Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-05-11

the American store ships, but she was
promptly discovered, was driven ashore
and was actually shot to pieces.
The MindanaO had in the meanwhile
been run ashore to save her from sink
ing, and the Spanish small craft had
sought shelter from the steel storm behind
the breakWater.
Cavite Batteries Silenced.
The battle, which was started at about
$3.50 a. N. and adjourned at $50 a. M,
was resumed about noon, when Admiral
Dewey started in to put the finishing
touches on his glorious work There was
not much fight left in the Spaniards by
Concord had shot the Cavite batteries
into silence, leaving them heaps Of ruins
and floating the white flag.
The Spanish gunboats were then scut-
tied, the arsenal was on fire and the ex-
plosiOn of a Spanish magazine caused
further mortality among the defenders
of Spain on shore.
On the water the burning, sunken or
destroyed Spanish vessels could be seen,
while only the cruiser Baltimore had suf-
tered IN any way from the fire of the
enemy. A shot which struck her ex-
ploded near one of her guns and slightly
injured half dozen of the crew.
Several shots passed dangerously close
to Admiral Dewey, but little or no dam
age was done on board the flagship.
On the other hand about $50 men are
said 10 have been killed on board the
Spanish ship, which was totally de-
stroyed. Admiral Montejo, the Spanish
commander, transferred his flag to the
Isle de Cuba when his ship caught fire,
but the latter was destroyed also in due
course of time.
The Reina Christina lost her captain.
a lieutenant, her chaplain and a midship-
man by one shot which struck her bridge.
About 100 men were killed and 60
wounded on board the Castillo Indeed.
some estimat ties place the number Of Span
ism wounded during the engagement at
over 1000 men.
The Olympia was struck five times
about her upper works and a WhalebOat
of the Raleigh was smashed.
Dewey Expected Rioting.
Although the Krupp guns on the esplan-
ade of Manila were fired continuously
during the engagement, Admiral Dewey
did not reply to them. and the battery
afterward hoisted a white flag in token
of surrender. The terms of the capitula-
ton were still unsettled when the Nc
Culloch left Manila, and it was said Ad-
miral Dewey feared rioting upon the part
Of the insurgents if he attempted a bonn
bardment of the remaining Notifications
at Manila.
The forts at the entrance of the bay
We're dismantled Wednesday after they
had capitulated.
1t is said the American commander or
dered the cable &c be cut because the
Spaniards refused to permit him to use it
pending the complete surrender of the
city.
Was Advised to Surrender.
1t is said the Spanish ships did not get
under steam until after the alarm was
given. 1t is said, also, that the Spanish
commander informed the governor-gener-
a. that it was advisable to surrender in
the interests of humanity, as it was i'm
possible to resist successfully, but that
he and his men were willing enough to
fight ard die.
Even when the Spanish flagship was
shot half away her commander, though
wounded, refused to leave the bridge till
the ship was burning and sinking her
stern shattered by cannon shell and her
steam pipe burst.
AS yet there are no further details of
the fighting. After it was over Admiral
Dewey sent an ultimatum to the city bat
terry. ordering IL to cease firing or he
would lombard.
The Petrol chased Il gunhoat up the
River Passig, and the Spanish captain
came in boat to negotiate conditions of
surrender. The American captain re-
Piled: Unconditional surrender or
fight
To this the Spanish answered: eve
are willing to fight. Please allow us to
send for ammunition, because our store
is exhausted"
On a proposal to the existing authori-
ties to continue temporarily under the
American flag, pending the termination
of the war, the Spaniards delayed their
decision and kept wiring to Madrid The |
Americans requested the privilege Of u.s.
ing the wire, and when this was refused
they cut the cable.
The Esmeralda, from Hong Kong, ar
rived right in the middle of the battle |
During the adjournment for breakfast |
an American cruiser was detached to !
meet her, as it was believed she might be |
a Spaniard. When it was found that
the new arrival was a British vessel she |
was warned to keep away. The Esme- |
ralda, therefore, moved up the bay ten
or fifteen miles.
There are still two or three Spanish |
gunboats about the Philippines. but no
resistance from them is probable. One |
recently captured an American bark.