The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-13

should we paint the heroic deeds, the
prowess. the waves of valor which burst
forth from our men-of-war? Those who
| fought beneath the Spanish flag bore
themselves like men, as chosen sons OF
our native land who never measured
forces nor yield 10 superior force in the
hands of an enemy; who would rather
die without ships that live in ships which
have surrendered
ITO name those who distinguished them
selves in battle would require the publica-
ton of the entire muster rolls Of our
ships. from captain 10 cabin boy. To
these victorious seamen Of ours We offer
congratulations laurels for the living;
prayers for the dead; for all our deepest
gratitude.
Since we cannot reconstruct the
bloody scene which was exhibited last
Sunday in the waters of Cavite, we will
not attempt a description. which would
only be a pale shadow of great deeds de-
serving a perpetual place in the pages Of
history.
When the hostile squadron turned to-
ward Cavite. the crew of the steamer
Isla de Mindano heard the drums beating
10 quarters and answered with enthusi-
asm three rounds of cheers for the king,
for the queen and for Spain, which echoed
along our line.
Later, until a quarter to five. absolute
silence reigned. Everything was ready.
The idea of death was lost in ardor for
the fray, and every eye was fixed on the
hot 80 In
perfect and majestic order-why should
we deny this?-the nine Yankee ships
advanced in battle array. The Olympia,
bearing the admiraPs flag, led the column
followed by the other ships, steering at
full speed toward Cavite. The Olympia
opened fire and an instant reply came
from the battery on the mole, which kept
on firing at fve-minute intervals, while
the ironclad shaped her course for the
Reina Christina and Castillo. Into both
these ships she poured a steady and
rapid fire. seconded by the ships which
followed in her wake. Another ship
which directed a heavy fire on our line
was the Baltimore, and so the cannonade
went on until a quarter to s. At that mo-
ment the Don Juan de Austria advanced
against the enemy, intending to board
side had not stopped her self-devoted
charge, both ships would perhaps have
sunk to the bottom.
THE captain of the Reina Christina,
seeing that the resolute attempt of his
consort had failed, advanced at full speed
until within 200 yards of the Olympia,
aiming to attack her. Then a shower of
projectiles swept the bridge and decks,
filing the ship with dead and wounded.
Heroes and martyrs whom the nation
will remember as long as it endures!
"a dense column of smoke from the
bow-compartment showed that an incen-
diary projectile, such as the law of God
and man prohibits, had set fire to the
cruiser. The ship, still keeping up her
fire on the enemy withdrew toward the
arsenal, where she was sunk to keep her
from falling into the hands of the Yam
KEGS.
'"The desperation of the men Of the
Reina Christina was aggravated by the
sight of the Castillo, also in blaze from
a similar use of incendiary projectiles.
THE principal ships of our little squad
ron having thus been put out of action,
the Yankee vessels, some of them badly
crippled by the fire of our ships, and the
batteries at Port Sangley, stood out to-
ward Mariveles and the entrance of the
bay, ceasing their fire and occupying
themselves in repairing injuries until 10
o'clock, when they began a second attack
to complete their work of destruction.
I'm this second assault the fire at the
arsenal was extinguished and they con-
tinued to cannonade the blazing gun
boats.
"One gunboat, which seemed to have
nothing more venturesome to undertake,
detached herself from the squadron and
set to work to riddle the mail steamer
Isla de Mindanao.
Now that the ships were in flames.
the Admiral, Senior Montejo, who had
shown his flag as long as there was a
vessel afofat, landed and hostilities
ceased.
THE only Spanish ship which had not
been destroyed by fire or by the enemy's
projectiles sunk herself so that she could
in no wise be taken.
such. in broad outlines, which we can
not correct at this moment, was the naval
battle of Cavite, in which the last glimpse
of our squadron showed the Spanish flag.
"A thousand sensational details have
reached US. which we would reproduce
gladly, after the necessary corrections,
if our pen would serve for anything OK
cept to sing the glory of these martyrs
of the nation"