MA" OF Alay4th. IN which the Spanish
view Of the battle Is given. An extract
from the latter paper follows:
"a NAVAL SURPRISE.
when the enemys squadron was
sighted I'm perfect line Of battle trhough
the clouds of a misty dawn on the morn
ing OF the 1st Of May gloom and sur
prise were general among the people or
Manila. At last these ships had strained
their holiness TO the point OF appearing
on our coasts and defyng our batteries.
which showed more courage ana Naipr
than effect when they opened fire on the
squadron. II neds something more than
courage to make projectiles penetrate
indeed. n does.
EVERY MAN TO HIS STATION.
1.-THE mentality Of our batteries when
comnared with those Of the squadron.
which alarmed the inhabitants OF Ma
Mia ar = In the morning. was enough 10
transform the tranquil character or our
tropical Compartments. While ladies' ana
children IN carriages or on loot ied III
fright 10 seek refuge I'm the outlying SUI
capItal from danger multiplied by their
imagination every man from the stately
personaFe 10 the most humble workman.
merchants. Standards and natives. SOL
dlers and civilians sought their stations
and ralt I'm thcir arms. confident that
never should tho enemy land n Manila
unless he passed over their corp'es
Yet from the nrst moment tho strength
Of the enemys 0rmor and the power oil
his guns demonstrated that his shlps
we're invuinerable 10 our energies ana
our ornaments. the hostile squadron
would never have entered the bay had
not its surety Deen guaranteed by It's
manifest superiority.
The city walls, the church towers the
roofs OF high buildings and al high
places convenient Tor observation were
occupied bv those who were not retained
by their military duties within the walls
on the bridges or al the advanced posts.
The slightest details OF the enemy ships
were eagerly noted as they advanced to-
wards Cav'to 200 "a line parallel with the
beaches OF Manila. as though they had
inst come out Of the Pasig river
THERE WERE no GAPS.
"'rhere were no gaps in the line. but
the curious public hardly realized the dis
parity between their great guns and the
pieces mOunteI ON our fortiHcdtions.
Some had glasses and others were with
out. but au seemed 20 devOur with heir
eyes those strangers. who. while brave
were not called upon 20 show Ineir cour-
age since the range of their Guns ana
the weakness OF our b1itert- 'nahltd
them 10 preserve their impunily Whlle
doing us as much harm as they pleased
con they came at fun speed in column
| NJ battle heading for Cavite with the
decision due 10 q sense of safety and a
firm assurance Of success. For more
than an hour the h0mharimont held in
suspense those whose souls followed the
UNEQUAL struggle. I'm which the Spanlsh
ships went down with their glorious han-
rcrs flying what was going on IN the
waters Of Cavte?
SAW THROUGH GLASSES.
From Manila we saw through glasses
the two squadrons almost mingled Toe
rether I'm the clouds OF smoke. Tnls was
not far from a triumph for our side. con-
sidering the weakness OF OUT batteries.
For. once alongside me enemy sn., ~
~ "BoaF1ers away and the iIash or
cold steel might have enabled our DE-
voted seamen TO disturb the calm ln
which watches and instruments were reg.
ulating and directing those engines OF
destruction. I'm the blindness OF our rage
how should we paint the heroic deeds. tne
proves the waves of valOr which burst
forth from our men-oi-War; e--,-,.
Those who fought beneath tho spanish
flag bore themselves Ike nAn, as CHOSEN
sons Of our native land who never meas
ure forces. nor yield TO superior Iorce IN
the hands Of an enemy who would rather
die without ships than live Ia ships Which
have surrendered
When the hostile squadron turned 10
ward Cavite. the crew OF me steamer
Isla de Nindanao heard the drums beat
ing 10 quarters. and answered with en-
thusiasm the three rounds Of cheers Tor
the King. for the Queen ana Tor spain
which echoed 2, Ion, =, our 1yI H ,ine
Later. until a quarter 90 five absolute
silence reigued The idea 81 death was
lost I'm ardor for the fray. and every eve
was fixed on the battle flag waving M
our mast-heads. I'm perfect and mNes-
tic order-why should we deny this
the nine (six) Yankee ships advanced in
battle arrav The Olympia bearing the
Animals flag led the column followed
bv Inc other ships steering a. full EDerj
towards Cavite. The Olympia opened fire
and I'm an instant reply came from the
battery on the Mole. which kept ON f.r-
ing al five minute Intervals. WINE tle
iron-claf shaped her course for ihe
Raina Christina and Castillo. Into botl
these ehins she poured q steady and rapid
fire seconded bv the ehins which io.oWei
en- her wake. Another ship which direct
cd a heavy fire on our limo was inc Ht.-
tlmore and so the c4nuOnade went on
until a quarter - ci-ht
BOARDING SALLY.
st that moment the Don Juan De Aus
| fria advanced against the enemy intend
ing 10 board the Olympia. and n tre-
mendous hroads'do had not stopped her
self-devoted charge. both ships might
perhaps have sunk 20 tho bottom. The
Captain OF the Reina Christina, seeing
| that the resolute attempt of his consort
| had failed. advanced az fun speed until
within about 1000 yards OF the Olympia.
aiming 10 attack her. Then a shower Of
proiectilcs swept the bridge and decks
| filling The ship with dead and wounded.
Heroes and martyrs whom the nation Will
| remember as long as 10 endures.
A dense column u smoke from the bow
compartment showed that an incendiary
prOiectile such as the law OF God and
man prohibits. had set fire 20 the cruis-
err The ship. sull keeping up her fire
on the enemy withdrew towards the ar
senal where she was sunk 10 keep her
from falling into The hands OF the YAM
| KEGS (our shot sank hero
| IN DESPERATION.
The desperation Of the men OF the Reina
Christina was aggravated by the sight OF
the Castillo, also I'm a blaze. from a sim
! liar use Of incendiary projeciiles The
principal ships Of our little squadron hav-
Ing thus been put out OF the action, the
Yankee vessels some OF thom badly Grip
pied by the fire Of our ships, and the
| batteries at Point Sangiey. stood ont to-
| ward Mariveles and the entrance OF the
bay. ceaslng their fire and occupying
| themselves In repairing injuries until 10
| o'clock when they began a second attack
/ TO complete their work OF destruction.
In this second assault the IRE az me
/ arsenal was extlnguished and they con
| tinued TO cannonado the blazing gum
one gunboat. which seemed 20 have
| nothing more venturesome 10 undertake.
| detached herself from the squadron and
set TO work 10 riddle the mail steamer
Tn1o Ia ATfwfanon