Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-05-13

| the Baltimore, but still n real anC
| powerful floating fort, with her two s
inch guns and her six G-inch rapid
firers.
The second-class protected cruiser
Raleigh, of about the same size as the
Boston, with one G-inch and ten 5-incl
guns.
The partially protected gunboat
Concord, with six 6-inch guns.
The steel-clad revenue cutter Hugl
McCulloch, turned into a gunboat
Then there was the little gunboa,
Petrol, with four 6-inch guns.
To the rear were the two transport
ships Zafiro and the Manshan, will
coal, ammunition and accommoda
tions for the wounded.
With the bright American flag float
ing gayly over each ship, with the rig
ging, the decks and all visible appoint
ments so neat and trim, the fleet
seemed out for a holiday rather than
awaiting the opening of the only real
demonstration of an ironclad fleet in
action that the world has had.
The Spaniards could hardly believe
their own eyes on seeing this formid.
able apparition in the very center OF
their harbor, almost within firing dis
tance of the capital city of their last
remaining Eastern possessions. II
seemed incredible, impossible.
They had not long to watch and
speculate. The sun was hardly clear
of the horizon before the American
fleet began to steam in slow and
stately fashion straight in toward the
city.
Near its resting place were anchored
three men-of-war from three different
nations-French, German and Eng.
| lish.
The decks and rigging of each OF
these ships were thronged with eager
officers and sailors. Discipline seemed
to be forgotten in the intense desire
to see what the Yankees would do
those Yankees who in three-quarters
of century had never sent hostih
fleet into any port of a European
power.
On came the American fleet until it
was within about three miles OF
Manila.
Then the Spanish guns of the
battery at the end of the mole spoke.
But the shot fell short.
Then from the fleet, steaming slowly
up from Cavite, came several shots.
The American fleet turned. The
two duellists were face to face.
To expert eyes the Spanish fleet
seemed far inferior. Yet the people
watching, and apparently to the Span
ish officers and sailors, the difference
did not seem great.
The Spanish ships were of older
patterns rather than smaller and were
far more numerous. They were:
The Reina Cristina, of 5000 tons
with 6 six-inch and two 3.inch guns
The Castillo, with four 6 inch and
two 5-inch guns.
The Isla de Cuba and the Isla de
Luzon, with four 4.7-inch guns.
Three torpedo boats, each of which
the Spanish naval officers thought
could take care of the Olympia and
the Baltimore.
AS for the rest of the American fleet
they relied upon the Don Antonio, the
Ulloa, the Don Juan de Austria, the
Velasco and ten gunboats.
Then there were the batteries on
shore all along the low peninsula.
To get the full effect of all their
guns, the Spaniards formed so that the
Americans would have to face not only
the guns afoat, but also all guns on
shore at Cavite, while from the rear the
strong batteries of Manila could per.
haps send aiding shots.
When the American manoeuvrines
brought their ships within range at
about 6:45 A. NJ, the real duel began.
The Spanish fleet stood steady
fanked by the Cavite batteries on the
south.
The American feet began to steam
languidly to and fro.
There were one or two sharp cracks
then a succession of deafening roars
and then one long verberating roar
that doomed and beloved from shore
to shore.
A hugh cloud of smoke lay close
upon the waters and around it was q
penumbra of thick haze.
Through this the American ships
could be seen moving, now slowly, now
more rapidly, flames shooting from