The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-06-16
STILL TELLING THE STORY.

Washington June ia mail report just
received az the navy department from
Commander +. p. Woods OF the gunDoat
Petrol. under date OF May T. gives an
Interesting account Of the engagement at
Manila bay. supplementary 20 the re-
pori OF Admiral Dewey.
After telling substan Icy as set out
IN Admiral Dewey's report forcing OF
the entrance 20 the bay Commander
Woods describes the action with the
Spanish forts and fleet He says the
column OF American ships sailed three
times from east to west in front OF the
shore. standing In nearer each time. the
Spaniards being distant about 500 yards.
Several times the vessels had 10 cease
firing on account OF the smoke and TO
econOmize ammunition Most Of the great
gun fire was al the Reina Christina and
Castillo the former steaming around the
harbor and the latter anchored about so
yards Oh Sangley point. but the other
and smaller vessels were fired at when
fire guns was aimed especially al a
yellow launch. which was torpedo boat
trying 70 turn the American flank. The
navigator OF the Petrol. Fiske, was sta
toned In the topmast with a stadmeter
the distance and report upon the eilic-
iency OF the fire. Capt Woods tells how
the action was Interrupted at 1;So o'clock
in order to give the men breakfast. When
it was resumed the Petrol rounded Sang
ley point about 800 yards outside Of where
the Castillo was burning. The fire was
then directed al the Don Antonio de
Cnoa, and when It was found that she
was sinking and deserted, the Petrol
passed inside and opened fire upon the
ships behind the inner breakwater. whose
masts were seen above the government
buildings.
During the fire on the Ulloa white flag
was discovered in range Of her, so the
Petrol moved in further to get Il out OF
range. After the first two or three shots
at the public buildings and ships behind
the mole the Spanish nag was at l2;SO
p. m, hauled down and a white flag was
run up.
The surrender was Immediately sig
In obedience to orders from the flagship
to destroy all shipping in the harbor,
Lieut.. Hughes was sent with whale
boat and crew OF seven men, this whale
BOAT being the only enc on the ships
which would float, and Hughes set
fire to the Johnde Austria, the Isla de
Cuba. Isla de Luzon, the Lenzo, and the
Del Uro. After Ensign Fermyer was sent
TO set fire to the Velasco and I'll Correo.
The lsla de Cuba, the Isla de Luzon,
and the John de Austria were aground
and full of water when they were fired,
Their outboard valves were opened and
the ships We're allowed to fill. The breech
plugs OF the four-inch guns had been
taken of. During the night the maya
zines of the Don Juan de Austria blew
up The Manila was not burned, because
the Spanish officers begged that she be
not destroyed, being unarmed and a
coast survey vessel, and she was put
under steam and brought out. The Uuoa
was sunk and the Christina and Castillo
were burned in the outer harbor.
Lieut., Fiske of the Petrol went ashore
and brought on two tugs and three steam
launches, There We're no casualties on
the ship and the ship was struck only
once
There was the greatest confusion in
the arsenal, The men were all armed
and moving about, but showed no evi.
dence of a desire to continue lighting
Instead OF resisting the destruction OF
their ships the Spanish sailors were In
clined to assist to surrender to the tirs
officer that they could meet
| on the Petrol there was actually less
confusion than at ordinary target prac
tice, the loading was rapid and the fir,
deliberate. The conduct of each and every
officer and man was excellent. Command
er Wood particularly called attention L
the gallantry of Lieut., Hughes in taking
a boats crew OF seven men and. in tn
/ face of large force on shore, setting
fire to the five ships.