Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1898-05-12

.,fl,.. l. Stiekney Z { . STAG corr
.,so.ient - = Louis Rspuilic AMI Nes NerS
E.-,A siih ~. Asiatie s-iuairuul
ox BOARD rHE FLNs>HfP OLYMPIA.
v,VuA. Philippine Islands. Nav !. via
NM. kuSs. May Mot one spanish
AZ ai,s in Manila hay to-day. Not one
spanish varship floats except as our
pre-.
More than 80 Spanish dead and 80
a, ~ wounded attest to the accuracy
a the American fire
Commodore Dewey attacked the Span
IA position at Cavite this morning. He
rrp, I've times along the line. and
.,,rrl one Of the most brilliant sue
or,ses in modern warfare.
That our loss is trifiing adds to the
u,assre Of victory without detracting
trgn is value The number II hits our
vsscls received proved how brave and
subhorn was the defense made by the
spanish forces
Miraculous a. IL may appear. rome of
cur men was killed. aud only eight
we're wounded Those who were
ruundcd suffered Only slight injuries.
Commodore Dewey arrived OF Ma
ra bay last night. and decided To en-
sr the bay at once.
With all its lights out. the squadron
scanned into Boca Grande. with crews
u the guns. This was the order of the
squadron, which was KEEP, during the
rhole time OF the first battle.
The flagship Olympia
The baltimore.
The Raleigh.
The retrel
The Concord.
The boston
Il was Just eight o'clock. a bright
rconlight night. But the flagship
p1sAe.l Corrcgidor island without a sign
bing given that the Spaniards were
sxarr ~ its approach.
No, until the flagship was a mile be-
| pond eorregidor was a gun fired. Then
or heavy shot went screaming over
the Raleigh and the Olympia. followed
hy a second. which fell farther astern-
The Raleigh, t. Concord and the
Boston replied. Il Concord's shells ex-
ploding apparently exactly inside the
shore battery. which fired no more.
Our squadron slowed down to barely
steerage way. and the men were al
0wed To sleep alongside their guns.
Commodore Dewey had timed our ar
rval 80 that we were within five miles
Of the city of Manila daybreak.
We sighted the Spanish squadron,
Rear Admiral Montejo commanding,
on Cavite-pronounced kahveetay,
with aneent on the wee Here the
sPaniards had a well-equipped navy
yard called Cavite arsenal
Admiral Montejos flag was flying on
The 3,5oo-ton protected cruiser Reina
.rlstina. The protected cruiser Cas-
ulla, Of 200 tons. was uaoored head
aud stern to the port battery. and To
ssward were the cruisers Don Juan
De Austria, Don Antonio de Ulloa. Isla
De Cuba. IsIs de Luzon. Quiros, Marques
eei onero and General Lezos.
These ships and the flagship re-
halned under way during most Of the
aetion.
with the United States flag flying at
~ their mastheads. our ships moved to
'ae attack in line ahead. with speed
aelght knots. first passing in front of
Manila, where the action was begun by
.nFee batteries mounting guns power
la' enough to send shell over us at a
Instance OF five miles.
ihe Ioneords guns doomed out a
,sePy 10 these batteries with two shots.
so more were fired, because Commo-
so'e Dewey could not engage with
'nsse batteries without sending death
sna destruction into the crowded city.
AZ We neared Cavite two very pow :
uiul submarine mines were exploded
mead OF the flagship. This was six
minutes past five o'clock
me spaniards evidently had mis-
!s'ged our position. Immense volumes
- water We're thrown high in air by
shese destroyers, but no harm was done
"our ships.
= eoninodor~ Dewey had fought with
fasrugut at New Orleans and Mobile
.s, where he had his first experience
n torpedoes. Not knowing how
Lny more mines there might be ahead,
Nc sun Kept on without faltering.
10 other mines exploded. however.
~ " Is believed that the Spaniards
only these two in place.
lew minutes later the shore bat
~ AZ Cavite Point sent over the flag
- snot that nearly hit the battery
G. a. But soon the gunners at
- got better range, and the shells
a" 70 strike near ms or burst close
Ooard from both the batteries and the
spanish vessels.
az neat was intense. Men stripped
clothing except their trousers.
as the Olympia drew nearer all was
n snent on board as if the ship had
NJ empty, except for the whirr OF
and the throb of the engines.
=. suddenly a shell burst directly over
a. rom the boatswain's mate at the
hVe-ineh gun came . hoarse cry;
EExExBER THE NAME
N arose from the throats of 500 men
1t the guns.
tins ls watehword was caught up at the
and fre-rooms, wherever sea
~ fireman stood at his post.
member the Maine had ruug out
aAnce and revenge. Its utterance
d. unpremeditated. but was evi-
tbss IN every mans mind. and, now
oD.. sne moment had come to make ade-
NJ reply to the murder of ths
"a. crew, every man shouted what