The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-09

Manila.
Our Fleet Entered With Ease.
The American fleet entered Manila
bay on Saturday night with the great
est of ease. The Spaniards had not
established a patrol and there were
no searchlights at the entrance of the
bay. In fact, the American ships
would probably have passed inside the
bay without any challenge had it not
been that some sparks flew from the
McCulloch's funnel. Thereupon few
shots were exchanged with the bat
teries on COrregidor Island, but the
fleet did not slow down, and soon took
UP a position near Cavite, awaiting
dawn in order to commence hostili-
ties.
The early hours of the morning re-
vealed the opposing ships to each
other, and the Spanish flagship opened
fire. Her action was followed by some
of the larger Spanish warships, and
then the Cavite forts opened up and
the smaller Spanish vessels brought
lHelr guns lnLO play
The American squadron, which had
been led into the bay and through the
channel by the flagship Olympia, did
not reply, though the shells of the
Spaniards began to strike the water
around them, but moved majestically
onward. When nearing Baker bay
sudden upheayal of water short dis
tance ahead of the Olympia showed
that the Spaniards had exploded a
mine or torpedo. This was followed
by a second and similar explosion.
They were both utterly unsuccessful.
The American fleet was then drawing
nearer and nearer to the Spaniards,
whose gunnery was very poor, tho
shots from the Cavite batteries and
from the Spanish ships being equally
badly aimed, either falling short or 60
ing wide of the mark.
When the American fleet entered the
bay, coming through the southern
channel between Caballo and Frile ISL
cts, the following was their order:
The flagship Olympia, the Baltimore,
the Raleigh, Concord, Boston, Petrol
and McCulloch, with two storeships,
the Nanshan and Zafro, bringing up
the rear. And in that order they swept
grandy before the city and faced the
enemy in column line.
Dewey Reserved His Fire.
Though the Spaniards had opened
fire at 5000 yards, the Americans re-
served their fire until within 1000
yards of the enemy, when the real
battle began.
The Reina Christina, Castillo, Don
Antonio Uloa, Isla de Cuba, Isla de
Luzon and the Mindanao were in line
of battle outside of Cavite at that time.
with four gunboats and the torpedo
boats inside the harbor.
The American ships then passed back
wards and forwards six times across
the front of the Spaniards, pouring in
upon the latter a perfect hail of shot
and shell. Every American shot SEEM
ed to tell, while almost every Spanish
shot missed the mark.
After having thus scattered death
and decentralization among the Spanish
feet and the Spanish batteries the
American fleet retired for breakIasv,
and incidentally council of war was
held on board the Olympia.
By this time the Spanish ships were
in desperate condition. The flagship |
Reina Christina was riddled with shot |
and shell, one of her steam pipes had
burst and she was believed to be on
fire. The Castillo was certainly on
fire, and soon afterward their condition |
became worse and worse, until they |
were eventually burned to the waters |
edge.
The Don Antonio de Ulloa made |
most magnificent show of desperate |
bravery. When her commander found |
she was SO torn by the American shells |
that he could not keep her afoat he |
nailed her colors to the mast and she
sank with all hands fighting to the
last. Her hull was completely rid
died and her upper deck had been
swept clean by the awful fire of the
American guns, but the Spaniards,
though their vessels were sinking be-
meath them, continued working the
guns on her lower deck until she sank
beneath the waters.
Torpedo Boat Shot to Pieces.
During the engagement Spanish
torpedo boat crept along the shore and
round the ofilng in an attempt to at
tack the American ships, but she was
promptly discovered was driven ashore
and was actually shot to pieces.
The Mndanao had in the meanwhile
been run ashore to save her from sink
ing, and the Spanish small craft had
sought shelter from the steel storm be-
hind the brcakwater.
The battle, which was started at
about 5:3 a. m. and adjourned at $50
a. m, was resumed about noon, when
Commodore Dewey started in to put
the finishing touches of his glorious
work. There was not much fight left
in the Spaniards by this time and
at 2 D. m. the Petrol and Concord had
shot the Cavite batteries into silence,
leaving them heaps of ruins and float
ing the white flag.
The Spanish gunboats were then
scuttled the arsenal was on fire, and
the explosion of Spanish magazine
caused further mortality among the
defenders of Spain on shore.
the water the burning, sunken or
d Spanish vessels could be seen.
while only the cruiser Baltimore mad
suffered in any way from the fire of the
enemy. A shot which struck her ex-
)loded some ammunition near one Of
Ter guns and slightly injured half
lozen of the crew. Several shots pass
I'd dangerously close to Commodore
Dewey, but little or no damage was
lone on board the flagship. The wound
I'd sailors are: Lieutenant Frank w.
Kellogg Eusign Nnhla Irwin Cox
swan d.. ..,.,... ..hcT, l.ulua.iI,liI |
Robert l.. Barlow, Coxswain Edward
CoXswain William O'keefe
md Seamen Richard p. Covert and
Rosario Ricciardelli.