The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-05-10

Rees and Navigator Lieut. Calkins,
who cOnned the ship most admirably,
We're on the forward bridge. Capt.
Gridley was in the coming tower as
it was though unsafe to risk losing all
the senior officers by one shell. You
may fire when ready, Gridley," said
the commodore, and at 5:41 o'clock, at
distance of $500 yards, the starboard
eIght-inch gun in the forward turret
roared forth a compliment to the Span
ish forts. Precisely similar guns from
the Baltimore and the Boston sent 25O-
pound shells hurting toward the Cas-
tilla and the Reina Christina for ac-
curacy. The Spaniards seemed en-
couraged to fire faster, knowing eX-
actly our distance, while we had to
guess theirs. Their ship and shore
guns were making things hot for us.
The piercing scream of shot was varied
often by the
Bursting of TiMc-Fuse Shells,
fragments of which would lash the
water like sharpnel or cut our hull and
rigging. One large shell that was
coming straight at the Olympia's for
ward bridge fortunately fell within
less than 100 feet away. One frag-
ment cut the rigging exactly over the
heads of Lamberton, Rees and myself
Another struck the bridge gratings in
line with it. A third passed just under
Commodore Dewey and gouged hole
in the deck. Incidents like these We're
plentiful. Still, the flagship steered fol
the center of the Spanish line, and as
our ships were astern, the Olympia re-
ceived most of the Spaniard's atten-
ton. Owing to our deep draught Com
modOre Dewey felt constrained to
change his course at a distance Of 400
yards and run parallel to the Spanish
column "Open with all guns" he said,
and the ship brought her port broad
side bearing. The roar of the flag
ships five-inch rapid-firer was fol
lowed by a deep diapason of her tur-
ret eight-inchers. Soon our other YES
sells were equally hard at work and
we could see that our shells were max
inc Cavite harbor hotter for the Span
iards than they had made the APP
proach for us. Protected by their
shore batteries and made safe from
close attack by shallow water, the
Spaniards were in strong position.
They put up a gallant fight. One shot
struck the Baltimore and
Passed Clean Through Her,
fortunately hitting no one. Another
ripped up her main deck, disabled a
six-inch gun and exploded a box Of
three FOUNDER ammunition, ,Wounding
eight men, The OLYMPIA was struck
abreast the gun in the wardroom,
which burst outside, doing little dam
age. The signal halyards were cut
from Lieut.. Brumby's hand on the
after bridge. A shell entered the Bos-
toms port quarter and burst in En-
sign Dodridges staterOom, creating a
hot fire, and fire was also caused by
a shell which burst in the port ham,
mock netting. Both these fires were
quickly put out. Another shell passed
through the Boston's foremost just in
front of Capt. Wildes on the bridge.
The flagship started over the course
for the fifth time, running within 1000
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 were seen burning and their
fire slackened On finishing this run
Commodore Dewey decided to give the
guns two hours with only one cup of
coffee to sustain them.
Action ceased Temporarily
at 1886 o'clock, the other ships passing
the flagship and cheering Justify. Our
ships remained beyond range of the
enemy's guns until 1850 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 her and the other ships as
before. The Baltimore began firing at
the Spanish ships and batteries at
11:16 o'clock, making a series of hits
as if at target practice. The Spaniards
replied very slowly and the Commo-
dore signalled the Raleigh, the Boston,
the Concord and the Petrol to go into
the inner harbor and destroy all the
enemy's ships. By her light draught
the little Petrol was enabled to move
within 1000 yards. Here, firing swift
ly but accurately, she commanded ev-
erything still flying the Spanish flag
Other ships were also doing their
whole duty, and soon not one
Red and yellow Ensign
remained afoat except on a battery up
the COdSI. Lie 0pdHl0h Ati5ohlp anu
the Castillo had long been burning
f1ercely, and the last vessel to be aban-
doned was the Don Antonio de Ulloa,
which lurched over and sank. Then
the Spanish flag on the arsenal staff
was hauled down, and at 1870 a white
flag was hoisted there. Signal was
made to the Petral to destroy all the
vessels in the inner harbor, and Lieut..
Hughes, with an armed boats crew, set
fro +o +bn Don Juan do Austria Mar.