The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-12
THE MEN BEHIND THE GUNS,
4 Pathetic Tribute To tho Brave Sea-
men Under Dewey

men 4 nUef dewey
The world was wrapped In slumber,
the morning was many hours distant,
when in the blackness Of the night the
American fleet weighed anchor and sped
away to Manila's harbor. Naught could
be heard save the swish Of water, thump
Of wheels and throb OF engines as the
great war vessels swung into line on their
mission of destruction. No light could
be seen and few were tho words spoken
as each seaman's heart was stirred with
anxious expectation and filled with in
tensity of feeling in view Of the terrible
struggle so soon to come.
we are now approaching the Manila
harbor' announced the officer on watch.
Steam ahead" replied the Admiral
I've have now come TO the entrance
said to be mined" steam ahead and
signal the feet 10 follow flashed back
the answer.
1--WE have been fired upon by the enc
mics fort" was the next report. steam
ahead and save your powder was Dew
ey's order, and into the harbor every
vessel glded.
The stars had now begun 20 fall in the
skies and the gray light of morning 20
dawn upon the silent city, awakening
from slumber. The morning mists had
lifted enough to show the outlines OF the
city and the long curved shores under
whose batteries lay the Spanish fleet
aroused by the signal gun. Onward
glided the American fleet and as II ma
noeuvred into line Of battle. shot from
the enemys flag ship opened the fight
which was answered from guns OF the
Olympia when lie flash OF FIRE and roar
Of cannon from every side announced TO
Fnr ~ =
battles had commenced.
For hours At ragged in hercenes5 and
fury, and the world looked on in bated
breath as these sea monsters grappled
in their death struggle. each intent upon
the destruction or the other But when
the last gun had been fired and the
smoke of battle had cleared, there was
Stiffness and a great calm had fallen
upon the deep. broken only by the sor-
rowful wall that went up from the
doomed city. a great tragedy had been
enacted; every Spanish snip had been
sunk or burnt and their brave seamen
had gone down 10 a watery grave.
Not an American ship was lost, noe a
sailor killed. 1t was triumph Of Amer
lean arms "a victory won by tho YaIor
and genius Of American seamen.
The greatest of naval battles had been
fought and the city OF proud Casuhan
lay az the mercy Of the American COM
mander, her ships sunk. her batteries
suenced, and the very water red with
the blood of her bravest seamen.
Electric wires had flashed from con-
tinent 10 continent, over land and sea. 90
the remotest parts Of earth the glorious
triumph OF American arms I'm the Islands
Of the East. Wherever breathes an
American citizen, wherever pulsate9
Anglo-Saxon blood. wherever virtue has
"a votary and human heart is stirred by
sympathy for the distressed and op-
pressed a thrill OF delight fills the soul
and that heart goes up in profound graf
itude 10 Almighty God. All hail 70 the
American fleet, as with patriotic emo
IONS and swelling pride we point TO
the stars and bars and talk Of American
valOr. We honor the brave men who
have given us the victory under alien
skies Far from friendly shores encOm-
passed With difficulties and surrounded
by q cruel anu merciless foe, they went
forward in the death struggle TO conquer
or die. and to-day no name I'm all the lana
rings out with higher praises than that