Griggs courier., 1898-05-13
STORY OF THE VICTORY.
Detailed Account of Devvey's Bold
Dash ana Its Results.

Dash ana Its Results.
The following dispatch, containing a de-
tailed account of the battle, was brought
here by the McCulloch:
Manila Bay. May Last night Commo-
dore Dewey arrived off Manila bay and with
out consulting his officers decided to make
q dash into the inner harbor. From his
flagship. the Olympia. he signaled the COM
manders Of the fleet to follow him, and with
all lights out the squadron of sea fight
ers steamed into the bay with the crews
at their guns. AS they passed the fortifica-
tions at Corregidor the order Of the ves-
sells was as follows: Olympia, Baltimore,
Raleigh. Petrol. Concord. Boston.
Eight o'clock had just struck when the
stately flagship steamed silently past the
browning batteries that command the en-
trance to the bay and in spite of the fact
that The moon was shining brightly the fleet
was well up the harbor before the Span
tards on watch were aware Of its approach.
Corregidor lay o mile behind them when
the first gun doomed its warning that the
enemy was at hand.
=. First Shot from spaniards.
"one heavy projectile screamed over the
inhoating ships and plunged into the water
far away. This was followed by a second.
which dropped astern. Instantly the
Raleigh, the Concord and the Boston ac-
Concord described long curve and ap-
parently landed exactly inside the shore
battery, which fired no more Slowly the
squadron edged its way toward Manila
and the men. worn with long watching,
were allowed to drop beside their guns for
a 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 futtering
from the cruiser Reina Christina. Just
ahead of 1t was moored the Castillo, a pro-
tected cruiser Of 5000 tons. Astern and to
seaward in line Of battle were arranged
the cruisers Don Juan de Austria. Don An
tonic de Ulla. 1sla de Cuba. Isla de Luzon,
Qulros' Marquis del Onero and General
Lezo. With the flagship, they remained
under way in anticipation of the action
that followed. The vessels moved down to
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. Commodore
Dewey signaled not to attack these bat
teries. 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 sub
marine mines were exploded ahead of the
flagship. The commodore coolly glanced
at his watch as he stood impassively on the
u
officers to the fact that it 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 it was, tremendous vol
umes 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
moment he was within range of the guns
q y, ,{e< <lna
Spanish gunners had got the range and
the shells began bursting close aboard.
Flagship the Target.
The Spanish vessels also opened up with
their guns and the missiles flew all about
the flagship, which was evidently the mark
Aboard the American feet 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
Olympia except the whirr Of the blowers
and the steady throb of the engines. All at
once shell screamed through the air and
burst directly over the deck Of the flag
ship. Then came the signal from the boat
swain's mate.
''Remember the Maine."
Remember the Maine!' 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 Officer Rees, and Navigator Lieut..
Calkins. Capt. Gridley. commander Of the
ship. from the coming tower awaited the
order to begin the engagement. Dewey
looked at the batteries. from which puffs
Of smoke were rising. and said. grimly:
Shoot whenever you get ready. Gridley.'
AT 10 minutes Of six the starboard eight
inch gun in the forward turret of the Olym-
pia belched forth welcome to the dons at
= distance Of $500 yards. The firing was
taken up by the Baltimore and Boston in
turn, and shell after shell from their great
guns was sent hurtling toward the Cas-
tilla and the Reina Christina. At first 1t
was all guesswork. The Spaniards. know
Ing the exact distance, fired rapidly.
Encouraged by the small amount Of dam
Sge that was being done by the guns from