The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-05-14

the Spanish squadron, and found them
near the entrance of Baker bay, backed
and fianked by the Cavite Notifications,
with the two torpedo boats and four gun
boats inside the mole, which served as
protection, while the Reina Christina,
Castillo, Isla de Cuba, Don Antonio de
Ulloa, Isla de Luzon and the mail boat
Mindanao were drawn up outside. The
Spaniards fired the first shot, at 5000
yards, but it was ineffective. The Amer
lean ships formed in column line and
steamed nearer, reserving their fire until
within 1000 yards. They then passed
backwards and forwards six times across
the Spaniards' front, pouring IN perfect
hail of shot and shell. Every shot SEEM
ed to tell. Then the Americans retired
fast and council of war took place.
Spanish in Desperate Straits.
The Spanish ships were in a desperate
condition. The Reina Christina was rid
died and one of her steam pipes had
burst. The Castillo was also on fire and
both were burned to the waters edge.
The Don Antonio de Ulloa made a mag
nifcent show of desperate bravery. With
the colors nailed to her mast she sank
with all hands.
Her hull was riddled but the guns
were still fired defiantly as the vessel
sank beneath the water. A torpedo boat
tried to creep along the shore around the
offing and attack the Zeafiro. Nanshan
and McCulloch, all non-combatants, but
was driven ashore and shot into bits. The
Mindano was run onto the beach and the
other small craft retired behind the MOLE
Finishing Touches.
The fight started at $3.50, was adjourn
ed at $3.50 and resumed about noon. The
finishing touches were given Cavite by
the Petrol and Concord. The Raleigh
grounded twice in shallow water during
the engagement.
CaYite in Utter Ruins.
Cavite is in utter ruins and also the
surroundings. The gunboats have been
scuttied and the arsenal was on fire and
exploded, causing great mortality. The
commodore of the fleet on board the Re
ina Christina was wounded and her cap
tain, lieutenant, chaplain and the mid
shipmen were killed by shell striking
the bridge.
Eighty of her crew were killed and 60
wounded.
On the Castillo 100 were killed and 60
wounded.
Spanish Losses over 1000.
The Spanish losses aggregate more than
a thousand. There were no casualties
among the Americans except that six of
the Baltimore's crew were slightly wound
ed by one of the enemy's shells striking
shell on the deck and exploding it.
There were three shot holes in her upper
works, five in the upper works OF the
Olympia and a whaleboat smashed on the
Raleigh. No other damage was done any
where.
The disparity between the injury in
ficted on the Spanish fleet and that sus-
tanned by the Americans is due to the
superior guns of the later and the super
ior craftsmanship at long range.
The Manila Esplanade Krupp lO-inch
guns were fired continuously, but the
Americans avoided replying and the bat
terry showed white flag afterwards.
CapituIation stu Unsettled.
The terms of capitulation are still I'M
settled. Commodore Dewey fears rioting
by the rebels if he attempts lombard
ment
The forts at the entrance to the bar
capitulated and were dismantled on We'd
nesday. The Americans cut the cable,
but the Spaniards refused to permit them
to use it pending the surrender of the
city, and it is therefore not known what
is tnnspiring on shore.