The record-union., 1898-05-08
The First Connected Story Of the
Engagement.
As Related by an Officer Who Saw and
Participated in II.
Graphically Relates How the
American Fleet Entered the
Harbor During the Night, the
Subsequent Destruction of the
Spanish Fleet and the Forts.

CHICAGO. May THE Chronicle
tomorrow will publish the following:
HONGKONG, May 7.-Commodore
Dewey's Flag Lieutenant Thomas NJ
Brumby arrived at Hongkong this
morning on the United States revenue
cutter Hugh McCulloch with the first
official news of the great naval battle
of modern times-that of Manila har-
Dor. The official dispatches were al
once forwarded by cable to the United
States Government at Washington.
The first connected story of the en-
gagement was told by the officers OF
the McCulloch, who saw it and partici-
pated in it, They said that Spain's
fleet of ten vessels was wholly de-
stroyed.
The Reina Maria Christina, flagship
OF the Spanish squadron, was the cen
ter of attack at the beginning of the
action. and under the hot fire poured
in on her from the American ships she
was soon ablaze from stem to stern.
was compelled to escape in a small
boat to the Isla De Cuba, another of
the Spanish vessels, and as soon as his
flag was hoisted, the guns of the Ameri-
can fleet were turned on it, and in a
few minutes it was destroyed. The Ad-
miral was again forced to escape in a
small boat.
The defense of Manila by the batter
les as well as those at Cavite were ST.
fenced and beaten TO the ground by
the r2in of shot and shell.
During Saturday night the vessels
of the American squadron crept inside
the bay through a supposed maze of
mines and torpedoes. They were not
observed by any of the watchers on the
Spanish garrisons until some stray
sparks were emitted from the funnel ol
the dispatch boat Hugh McCulloch
Then a few shots were exchanged with
the garrison on Corregidor Island, but
owing to the darkness, they were in
effective.
There was no patrol established, noI
were any searchlights placed at the
entrance to Manila Bay.
The vessels of the American squadron
never stopped or slowed down until
they had assumed a position directly
opposite to the city of Manila. This
was just at daybreak.
The order of battle assumed by the
Spanish fleet at the beginning Of the
engagement was with all the small
craft inside Cavite harbor, which is
protected by stone and timber break
waters and the larger ships maneuver-
ing off Cavite and Manila
The American battle line was led by
the flagship Olympia and the cruiser
Raleigh. The Boston, Baltimore, Con-
cord and Petrol and the revenue cut
ter McCulloch followed. The American
fleet in easy speed approached the
Spanish ships, which were drawn ou;
in two lines, the Reina Maria Christina
the flagship, in the center
AS the dawn broke and the position
of the American squadron was discov-
cred the Spanish fleet Immediately
opened fire, supported by the Cavite
forts. The Spanish fired the first shot
Maria Christina.
The Olympia replied, and at once the
entire American fleet was in action
The Spanish ships did not hesitate in
R,.a al
loose their heavy guns. The best gun
ners in the American fleet manned tn;
most destructive weapons on their ships
and the havoc wrought was frightful
The McCulloch remained at some dis
tance from the brunt of the encounter
and the enemy's shells passed but die
not touch her The Workmanship oi
the Spanish gunners seemed to be wild
from the outset.
The American cruiser Baltimore al
one period of the engagement received
the brunt of the enemy's fire and suf-
fered the most of any vessel in tht
s American squadron. From five to ter
of the enemy's shots took effect on the
Baltimore, but none of her officers OF
crew were seriously hurt.
As soon as the Spanish Admiral left
the Maria Christina and boarded the
Isla de Cuba the fire was directed a;
the latter, every S-inch gun on every
ship joining those on the flagship. This
Isla de Cuba was riddled by the deadly
craftsmanship of the American gun
ners. After a few rounds she was pul
out of action, and before Admira
AIontejo had had time to get his bear
ings he was driven out second time
Again he escaped in small boat.
But the fight was practically over
The Spanish cruiser Castillo burst intt
flames under the remarkable gunners
of the Americans. The American Com
modore directed a hot fire against tht
batteries. This was a surprise to Ad
miral Montejo, who apparently though
himself secure under the guns of tbs
Cavite Notifications The Spanish cruis
er Maria Christina received the ful
effect of this CALLING fire from tbs
Americans, and was so badly damaged
that she sunk. The other vessels q
the Spanish fleet were quickly riddlet
by the whitening hail of lead from th'
American.
The magazine at the Cavite fortifica
tions exploded during the engagement
and forty Spaniards were killed.