The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-05-11

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''Remember the Maine" arose from
the throats of Eve hundred men at the
guns.
This watchword was caught up in tur-
rets and FIRE rooms where every seaman
or fireman stood at his post "Remem-
ber the Maine'' had rung out for defiance
and revenge. Its utterance seemed un-
preIneditated. but was evidently in every
mans mind, and now that the moment
had come TO make adequate reply to the
murder Of the Names crew, every man
shouted what was in his heart.
The Olympia was now ready to begin
the fight. Commodore Dewey, his chief
staff commander. Lamberton, and aide
and myself, with Executive officer Lieu
tenant Reese, and Navigator Lieutenant
Colkins, who coned the ship admirably,
were on the forward bridge. Captain
Grideley was on the coming tower, as Il
was thought unsafe TO risk losing all the
senior officers by one shell. ''You may
fire when ready. Gridley." said the Com
modore at forty minutes past five O'Clock.
At distance of 800 yards the starbosrd
s-inch gun in the forward tnrret roared
forth compliment TO the Spanish forts.
Presently similar guns from the Balti-
more aud the Boston sent 250-pouud shells
hurling toward the Castillo aud The Reina
Christina for accuracy. The Spaniards
seemed encouraged to fire faster, know
ing exactly our distance, while we had to
guess theirs.
SHOT FLEw THICK AND FAST
Their ship and shore guns were making
things hot for US. The piercing scream
shot was heard often by the bursting Of
time fuse shells. fragments Of which
would lash the water like sbrapnel or cut
our hull and rigging.
One large shell that was coming straight
at the Olympia's forward bridge f'rtu-
nately fell within less than hundred
feet away. One fragment cut the rigging
exactly over the heads Of Lan,bertnu.
Reese and myself Another struck the
bridge gratings IN line with it. 4 third
passed just under Commodore Dewey
and gouged hole in the deck.
Incidents like these we're plentiful. onr
men actually 0hafed At being exposed
without returning fire from all our guns.
but all laughed at danger and chaited
pleasantly. a few nervous 'eilows eou d
not help dodgng mechanically when
shells would burst straight over them. or
close aboard, or would strike the water
aud pass overhead with that peculiar.
spluttering roar made 10y Inmbling rifle
projectile. Still the flagship stood in the
centre OF the Spanish line, aud. a. the
other ships were assern, the Olympia re-
eeived most of the Spsniards' Ere. Owing
TO her deep draught Commodore Dewey
felt constrained 20 change his course at a
distance OF 1900 yards and run parallel 70
the Spanish column.
"Open with all guns,n he said. and the
ship brought her port broadside bearing.
] The roar of all the ships 5-inch rapid
guns was followed by deep diapason oi
her turret s-inchers.
/ Soon our other vessels were equally
hard at work. and we could see that our
shells were making Cavite harbor hotter
for the Spaniards than they had made the
/ approach for Us
Other ships were also doing their whole
duty, and soon not one red and yellow
ensign remained aloft, except on a bat.
terry up the coast. The Spanish flagship
aud the Castillo had long been burning
/ fiercely and the last vessel to be abandon.
ed was the Don Antonio de Alloa. which
lurehed over and sank.
THE SPANISH FLAG HAULED DOWN.
Then the Spanish flag on the arsenal
staff was hauled down, and at half pas
twelve o'clock white flag was hoisted
there. Signal was made to the Petrol u
destroy all vessels in the inner harbor
and Lieutenant Hughes, with an armed
boat crew, set fire 10 the Don Juan de Ans
tria, Marquis Duero, the Isle de Cuba and
the Correo. The large transport Manila
and the many tug boats fell into oul
hands.
Capture or destory Spanish Squad
ron, !" were Dewey's orders. Never were
instructions more effectually carried out
Within seven hours after arriving on tbs
J - ~o4so-. ,,ofbfur N u.