The Dickinson press., 1898-06-25

WA4ACA NoAo No1y ueuVA1y uOuuG.
ed, the ordnance including several 10
inch guns. The Spaniards gave us a
reception, and we soon found that
tho Don Antonio d'Ulloa and the Reina
Cristina (the fagship) carried much
heavier guns than we thought. They,
however, did no execution, while the
poured by our vessels, as,
headed by the Olympia, they steamed
across the mouth Of the harbor, soon
made an impression.
"We fired the port battery and then
came around and fired the starboard bat
terry, repeating this operation four or
five times. The second time we came
around Admiral Montijo came out in
the Reina Cristina and gallantry assail-
ed us. We received him warmly, and I
do not know how in the world he escap-
ed with his life. While the old admiral
was standing on the bridge a shot from
M of our vessels blew the bridge clean
over, but the admiral somehow escaped,
for we saw him afterward calmly pac-
ing the deck. Finally, finding he could
do no good, he turned to get back into
the harbor, but before he could take
shelter an 8 inch shell from the
Boston struck his vessel in the stern
and set her Oh fire. Later she sank with
some 200 men. The admiral was among
those who escaped.
"The Castillo was next to take fire,
and the Don Antonio d'Ulloa followed.
Two torpedo launches which lay in
wait off Cavite attempted to run in
with torpedoes against the Olympia,
and there were some trying moments f0r
the crew. The shells from the big guns
did not succeed in hitting such small
objects as they rapidly approached.
When within 800 yards of the flagship,
the secondary batteries Of the Olympia
sent in q perfect hail of 6 pound
shells, smashing up the leading boat,
killing all on board and driving the Sec
ond lauach back on the beach with 10
shot holes through her. This boat was
afterward found covered with blood.
SPY this breakfast time had arrived,
and the commodore gave q signal to
haul off a short distance, not going to
anchor, however, and the commanding
officers had a consultation. The attack
was resumed at about II o'clock. This
time we directed our attention to the
Cavite batteries, the Spanish fleet hav-
ing been practically annihilated. The
Baltimore took the lead. She had orders
to attack the shore batteries, and she
went and did the checklist thing of the
whole day. The batteries mounted 10
inch guns, a shot from one Of which
would, if 1t had struck her, have blown
the Baltimore into atoms. The vessel,
however, to the admiration of the whole
feet, went in full speed until she got
close under the batteries. Then she
swung round and let them have it with
a vengeance. 1t was wonderful to see
her calamity sail into the teeth Of the
guns and silence them.
"Not only the feet, but all defensei
of any importance had by this time beer
destroyed. I shall not soon forget the
sight which the harbor presented. The
smoking hulks Of the Spanish vessels
which had not yet sunk were seen to be
strewn with corpses and woundedsmen,
and bodies were floating about In thu
water. I should think the Spanish lost
about 800 men killed and wounded
while on our side not man was lost
and only one badly hurt. az5sa
"The first part Of the battle LASTED
over two hours. The steady thunder o!
the cannon was kept up. The o wa
something terrible. The terrific fire wa
kept up from the forts and Spanish ship
upon Jul fleet. It looked to us from til.
McCulloch as though our vessels coult
not possibly survive the fusillade
Heavy shells and solid shot fell arount
them like hail from the clouds, an,
many exploded Immediately over tn,
ships. At one time I really thought W
would be beaten. This was after tn
fire had been kept up for an hour. ]
looked as though every gun on the Span
ish ships had turned loose on us alto
gether, and the shore line was a verita
BILE blaze Of fire from the batteries. Til
din was simply INDISPENSABLE. Tons up
on tons Of shot fell oyer u ships. Yes
there was steel enough to sink fou
fleets.
"Our salvation was the bad mark
manship Of the Spaniards. They har
died their pieces like boys, Nearly al
of their shots went wide of the mari
Most Of them were high, flying over til
feet and falling into the bay beyond
Some Of the batteries, however, wer
better trained. Several guns m~aintaine
q raking fire on the fleet. Some Of OF
ships were struck by both large an
small shots, but no damage OF cons