The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-16
THE MANILA FIGHT.
The Story Of the Actio. ~ Told by Com
mander Wood.

b Story Of the Actio. ~ Told by Com
mander Wood.
Washington. June ia mail report
just received at the navy department
from Commander r.. p. Wood of the
eunboat Petrol. under date OF May 4,
gives an interesting account Of the en-
gagement at Manila bay. supplement-
airy to the report OF Admiral Dewey.
After telling substantially as set out
In Admiral Dewey's report Of the fore
ing OF the entrance to the bay. Com
mander Wood describes the action with
the Spanish forts and fleet. He SAYS
the column OF American ships circled
three times from east to west in front
OF the shore. standing i'm q little nearer
each time. the first circle being distant
about 5000 yards N the third about
1,S0O yards. Several times the vessels
had TO cease firing on account of the
smoke and to economize ammunition.
Most of the great gun fire was at the
Reina Christina and Castillo, the for
mer steaming aroun the harbor and
the latter anchored about 500 yards OF
Sangley point. but the other and small
err vessels were fired at whenever op-
p~ortunity offered. The fire of the rapid
fire guns was aimed especially at a
yellow launch. which was a torpedo
boat trying to turn the American flank.
The navigator. Il. A. Fiske. was sta
TONED In the topmast with a stadi-
meter. to determine the distance and
report pom the efficiency OF the fire.
Captain Wood tells how the action
interrupted at 7:30 o'clock in order
TO give the men breakfast. When IL
esumed the Petrol rounded Sang
ley point about 500 yards outside of
where the Castillo was burning. The
fire vas hen directed to the Don An
tonic de Ullao. and when II was found
that she was sinking and deserted. the
Petrol passed inside and opened fire
upon the ships behind the inner break
water. whose masts were seen above
the government buildings. During the
fire on the Ullao, a white nag with a
Geneva cross was discovered in range
of her. so the Petrol moved In further
to get IL out of range.
After the first two shots were fired
over the buildings, the Spanish nag
was at 1880 p. m. hauled down and a
white flag was run up. The surrender
was Immediately signaied to the feet
n fighting ceased. In obedience to or
ders from the flagship to destroy all
shipping I'm the harbor. Lieutenant
Hughes was sent with a small whale
boat and a crew of seven men. his
whaleboat being the only one on the
NIP WHICH WOulu HO0t. dnu set nTe 10
the Don Juan de Austria, the Isla de
Cuba. the Isla de Luzon. the General
Tenzo and the Marquis del Duro.
Afterward Ensign Fermier was sent
to set fire TO the Velasco and Ell Cor
REQ. The Isla de Cuba, the Isla de Lu-
con and the Don u de Austria were
and full Of water when they
were fired. Their cupboard valves were
opened n the ships were allowed to
Tha hRAAnh rlatoa - tho lac !
guns had been taken OF and could not
be found. During the night the maya
zines of the Don Juan de Austria blew
up. The Manila was not burned. be-
cause the Spanish officials begged that
she be not destroyed. being unarmed
and a coast survey vessel, so she was
under steam and hauled out. The
Ullao vas sunk. and the Christina and
were burned in the outer har-
Dor. Lieutenant Fiske OF the Petrol
ashore m brought of two gun
boats and three steam launches.
There were no casualties on the ship,
and the ship was struck only once, be-
meath the hawser pipe by a piece OF
shell. which burst just Is 1t sank.
There was the greatest confusion in
he arsenal. The men were all armed
OF a desire TO continue fight
Ing. Instead OF resisting the destruc-
ton OF their ships the Spanish sailors
were rather inclined to assist and to
to the first officer that they
could meet.
On the Petrol there was less confu-
sior than at ordinary target practice,
the boat loading was rapid and the
airing accurate. The conduct of each
and every officer and man was excel
lent. Commander Wood particularly
called attention to the gallantry of
Hughes in taking a boat $
crew OF seven men and, in the face OF
a large force on shore, setting nre TO
the five ships.