The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1898-05-12


little distance in front of the leading
ship, quickly followed by second
water spout, denoting that the Span
iards had fired a couple of mines or
torpedoes, but their efforts to blow UP
the ships were absolutely unsuccessful.
Almost Immediately the guns in the
Oavlte battery burst into heavy can
nonade. The shells fell short and
were badly aimed. Then the squadron
drew nearer in toward the Spanish
fleet and the battle began in real
earnest
The American ships entered by the
| southern channel between Cabello and
Frile islets, which were fortified.
| Commodore Dewey resolved to risk
the mines which were supposed to
block the channel, and the island forts
fires, but not together. Replying with
few shells, the squadron proceeded
without stopping or changing it's
course. The order of the vessels was
as follows:
The Olympia, Baltimore, Raleigh,
concord, Boston, Petrel, McCulloch,
Nan Shan, Zafro. And thus they
steamed to the center of the bay.
They passed before the city, seeking
the Spanish squadron, and found them
near the entrance of Baker bay, backed
and fianked by the Cavite forts, with
two torpedo boats and four gunboats
inside the Mole, which served as pro-
lection, while the Reina Christina,
Castillo, Don Antonio de Ulloa, Isla
de Cuba, Island de Luzon and the
mail boat Mindanao were drawn up
outside. The Spaniards fred the first
shot at 5000 yards. but it was inef
fective.
The American ships formed in col
umn line and steamed nearer, reserv-
ing their fire until within 1000 yards.
They then passed backwards and for
wards six times across the Spaniards'
front, pouring in perfect hail of shot
and shell. Every shot seemed to tell.
Then the Americans retired for break
fast and council of war. The Spanish
ships were already in desperate con-
dition. The Reina Christina was rid
died and one of her steam pipes had
burst. The Castillo was also on fire
and both were burned to the waters
edge. The Don Antonio De Ulloa
made magnificent show of desperate
bravery. With her colors nailed to her
mast she sank with all hands. Her
hull was riddled and her upper deck
swept clean, but the guns on the lower
deck were still firing defantly as the
vessel sank beneath the waters.
A torpedo boat tried to creep along
the shore round the ofing and attack
the non -combatants Zafro, Nan Shan
and McCulloch, but was driven ashore
and shot into bits. The Mindano was
soon on the beach and the other small
craft retired behind the Mole. The
fight started at 5 30, was adjourned at
$50 and resumed about noon. The
finishing touches were given to Cavite
by the Petrol and Concord at o'clock,
The Raleigh grounded twice in shallow
water during the engagement.
Cavite is in utter ruin and has sur
rendered, the gunboats have been
scuttled and the arsenal was on fire
and exploded, causing great mortality.
The commodore OF the fleet on board
the Reina Christina, was wounded and
her captain, lieutenant, chaplain and
the midshipman were killed by shell
striking the bridge Eighty OF her
crew were killed and sixty were
wounded. On the Castillo 100 were
killed and sixty were wounded.
The Spanish casualties aggregate
more than a thousand.
40 o,ano1fiac orpnnoy tn q
American crews except that six OF the
Baltimore's men were slightly wound
ed by one of the American shells strik-
ing another shell lying on deck and
exploding it. There were only three
shot holes in her upper works, five IN
the upper works of the Olympia and a
whale boat smashed on the Raleigh.
No other damage has been done any
where. The disparity between the
injury inflicted on the Spanish fleet
and that sustained by the Americans
is due to the superior weapons OF the
latter and their craftsmanship at long
range. ~
| The Manila Esplanade Krupp TO-
inch guns were fred continuously, but
the Americans avoided replying and
the battery showed white flag after
ward. The terms of capitulation are
still unsettled. Commodore Dewey
fears rioting by the rebels II he at
tempts a bombardment. The forts at
| the entrance OF the bay capituiated
on Wednesday. :,
| The Americans cut the cable be-
cause the Spaniards refused to permit
them to use it pending the surrender
| of the city and it is therefore not
j known what is transp ring on shore.