Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-06-23

John Il. MARTINI graduate OF Della
ware College, who is "a paymaster in
the United States Navy, now On board
the United States ship Boston. has
written to Christopher Vandegrift, son
of United States District Attorney
Lewis O. Vandegrift, an entertaining
account of the Battle of Manila. The
greater part of this epistle is given
below:
~. S. S. Boston, Manila Bay, May
Q, 1898. My dear boy have no doubt
you would quite enjoy nics long yarn
about all that we have done in past
days. know that when | was a
youngster story from somebody who
had just been through eure.enough
battle would have pleased me i'm
mansely. Truth to tell. however, the
past few days have NOT been good days
for letter writing. There has been too
much excitement. ton much heat and
too frequent Interruptions. | wrute
your sister either from Mrs Bay or
from Hong Kong, giving her some idea
of preparations We were by way of
milking. On last Wednesday in April,
we heard war had been declared
against Spain and got orders to proceed
to Philippine Islands. and capture or
destroy Spanish force atIoat. We got
these orders at noon and at ? p. m. We
we're under way, the U. S. F. S.
Olympia, the U. S. $. Baltimore,
Raleigh, Boston, Concord, and Petrol
the revenue cutter McCulloGh, and the
steam transports Nan Shan and Zatiro.
we steamed on at eight knots or bit
better on account of tina transports
slow speed, and before daylight on
in Int i 1
on main island of Luzon. The Boston
and Concord were then detailed to
leRva squadron and look in at BAY of
Luby, where we were told there were
torpedoes and maybe gunno or two.
a PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE.
All the way over from Mrs Bay we
had heen continuing preparations. All
chests, boxes, book cases, ladders,
gratings-everything that would make
splinters IL hit by shell we're thrown
overheard. Bulkheads and all wood
work of every kind was torn out and
thrown away.
AT z Saturday we cleared ship, that
is took down yenilaturs, awning
stanchions, rail above deck, &C., aud
by noon with everybod at the guns,
steamed easily intn Luby Bay. We
missed hitting torpedoes, saw no gun
boats. and after leisursly looking about
came out and joined the squadron ut 8
p. m. We all lay to and captains went
to flaHghin; in half an hour they came
back. Officers were called up and we're
informed of the commander. in chief's
plan ufEaction. The entrance to Maniln
Bay was divided by Corregidor Island ;
batteries wers on this island and on
mainland opposite, ard both channels
were torpodoed and mined. Order was
to run the batteries with 10 light Save
hattle-lanterns on gun-deck, chance
the torpedoea and once past the hat
teries to back and fill to daylight and
tnen attack their navy wherever found.
Commodore thought most of their
ships were under guns of the town,
hut il some were at Cavite. the navy
Yards ssven miles away, Boston and
Concord would be detailed 10 care for
them. The island was to be passed
with silent guns. We were to 90 in
silence, unless attacked, when we were
to fire back.
WONDERED HOW THEY WOULD FEEL.
In the clearing ship, ward room
was Quilted, tables cleared away, &C.,
and OF course had no galley fires ali
Gay. We picked up what we could eat
incur hand for lunch and dinuer, and
al $50 got under way. We were In
plain sight OF land and at 9 went 10
quarters. 1t was right anxious hour.
There was no sensible reason to hone
or expect that We would all get through
unhurt, and few, IL any of us, had ever
been under fire ami were naturally
curious as to how. it would seem and
: how We would feel, BY IL few wer,
10 sight of Corregdor and in column
we toddled by, the flagship ahead and
Boston astern. They did lot OF
signaling on land. but no shot was
nred, ana by l we were well past the
man battery or where wa thought tht
main battery was. Spare ammunition
was sent below and we were speaking
OF our good fortune, when whanp
went gun on point where no CUR
was looked for and in a moment a shel
went shrlekIng over US right between
our masts-our men were at the gum
and our after eight-inoh gun bearipr
on the fash; they let hsr 20 twl
learned later that she had the rare goot
luck to disable the shore gun fred Al
US. A half dozen mora shots were ex
changed, but despite the fact that W,
had to slow down to let the transport
and cutterH Keep up. we we're soon out
OF rangs. 1t was then nearly 2 a. m.
Our work was TO begin at daylight
and best officers and men could do wa
get nap on deck. By we coult
make out shipping off Manila and vi
drew up pretty near before we wer,
sure there were no men Of war. W,
then headed over toward Cavite, 500,
we could see the men of war. Sigma
was run up for cutter and transports /,
draw off and wait for US and for us /,
follow the flagship. 1t was thrillip,
moment and very interesting one
Olympia made fine sight % she stenme,
ahead. When about three milss Of
they fired at her; on she vent replyin,
deliberately to thsir fire. -Four good
Hized ships were seen under way wei
clear OF arsenal point and more-hoy
many we could not see-were bebipt
navy yard and the sand battery, man
periug away at us. Very soon we 90
where our guns would bear, and thej
shots began to reach US. Most of then
we're too high, thank goodness, but tn
way they whistled over our heads was
caution.
PASSED ENEMY's FRONT FIVE TIMES.
We went round aud round, in sor
Of elongated elipse, passing their from
i've times in all. Tho second time W
approached 1 was on the bridge when or
was heard There comes torpedoboat
we were so near We could easily se
with naked eye boat come round tn
sandy point and head fnr US like
shot. The cry heard. it was but
moment until our secondary batter,
was brought to bear; a half dozeI
seconds and they picked up the rang,
and 1 give you my word the wateI