Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-06-18

Boston and the Concord were sent to
reconoitre Port Subic. A thorough
search was made of the port by the
Boston and the Concord, but the Span
ish feet was not found. Entered the
south channel at 11.30 p. m, steaming
in column at knots. After half the
squadron had passed, a battery on the
south side of the channel opened fire,
none of the shots taking effect. The
Boston and McCulloch returned the
fire. The squadron proceeded across
the bay at slow speed and arrived
off Manila at dayoreak, and was fired
upon at SIS a. M, by three batteries
at Manila and two near Cavite, and by
the Spanish fleet anchored in an ap-
proximately east and west line across
the mouth of Bakor bay, with their
left in shoal water in Canacao bay.
The squadron then proceeded to the
attack, the flagship Olympia, under
my personal direction, leading, follow
ed at a distance by the Baltimore,
Raleigh, Petrol, Concord, and Boston
in the order named, which formation
was maintained throughout the action.
The squadron opened fire at SAL a.
m. While advancing to the attack
two mines were exploded ahead OF
the flagship, too far to be effective.
The squadron maintained continuous
and precise fire at ranges varying
from 5000 to 1000 yards, counter
marching in line approximately par
allel to that of the Spanish fleet. The
enemy's fire was vigorous, but gener-
ally ineffective. Early in the engage
ment two launches put out toward the
Olympia with the apparent intention
of using torpedoes. One was sunk
and the other disabled by our fire and
beached before they were able to fire
their torpedoes.
"At 7 a. m. the Spanish flagship
Reina Cristina made desperate at
tempt to leave the line and come out
to engage at short range, but was re-
ceived with such a CALLING fire, the en-
tire battery of the Olympia being con-
centrated upon hel, that she was
barely able to return to the shelter OF
the point. The fires started in her by
our shells at the time were not extin-
guished until she sank. The three
batteries at Manila had kept up con-
tinuous fire from the beginning of the
engagement, which fire was not re-
turned by my squadron. The first OF
these batteries was situated on the
south mole head at the entrance of the
Pasig river, the second on the south
position of the walled city of Manila,
and the third at Violate, about one-hali
mile further south. At this point |
sent message to the encouragement
to the effect that if the batteries did
not ceased firing the city would be
shelled. This had the effect of silenc-
ing them.
"At 7.35 a. m. I ceased firing and
withdrew the squadron for breakfast
At1l.16 returned to the attack. BY
this time the Spanish flagship and al
most all the Spanish fleet were in
flames. At 1890 the squadron ceased
firing, the batteries being silenced and
the ships sunk, burned, and deserted
"At 1910 the squadron retired and
anchored off Manila, the Petrol being
left behind to complete the destruction
of the smaller gunboats, which were
behind the point of Cavite. This duty
was performed by commander +. Z
Wood in the most expeditions anc
complete manner possible. The Span
ish lost the following vessels: Sunk
Reina Cristina, Castillo, Don Antonio
de Ulloa; burned, Don Juan de Aus