The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-05-14


rigging. exactly over the heads OF
Lnmberion, Reese and myself Anoili-
err struck The bridge grating in line
with il. A third passed just under
Commodore Dewey and gonged hole
in The deck. Incidents like these were
plentiful.
The flagship sicered for the center
Of the Spanish line, and as our DINER
ships we're asicrn, The Olympia re-
ccivea most OF the Spaniards' atten-
ton.
Owing 10 their deep draft, Commo-
dore Dewey felt constrained TO change
his course nj n distance of 1000 yards
and run parallel TO the Spanish col
umn.
nOnen with nj! guns" he said, and
the ship brought her port broadside
bearing. The roar of all The fiagship's
5-inch rapid-frers was followed by a
deep diapason Of her tnrret S-inchers.
Soon The other vessels were equally
hard at work, and we could see that
our shells we're making Caviie harbor
hotter for The Spsniards than they had
made the approach. for US. Protected
by their shore batteries, and made safe
from close attack the Spaniards were
in strong position.
The Spanish ships were sailing back
aud forth behind the Castillo, and
their fire, too, was hot.
One shot struck the Baltimore and
passed clean through her, fortunately
hitting no one Another ripped up
her main deck, disabled a 6-inch gun
and exploded box of 3pounder
Ammunition, wounding eight men.
The Olympia was struck abreast the
gun in the wardroom by shell, which
bnsi outside, doing little damage.
The signal halyards were cut from
Lieutenant Brumby's hand on the
after-bridge A shell entered the
Bosion's port quarter and burst in
Ensign Dodri,!ge's siateroom, starting
a hol fire. and fire was also caused by
shell which burst in the port ham,
mock netting Both these fires we're
quickly put out.
Another shot passed through the
Doston's forcmast, just in front OF
Captain Wilder on the bridge.
After having made four runs along
the ships line, finding tho chart incor-
rect, Lieutenant Clakins, the Olympia's
navigator, told the commodore he be-
lieved he could take the ship nearer
the enemy, with lead going TO show
the depth of water. The flagship
started over the course for the fifth
time, running within 1000 yards Of The
Spanish vessels. Al this range every
6-pounder was effective, and the storm
of shells poured npon the unfortunate
Spanish began TO show marked resnlta
Three of the enemy's vessels were
seen burning and their fire s!ackened
On finishing this run Commodore
/ Dewey decided 10 give the men break
| fast, as they had been at the guns two
hours, with ouly one cup Of coffee Il
sustain them Action ceased temper
arily at 1855 O'Clock. the other ships
passed The flagship, cheering Justify.
Oar ships remained beyond rang'
of the enemy's guns until 1880 o'cloce
when the signal for close action agaii
went up. The Baltimore had th'
place of honor'in the lead, with th'
flagship following and the other ship
as before.
The Baltimore began firing at thu
| Spanish ships and batteries at sixteeI
minutes past IL O'Clock, making
series of hits, as IL at target practice
! The Spaniards replied very slowly
and the commodore signaled the Raj
eioh, the Boston and Concord and III
Petrol 10 go into the inner harbor an'
destroy all the epemy's ships.
/ BY her light lraugh, the l.itlePetro
was enabled 10 move within 100
Yards. Here, firing swiftly but &c
curaiely, she commanded everything
still flying the Spanish flag.
The other sbips were also dom
their whole duty, and soon not on
red and yellow ensign remained alof
except on battery up the coast. Tn
Spanish flagship aud the Castillo ha
long been burning fiercely, and the las
vessel TO be abandoned was the Do
Antonio de Ulloa, which lurched owe
aud sauk. Then The Spanish flag on III
arsenal staff was hauled down, and a
half past twelve o'clock white fla
was hoisted there.
Signal was made 10 the Petrol I
destroy all the vessels in the inne
barber, and Lieutenant Hughes, wit
an armed boats crew, set fire 10 tn
Don Juan de Austria, Marquis Duer'
the Isle de Cuba and the Correo.
THE large transport Maniia an
many iugboats and smal.craft fell int
!, our hands.
"Capturc or destroy the SPANS
squadron" were Dcwey's order
Never were Instructions more effec
ually carried out. Within seven hour
after arriving on the scene OF actio
notitnor ra,naiuel 10 he done