The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-02
A Reporter For the State Jour-
nal
Sees the Battle of Manila From
Behind.
HOW IT'S MANAGED.
Twenty-Five COIOred Men Nov
ed the Ships Around.
The '"Picture,'' the Largest
Used For Such a Show.

A reporter for the State Journal was
behind the scenes at the Battle of Ma
niIla" last night.
On the decks of the battle ships, in
the fort of Cavite and in the mountains
surrounding the bay of Manila, the re-
production of the victory of Admiral
Dewey was a great deal different than
it was from the grand stand
Just as the crowd commenced to ar
rive the mountains were hoisted to
their position at the top of the line of
poles in the rear. The fort of Cavite
was raised above the mountain range
and the tower and flag placed in posi-
ton. Then the cool green waters of
Manila bay were hoisted high enough
to allow the ships plenty of draught.
The smoke stacks, masts, flags and an
chors of the ships were placed in posi-
ton and braced to keep from falling
over when the great ships plOughed
through the briny deep to meet each
other in mortal combat.
The picture" as the scenery is pro-
fessiOnally called. was the largest ever
put on exhibition with such a show A
line of stakes $50 feet long and braced
from behind, supported the first line of
water scenery. Behind the first row
and about six feet from it was the Sec
ond consignment of water This, like
the front row, was about six feet wide
and was drawn to the top of poles, the
bottom of the scenery being a little be-
low the range of vision over the top of
the front row. The rear row was about
u feet from the ground and besides wa
ter had the land surrounding the bay
and the fort on the hill. This arrange
ment of the scenery left two passage
ways between the lines of scenery. The
last passage way just under the fort of
Cavite was used for the movement of
the battle ships. Just behind the fort
was a platform large enough for one
10 to he fE1.a 7fc-IN
ces." On the United States ship Olym-
pia one man acted as the entire crew
including admiral and chief cook. The
Spanish boats could boast of no larger
crew.
Mr.. James Cunliffe was sole manager
of the naval engagement and directed
the movements of the American and
Spanish SquadrOnS and also looked aft
er the fort on the hill. He had rs col
Ored men to help him. Part of them
were to run the United States ship
Raleigh and the Spanish battle ship
Reina Christina and others were to
run the Spanish and American torpedo
boats across the bay. After everything
was in readiness, bombs and explosives
We're scattered around the scene of the
battle for distance of 200 feet. One
of the colOred men from the American
fleet was detailed by Mr.. Cunliffe to
keep guard of the place and not to al
low anyone to smoke, as a burning ci-
gar dropped carelessly near the maya
zine of the American ships might turn
course were to win. Mr.. G. z. Drown,
the manager of the show, was smoking
a cigarette near the upper deck of the
Olympia, when the guard said:
mo smoking here, sub. De American
show would be spilled"
Immediately promoted to be the pilot of
the Olympia and to guide the pole of the
wa gOn bearing that mighty ship.
When the Networks part Of the pro-
gramme had been gone through with,
lo17d hrT7 ann a ne q
the Spanish fleet and fort had commenced-
Then the Olympia, manned by haIt a dozen
NJ IOo13e eIi sInIvIW bur maiesffcaiIV out INTO
the bay The bottom of the bay was
rather rough, and when the wheels of the
Wago9 struck stone ne sIl14ke IS [s@
the bon1bardment opened in earnest.
Shells. mines. torpedoes, rockets and ex-
noise. The coIored men one by one, drew
off to get away from the explosions. The
crew of the Olympia stood CALAMITY t
their posts until the fort blew up and
only a minute for when the pride of the
Spanish navy blew up they took to their
Behind the scenes the noise was terrific
was a regular rain Of falling wads; sticks
1Ir cGniiffes asss 5ti Vent here and
here and a fuse there. Everything was
arranged just so. and during the battle
though explosives were lyingg around
everywhere.
away ali there was to do was to cut a
rope and let the walls fall over. The
same fort will be blown up a good many
times before it reaches San Francisco.
When the Reina Christina blew up it
was carefully lowered over the second line
Of water scenery and all was over. From
the rear, or in the midst of fight. the bat
tie of Manila was pretty tame, except that
it was noisy.
The set pieces in front of the picture
looked a well from the rear as in front
and the picture of Admiral Dewey was an
excellent likeness. The American flag
was not as large as expected
Those who have seen other of Pain s
fireworks were free to say that the Battle
of Manila is not as good as some of the
others. It lacked noise. A dozen shot
guns loaded and fired regularly would help
it out. The majority of the audience.
however, was well pleased. About 5000
people were present.