The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-09
SAMPSON NOW N CONFLICT.


COnt1nue0 FROM rage One.
Our men naturally chafed at being ex-
posed without returning fire from all our
guns, but laughed at danger and chatted
good-humoredly. A few nervous fellows
could not help lodging mechanically
when shells burst right over them or
close aboard, or would strike the water
and pass overhead with the peculiar
tiuttering roar made by rumbling rifle
You may fire when ready, Gridley,"
said the Commodore, and at forty-one
minutes past 5 O'clock, at a distance
of $500 yards, the starboard eight inch
gun in the forward turret roared forth
compliment to the Spanish forts.
Presently similar guns from the Balti-
more and the Boston sent 25O-pound
shells hurting toward the Castillo and
the Reina Cristina for accuracy.
The Spaniards seemed encouraged to
fire faster, knowing exactly our distance,
while we had to get theirs. Their ships
and shore guns were making things hot
for us.
The piercing screams OF shells was
varied often by the bursting of time fuse
shells, fragments Of which would lash
the water like shrapnel or cut our hulls
and rigging.
Still, the flagship steered for the centre
of the Spanish line, and as our other
ships were astern, the Olympia received
most OF the Spaniards' attention.
Owing to our deep draught, Commo-
dore Dewey felt constrained to change
his course at distance OF 1000 yards
and ron parallel to the Spanish column.
"Opcn with all guns" he said, and
the ship brought her port broadside
bearing.
The roar Of all ;he ilagship's five-inch
rapid tirers was followed by the deep
diapason of her turret's eigbt-inchers.
! soon our other vessels were equally
| hard at work. and we could see that our
shells were making Cavte harbor hotter
for the Spaniards than they had made
the approach for MS.
PROJECTED by their shore batteries, and
made safe from close attack by shallow
water the Spaniards We're in a strong
position. They put up a gallant fight.
The Spanish ships were sailing ba k
and forth behind the Castillo, and their
fire, too, was hot.
One shot struck the Baltimore and
passed clear through her, fortunately
hitting no one. Another ripped up her
nam deck, disabled a six-inch gun and
exploded a box of tlrec-pounder am
munitinn. wounding eight men.
The Olympia was struck abreast the
guns in the ward room by shell which
burst o'tsdc, doing little damage
The signal hal yards were cut from
Lieutenant Rrumby's hands Oh the after
bridge
\ shell entered the Boston's port
quarter and burst in Ensign Dodridge' $
state room, starting a hot fire, and fire
was also caused by Il shell which burst
IN lh' port hammock netting. Both
) these fires were quickly put out.
Anot her shell passed through the
Buston's foremost just in front of Cap
tain Wildes Oh the bridge.
After having made four runs along the
: Spanish line, finding the charts incor-
= rect, the Olympia'> navigator told the
commodore he believed he could take
he ship nearer the enemy, with lead GO
ing to watch the depth Of water.
The flagship started over the course
for the fifth time, running within 2O00
yards OF the Spanish Vessels.
i At this range even six-pounders were
effective and the storm of shells poured
upon the unfortunate Spanish began to
, show marked results.
, Three "t the cneny's vessels were seen
, burning, and their fire slackened.
On finishing this run, Commodore
Ne rey decided to give the men break.
fast, rs they had been at the guns tive
tours with only one cup OF coffee 10 sus.
tai them. Action ceased temporarily at
lhlrtN.ilvt minutes past O'Clock, the
t OF er ships passing the flagship and
, lccring Justify.
Z Our ships remained beyond range OF
I'll the enemy's guns until ten minutes t.
| II O'Clock, when the signal for clos,
! action again went up The Baltimore
$ had the place Of honor, in the lead, with
the flagship following and the Other
ships as before.
t The Baltimore began firing at the
D Spanish Ships and batteries at sixteen
minutes past II o'clock, making series
o OF hits as if at target practice.
The Spaniarls replied very slowly, and
: the commodore signaled the Raleigh, the
: Boston. the Concord and the Petrol to g,
, into Il e inner harbor and destroy all tic
! enemy ships.
: By her light draught the little Pctn
was enabled to move within 900 yards
Here, firing swiftly, but accurately, she
n commanded everything still flying the
+ Spanish flag.
Othert ships were also doing theil
4 whole duty, and soon not one red anG
Il yellow ensign remained aloft except on
battery up the coast.
! The Spanish flagship and the Castillo
+ had long been burning fiercely, and the
$ last vessel to be abandoned was the
J. Don Antonio de Ulloa, which lurcheG
G over and sank.
Then the Spanish flag ION the arsenal
$ staff was hauled down, and at half past
e twelve O'Clock II white flag was hoisted
/ there. Signal was made to the Petrol to
4 destroy all the vcsse in the inner har.
=, Dor, and Lieutenant Hughes. with III
j. armed boat crew. set fire to the Don
r Juan de Austria. Marquis Ducro, the
1sla de Cuba and the uprrec.
, The large transport Manila and many
:, tugbnts and small crafts fell into olll
q hands.
II "Capturc or destroy Spanish squad
rom" were Drwcy's orders.
Never were Instructions more effect.
uaily carried ont. Within seven hour,
u aiter arriving upon the scene of ac
II ton not hing remained to be done