The silver star., 1898-05-12

Soon all our vessels were equnuJ
hard at work and we could see tha
our shells were making Cavite harbOl
hotter for the Spanlards than they
had mag the approach for us.
Protet.Sd by their shore batteries
and made safe from close attack by
shallow water the Spaniards We're In
liant fight. The Spanish ships wert
sailing back and forth behind the Cas-
tilla and their fire, too was hot.
One shot struck the Baltimore and
passed clean through her fortunately
hitting no one. Another ripped up hei
main deck. disabled six-inch gun and
exploded box of three-pounder am
munition. woundlng eight men.
The Olympia was struck abreast the
gun in the ward room by shell
which burst outside. doing little dam.
age.
The signal halyards We're cut from
Lieutenant Brumby's hand on the aft
er bridge 4 shell entered the Boston S
port quarter and burst in Ensign DOd
ridges stateroom. starting hot fire
and fire was also caused by shell
which burst in the port hammock net
ting Both these fires were quickly put
out
Another shell passed through the
Roston's foremast. just in front OF
Captain Wildes. on the bridge.
After having made four runs along
the Spanish line. finding the chart in
correct. Lieutenant Calkins. the Olym-
pia's navigator. told the commodore
he believed he could lake the ship
nearer to the enemy with the lead go.
ing to watch the depth of water. The
flagship started over the course for
the fifth time. running within 2.OW
yards of the Spanish vessels.
At this range even six-pounders were
effective. and the storm of shells
poured upon the unfortunate Spanish
began To show marked results. Three
of the enemy's vessels We're seen
burning and their fire slackened.
On finishing this run Commodore
Dewey decided To give the men break
fast. as they had been mt the guns
two hours with only one cup of coffee.
The vessels Withdrew out of range of
the enemy's guns and remained there
until II O'Clock, when the battle was
renewed.
The Spnniards replied very slowly.
and the commodore signaled the Raj
cigh. the Boston. the Concord and the
Petrol to 20 into the inner harbor and
destroy all the enemy's ships.
BY her light drauglt the little Petrol
was enabled to move within 1000
yards. Her firing swift. hut accurate.
commanded everything still hying the
Spanish flag.
Other ships were also doing their.
whole duty. and soon not one red and
yellow ensign remained aloft except
on the coast. The Spanish flagship
and the Castillo had long been burn
ing fiercely. and the last vessel to be
abandoned was the Don Antonio de
Ulloa. which lurched over and sank.
Then the Spanish ilag on the arsenal
staff was hauled down and ut half
past l. o'clock IA white fiag was hoist
ed there. Signal was made to the Pc
trel To destroy all the vessels in the
inner harbor and Lieutenant Hughes.
with an armed boats crew. set fire to
the Don Juan de Austria. Marques
Duero. the Isla de Cuba and the Cor
REQ. The large transport Manila and
many tug boats and small craft fell
into our hands
Following wounded. all Baltimore:
Lieutenant F. W. Kellogg. Ensign U.
T.. Erwin and enlisted men Barlow.
Budinger. Covert. O'Keefe. Ricciar-
delli and I.uelgroyc. wounded during
first hour of engagement.
The forts made n nominal resistance,
but Were quickly overpowered. The
shore garrison did not capitulate.
however. and when the American fleet
ceased firing the Spaniards ON shore
Were still defiant.
Cavite is in utter ruin and has sur
rendered. the gunboats have been
scuttled and the arsenal was ON fire
and exploded. causing great mortality.
The commodore of the fleet on board
the Reina Christina was wounded. and
her captain. lieutenant. chaplain and
midshipmen We're killed by a shell
striking the bridge. Eighty OF her
crew We're killed and sixty wounded.
ON the Castillo one hundred were
killed and sixty wounded. ON the Cas-.
tilla one hundred were killed and six.
~ wounded.
The terms OF capitulation are still
unsettled. Commodore Dewey fears
rloting by the rebels If he attempts a
bombardmcnt. The forts at the en-
trance TO the bay capituiated and were
dismantled on Wednesday. The Amer.
leans cut the cable. but the Spaniards
refused to permit cable operators ia
come to the ships, as they are willing
to do.