The Paducah daily sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1896-1898, 1898-05-09
"OLD GLORY'S" TRIUMPH.
Americas Valiant Navyin Distant Seas Gives
to the World an Emphatic Oh
ject Lesson.
The STORY OF DEWEY'S GREAT ACHIEVEMENT
Graphically Told by Staff Correspondent Who Witnessed
the Great Conflict from the Deck OF
the Flagship. f
STORY OF DEwEY'S GREAT ACHIEVEMENT

Baltimore and the Boston sent $50
pound shells hurting toward the Cas-
tilla and the Reina Christina for ac-
curacy.
The Spaniards seemed encouraged
to fire faster, knowing exactly our
distance, while We had to guess
theirs. Their ships and shore guns
We're making things hot for us.
One large shell that was coming
straight at the Olympia's forward
bridge fortunately fell within less
than 100 feet away. One fragment
cut the rigging exactly over the heads
OF Lamberton, Rees and myself.
Another struck the bridge gratipgs
in line with it. A third passed un-
der Commodore Dewey aud gouged q
hole in the deck. Incidents like
these were plentiful.
The Olympia steered for the Gen.
ter Of 'E' Spanish line and received
~ = e. spanish attention.
.je"rJ .hen changed the course
aud ran parallel to the spanish COL
umn.
"Open with all guns" he said, and
the ship brought her port broadside
bearing. The roar of the fagship's
five-inch rapid-firers was followed by
her eight-inchers. Soon our other
vessels were at work, and we could
see We were making it very hot for
Cavite harbor.
The Spanish ships we're sailing
back and forth behind the Castillo,
and their fire, too, was hot.
One shot hit the Baltimore and
passed through her, hitting no one.
Another one ripped the upper main
deck, disabling six-inch gun, and
exploded box of ammunition,
wounding eight men.
A shell entered the Bcston's port
quarters and burst, starting a
hot fire, which was soon put out.
After making four runs along the
Spanish line the flagship started over
the course for the fifth time, running
within two thousand yards of the
Spanish vessels.
At this range even six Founders
were effective, and the storm Of shells
poured upon the unfortunate Spanish
began to show marked results.
Three of the enemy's vessels were
soon burning, and their fires slacken.
ed.
On finishing this run Commodore
Dewey decided to give the men break
fast, as they had been at the guns
two hours, with only one cup of cof-
fee to sustain them. Action ceased
temporarily at Z: So O'Clock, the 9th
er ships passing the flagship and
cheering Justify.
Our ships remained beyond range
of the enemy's guns until 1880
O'Clock, when the signal for close
action again went up. The Baltimore
had the place of honor in the lead,
with the flagship following, and the
other ships as before The Baltimore
began firing at the Spanish ships and
at 11:l6 O'Clock, making a
series OF hits as il at a target practice.
The Spaniards replied very slowly |
and the commodore signaled the Ra-
eigh, the Boston, the Concord and
he Petrol to go to the inner harbor
md destroy all the enemys ships.
BY her light draught the little Pet
eel was enabled to move within 1000
ards. Here, firing swiftly but ac-
she commanded everything
till flying the Spanish flag.
Other ships were also doing their
'hole duty, and soon not one red
nd yellow ensign remained a1oat,
kept one on battery up the
cast.
The Spanish flagship and the Cas-
lila had long been burning tiercely,
nd the last vessel to be abandoned
las the Don Antonio De Ulloa, which
irched over and sank.
Then the Spanish flag on the Arse
al staff was hauled down, and at
alf-past II O'Clock white flag was
oisted there.
Signal was made to the Petrol to
estroy all the vessels in the inner I,
arbor, and Lieut.. Hughes, with an
rmed boats crew, set fire to the
ION Juan De Austria, Marquis
'uero, the Isle DE Cuba and the
orreO.
The large transport Manila and
any tugboats and small craft fell =
to our hands.
Capture or destroy Spanish squad
IN" were Dewey's orders. Never =
ere instructions more effectively
lrried out. Within seven hours
ter arriving on the scene Of action -
thing remained to be done.