Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-05-07
TlT,TEIHyT'(s
III II y
H.sIED
AT1 nRemrrr "a
l nlufH Ii
HNnnwnro ord III
Il uUlUuSu Quu DO
nIorTYn U0ffln
The American Fleet Complete
ly AnnihilateS Them.
FIERcEsT BATTLE OF MODERN HISTORY.
Madrid In an Uproar-Sampson's Fleet
Sails, it is Supposed, TO Meet
SPANS Fleet-Oiher
War News.

LONDON, May 1.-The A merican
squadron, commanded by Commo-
dore Dewey, won complete and
glorious victory over the Spanish
feet in the Philippines today. The
fighting was of the fiercest character,
lasting from o'clock this morning
until O'Clock this afternoon. The
bravery of the American seamen was
of the highest character, and, led by
the intrepid Dewey, inflicted upon
the enemy blow that may be termed
almost yeritable rout.
During the night Commore Dewey
signaled to his war ships that were
in Subic Bay, SO miles to the north
of Manila harbor, to clear the ships
for action and follow him. The
squadron got under way, with the
flagship Olympia leading, and fol-
lowed by the cruisers Baltimore,
Boston, Raleigh, gunboats Concord,
Petrol, revenue cutter McCulloch
and transports Nanshan and Zafiro.
There had been consultation of the
captains on board the flagship DUR
ing the night. and it was decided
that the first stroke should be made
decisive.
At AIS O'Clock the lookout on
the Olympia reported the Spanish
feet off the port bow lined up be-
tween Csvite and the mouth of Ma
Mia harbor. The distance between
the two places is about eight miles.
The Spanish feet was commanded
by Admired Montijo and consisted
of the cruisers Reina Cristina, Gas.
tilla, Velasco, Don Antonio de Ulloa,
Don Juan de Austria, gunboats
General Lezo, Ell Cano, Isla de Cuba,
Isla de Luzon and dispatch boat
Marques del Quero.
The news of the battle, which
comes through Government sources
and by way of the Spanish cable,
shows that the attack was terrible
ia its energy. Signaling for the
American transports to keep well
out and that the Olympia and Balti-
more would engage the Spanish ad
miral's flagship, the Reina Cristina,
and the Castillo, the largest of the
enemy's fleet, the American war
ships moved in line of battle on the
Spaniards. On both sides Of Manila
harbor are erected forts we'll manned.
AS soon as his ships had been
worked around so that their star
board batteries presented broadside
to the enemy, Commodore Dewey
began terrific cannonading of the
enemy's ships and the Spanish forts
Every shot told.
Commodore Dewey directed the
movements of the squadron from the
coming tower of the Olympia. He
moved his ship close up to the Reina
Cristina and sent shell after shell
blowing into the Spanish admirals
hull. The superior aim and heavier
projectiles OF the Olympia soon be-
gan to tell, and the fire from the
Spanish grew more wild and some
what slower
Captain Dyer, of the Baltimore,
put his ship in close fighting distance
to the Castillo. The din of battle
was terrific. All the while the
Spanish forts were keeping up an
incessant fire OF the American feet.
The ships were enveloped in cloud
of smoke, and the incessant crack of
the rapid fire guns and booming of
the big guns mingled into volumi.
nous thunder.
The Boston, Raleigh, Concord,
Petrol, and the McCulloch had about
all they could do to handle the Ve-
lasce, Don Antonio de Ulloa, Don
Juan de Austria, General Lezo, Ell
Cano, Marques del Quero, Isla de
Cuba and Isla de Luzon, but by
quick manuevering and rapid work
of the guns, fought their way to
victory bravely.
The lot work on the Olympia
brought the end of the Reina Girls
tina. A hot from the American
exploded 8 magazine on the latter
boat, and she took fire. Despite the
efforts of the Spaniards, the flames
made rapid Roadway. Captain Grid
ley worked his ship around to rake
the Spaniard. He fought the Span
ish ship with one battery and kept
up fire on the forts with the other.
The masts on the American boats
were shot away, but few shells got
through the armor.
A well-trained shot from the
Olympia plunged through the fight
ing tower of the Reina Christina
and killed the ships commander.
Captain Cadasso. The Admiral was
standing with him at the time.
When the news thattheir command
or had fallen spread through the
ship the seamen seemed to lose
heart. The ammunition had been
none too plentiful, and, with its
rapidly failing quantity and the fire
that was raging, they were ready to
give up.
Then there took place a piece of
bravery on the part of the Spanish
Admiral. Seeing that his flagship
was doomed and unable to fight, be
ordered a small boat lowered, and
with daring crew, rowed to the
small gunboat Isla de Cuba, where
he again hoisted his flag. Soon
after he left the Reina Cristina the
flames devoured the boat, most of
the crew jumping overheard, only
to drown in the waters of the bay.
Ia the meantime, Captain Dyer
had sealed the fate of the Castillo.
She, like the flagship, had consider
L Il