The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-08
BATTLE of MANILA BAY.
Returned Omcers of Dewey's Ships
Tell of the Memorable Fight.

San 4 hANClSCO, CdI., June i.--AInoHS
the passengers who arrived on the Belgia
to-day from HongKeng were four men who
participated in the fight of Manila bay on
May l. They are Paymaster G. Loud. of
the dispatch boat McCulloch; DR.. Charles
P. Kindleherger. surgeon of the Olympia;
Ralph Phelps and ]. c. Evans. gunners of
the Boston. They left Manila on May s.
DR.. Kindleberger and Gunner Evans are
going home on account of expiration of their
sea time. Paymaster Loud and Mr. Phelps
| are here on business and VIII return to the
McCulloch. They all speak of the valor
and determination of their opponents in the
battle of Manila. They say the Spaniards
fought bravely. even after the last vestige
of hope had gone, and stayed by their guns
as long as they could be used
DR.. Kindleberger gives a graphic account
of the terrific fight He was ON the Olympia
through 1t all. In the first assault the flag
ship took the lead. the other vessels follow
ing in her wake, at four ships lengths. The
Spanish fleet was approached by laps, each
turn bringing the contestants nearer to-
gether. BY this plan the American vessels
frequently poured broadsides into the
enemy, but were themselves more exposed
to fire. At one time the smoke became so
dense that it was necessary to draw aside
to allow the cloud to lift. The vessels
were examined and it was found they had
sustained no damage. Breakfast was served
to the men. and in few minutes they re-en-
tered the fight with the greatest enthusiasm.
The second fight was even more fierce than
the first. 1t was then that the Baltimore
was struck.
During the first fight the Spanish Ad-
miraPs ship steamed bravely out of the line
-
centrated fire on her and she was so badly
injured that she turned around to put back.
At this juncture the Olympia let fly an
eight-inch shell which struck her stern and
pierced through almost her entire length,
exploding in the engine room. wrecking her
machinery. This shell killed the captain and
sixty men and set the vessel on fire.
In the heat of the fire two torpedo boats
moved out to attack the fleet. They were
allowed to come within 800 yards when a
IuSlllade from the Olympia riddled one and
sent her to the bottom with all on board.
The second boat was later found turned up
on the beach covered with blood.
In the second fight the Baltimore was sent
to silence the fort at Cavite. She plunged in
a cloud of smoke and opened ali her bat
teries on the Notifications. In very few
minutes shell struck in the ammunition
The work of the Baltimore was glorious.
After the principal ships were destroyed,
the Concord, Raleigh and Petrol, being of
hight draft, were sent close in to handle the
remaining vessels of the fleet. They made
quick work of them
In taking possession of the land forts sew
eral hundred wounded Spaniards fell into
the hands of the Americans, and nearly 200
dead were counted on the spot. Holes in
which numbers had been hastily buried
were found. The remains were returned to
relatives SO far as this could be done and
the wounded were cared for in the best
manner by the American surgeons. The
Spanish loss footed up 400 killed, 600 wound
ed, and a property loss of from $S.OOO0OO to
So 000, 900. The day of the fight was hot and
clear Not a breath of air was stirring.
After the first battle the Americans were
greatly tagged by heat, and the rest and
was of inestimable benefit! When the men
were at breakfast a conference of all Of
ficers was held on board the Olympia, when
the plan of the second battle was made
known by the commodore.
Several shots struck the Olympia and she
was pierced a number of times. Spanish
shell struck the side of the ship against the
hospital ward. The chaplain and nurses
were watching the fight through port holes
a few inches away and were stunned by the
conclusion.
Experts have figured out that the volume
Of the guns of the respective sides Of tn, the
seven for the Spanish. 1t is clear, then, that
the superiority was in the ships and men.
! Gunner Evans of the Boston was one of
+he men who sent the Spanish ships down.
He directed the fire of one of the big guns
on the cruiser. AS such officer he was at
| shot. Not man on the Boston received
| scratch.
| Paymaster Loud, who was on the McCul-
| loch during the battle, was a witness of
events both sides. From his position he
| could see every movement of the American
| ships and also see the battle plans of the
| Spaniards. For two hours said Mr. Loud,
| ''Ghe steady thunder of guns was kept up.
! The roar was something terrible. At one
| time / really thought we were beaten This
was after the fight had been kept up an
| hour. 1t looked like every gun on the Span
ish ships had turned loose on us altogether
and the shore line was a veritable blaze
| of fire from the batteries. The din
| simply indescribable Tons upon tons of
| shots fell over our ship. Our salvation was
| in the bad craftsmanship of the Spaniards.
| They handled their pieces like boys. All
| their shots went wide of their mark. Most
| of them went high, going over the fleet and
| falling in the bay beyond. Several batteries
were better trained. Nearly all of our ships
| were struck by both large and small shot,
but no damage of consequence was done.
1--we left Manila on the 9Th At that time
Commodore Dewey was in possession of the
/, shore forts and arsenal. Considerable am
mnnition and some fair guns were captured.
y Manila, on the opposite side of the bay,
/ had not been taken, and it was not the
\ intention of Dewey to do so at that time.
OF course the city and it's suburbs were
kcompletely at the mercy of our guns and
| we could have laid it in ruins in very
short time. But the force on the war ships
| is. too Small to land and take possession.
| When the troops arrive from San Fran
| cisco Commodore Dewey will demand the
immediate surrender of the city and the
| troops stationed there. If refusal is given
| fire will be opened from the war ships and
| forcible possession will be taken at once.
There is no difficulty in holding Manila
| and the Philippine islands. Complete sub
| jugation of the Spanish forces in the group
| will be accomplished without trouble and
| with very little danger to American life.
The insurgents are very friendly and at
| the time we left were besieging the town
| in large forces. They are acting under the
| order of Admiral Dewey"
Both DR. Kindleherper 0f tho OIxvonia
and Gunner Evans. of the Olympia, had
| been ordered home before the battle of
Manila, but when they learned that battle
| was imminent they asked permission to re-
main with the fleet and participate in the
| fight This was allowed and Immediately
| after the battle they started for home
When the Belgic left Hong-Kon Nav
| 8, the bubonic plague was raging and many
deaths were occurring among the white pop
| ulatioB.
One hundred and fifty miles out from
| Honolulu the Belgic sighted the transport
| steamers Australia, Picking and CITY of
| Sydney, which vessels sgnaled that all
were well on board. The steerage passen-
gers and crew of the Belgic will be de-
| tanned at quarantine, but the cabin passen-
| gers will be landed promptly. Three cases
OF smallpox developed on the Belgic after
she left the far East.
The Belgic sailed from Honolulu on June
J. The Charleston had arrived at Honolulu
two days before and was recoaled at the
time of the departure of the Belgic Prepa-
rations were being made at Honolulu for the
reception of the troops, which were ex-
pected to arrive there on the day the Belgic
and public reception was to be given the
me N the ShinS