Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-08
BATTLE OF MANILA.
EYE-wITNEssEs TELL OF THE
TERRIFIC MAY-DAy FIGHT.
SPANISH WERE COURAGEOUS.
They Stayed by Their Guns ns
Long as the Latter Could he
Used - American Superiority I'm
Ships and Men.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 7.-Among the
passengers on the Belgic to-day from
Hcngkong were four men who partici-
| pated In the fight of Manila on May LIST.
| They are Paymaster G. A. Loud Of the
dispatch boat McCulloch; DR.. Charles p.
Kindleberger. surgeon of the Olympia
Ralph Phelps. secretary to the captain
| of the McCuloch. and j. G. Evans, gun
ner OF the Boston. They left Manila on
May 5th.
Dr. Kindleberger and Gunner Evans are
going home. on account of the expiration
Of their sea-time. Paymaster Loud and
Mr.. Phelps are here on business, and
will return 10 the McCulloch. They all
speak Of the valor and determination Of
their opponents in the battle of Manila.
They say that the Spanlards fought
bravely, even after the last vestige of
hope had gone. and stayed by their guns
as long as the latter could be used.
DR.. Kindleberger gives a graphic ac-
count of the fight. He was on the Olym-
pia through it all. In the first assault
the flagship took the lead. the other YES
sells following in her wake at four ship
lengths. The Spanish feet was APP
preached by laps, each turn bringing the
contestants nearer together. BY this
plan the American ships frequently pour
ed broadsides into the enemy, but were
themselves not exposed to fire. At one
time the smoke became so dense that it
was necessary to draw aside to allow the
clouds to lift. The vessels were exam
ined, and ii was found that they had sus-
tanned no damage. Breakfast was served
to the men, and in a few minutes they
re-entered the fight with the greatest en-
thusiasm. The second fight was even
more fierce than the first. 1t was in that
that the Baltimore was struck.
SPANISH BRAVERY.
During the fight the Spanish Admirars
ship put bravely out of the line to meet
the Olympia. The entire American fleet
concentrated fire on her, and she was so
badly injured that she turned around to
put back. At this juncture the Olympia
let fly an S-inch shell, which struck her
stern. and pierced through almost her
entire length, exploding finally in the en-
gine-room, wrecking her machinery. This
shell killed the captain and sixty men.
and set the vessel on fire. In the heat
of the fight two torpedo-boats moved out
TO attack the fleet. They were allowed
70 come within 800 yards when a fusillade
from the Olympia sent one of them to the
bottom, with all on board and riddled the
other. The second boat was later found
turned up on the beach, covered with
blood.
In the second fight the Baltimore was
sent TO silence the fort at Cavite. She
plunged into a cloud OF smoke, and open
ed all her batteries on the fortihcations.
In few minutes a she'll struck the am
muntion, and the fort blew up with a
deafening roar. The work Of the Balt-
more was glorious.
After the principal ships had been de-
stroyed, the Concord, Raleigh. and Pc
tre, being Of light draught, were sent in
close, to handle the remaining vessels OF
the feet. They made quick work of them.
SPANISH LOSSES.
In taking possession of the land forts
several hundred wounded Spaniards fell
into the hands of the Americans, and
nearly 200 dead were accounted for on the
spot. Holes in which numbers had been
hastily buried were found. The dead
were returned to relatives, so far as this
could be done. and the wounded were
cared for in the best manner by the
American surgeons.
The Spanish loss footed up 400 killed,
eco wounded. and a property loss of any
where from S. 100000 TO 100000.
The day of the fight was clear and hot
Not a breath of air was stirring. After
the first battle the Americans were great
ly tagged by the heat, and the rest and
breakfast allowed them by the Commo-
dore were of inestimable benefit. When
the men were at breakfast a conference
of all the officers was held on board the
Olympia. when the details OF the second
battle were made known by the Commo-
dore.
AMERICAN SUPERIORITY.
Several shots struck the Olympia, and
she was pierced number Of times. one
shell struck the side of the ship against
the hospital ward. The chaplain and
nurses were stunned by the conclusion.
- Experts have figured out that the fight
ing volume of the guns Of the respective
sides of the battle was three for the
American against seven for the Spanish.
1t is clear then, that the superiority was
in the ships and the men.
Paymaster Loud. who was on the Nc
Culloch during the battle, was a witness
Of the events on both sides. From his
position he could see every movement Of
the American ships and could also see the
battle plans OF the Spaniards. For two
hours" said Mr. Loud. 1.-The steady thun-
der Of cannon was kept up. The roar
was something terrible"
HEAVY SPANISH FIRE.
at one time really thought we would
be beaten. This was after the firing hao
been kept up an hour. 1t looked like
every gun on the Spanish ship had turned
loose on us all together, and the shore
line was a veritable blaze of fire from
the batteries. The din was simply in
describable. Tons upon tons of shot fell
over our ships. There was steel enough
TO have sunk our entire fleet. Our saliva
ton was in the bad Workmanship of the
Spaniards. Some Of the batteries, how
ever were better trained. Nearly all of
our ships were struck by both large and
small shot, but no damage of consequence
was done.
DEWEY'S PLANS.
when the oos arrive from san
Francisco, Commodore Dewey viii de-
mand the immediate surrender or the city
and the troops stationed there. If re-
fusal is given. fire will at once be opened
from the warships, and forcible posses
sion will be taken. There will be no
difficulty in holding Manila and the Phil
ippines Complete subjugation OF the
Spanish force in the group will be accom-
plished without trouble, and with very
little danger to American life. The In
surgents are very friendly. and at the
time we left were besieging the town in
large force. They are acting under or
ders from Commodore Dewey"
Tha Reloic rennrts sighting the frsf