Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-25
lay We buried our chief engineer in Manila


bay.
1t was a hard blow for the Spaniafds to
surrender. but. nevertheless. they put up
brave fight and their defeat was caused
by their poor craftsmanship. The Spaniards
had eleven men-of-war in battle and two
torpedo boats, all of which were sunk or
set on fire by the United States fleet The
Spaniards lost about 800 killed and $50
wounded, while the American fleet did not
lose a man.
1t certainly was an act of Providence.
The Spaniards cut the cable soon after
the fight and tomorrow morning the Nc
Culloch leaves for Hong Kong to carry dis
patches and mail.
l presume by the time this letter reaches
home you will have read all about the bat
tie in the newspapers. / do not know how
long We will remain in these waters with
the squadron. but l am almost sure 1t will
he til peace is declared between Spain and
the United States. We are all anxious to
near how matters are going on in Cuba.
Rather BE Under an Apple Tree.
My personal experiences during the bat
tie l will keep TO myself for the present.
After person gets shot at several times
and you can hear the balls sizzling through
the air you finally get used to it and don't
notice it, At the beginning of the battle
and also when we passed the forts at the
entrance of the harbor l was little nerv-
Gus, but after a time l did not mind the
shots at all, but rather enjoyed hearing
them passing over our heads and watching
them explode in the water. Still, 1 know
now what it is to be shot at, and l would
prefer to be under an apple tree and hear
the ripe apples fall than to be on fight
ing vessel in battle of the present cen
fury l will write socn again and tell you
more + the fight if possible. In the mean
time. give my kindest regards to the Mar
shalls and all inquiring friends.
Hoping you are all enjoying the best of
health. l remain, your loving son and
brother, HENRY.
Carried the News to Hong Kong.
The other letter is almost as interest
ing as the first because of the view it pre-
sents of the conditions at Manila. 1t is as
follows:
U. S. s. McCulloch, Asiatic Squa Iron.
Manila Bay. Philippines, May II, 1898.
My Dear Mamma, Sisters and Brother:
Am still in existence and kicking as
much as ever, as you will see from the fol-
lowing letter.
Since l last wrote to YOU we have been
to Hong Kong and returned to Manila
bay again. We carried the news (of the
glorious defeat of the Spanish) to Hong
Kong. where they could send 4 cable. as
the cable from Manila had been cut as
soon as the Spanish were knocked out
THE McCuloch broke her record and all
other records between Hong Kong and
Manila We knew how anxious the Aner;-
cans were waiting for news of the battle,
know of our victory, 20 we pushed the Nc
Culloch for all she was worth. We are
now on the dispatch boat to Hong Kong
and will leave again for that place to-
morrow.
Frightful Scenes Mt Cavite.
Since We have been here 1 have been on
shore at Cavite several times to see the
results of the battle, and do not think
will go again. as it is terrible. 1 visited
one of the Spanish men-of-war which had
been partially sunk by the shells from cur
ships and you could see the Spanish men
lying around on decks and over their guns
all shot to pieces, some with no legs and
others with their heads gone. 1t certainly
was terrible. That same afternoon our
vessels sent men to gather up all the dead
bodies and bury them on shore The
Spanish when they surrendered did not
stop to bury their dead or take care of the
wounded, but fled to Manila. l also visit
ed the arsenal and navy yard at Cavite
and it was at the latter place that 1 real
lied what damage could be done with an
S-inch shell. The shells from the guns of
our fleet hal gone through whole rows of
brick buildings and tore them all to pieces:
others had gone through buildings and
then exploded and there was nothing left
of the buildings.
Il also visited the Spanish admirals
or our vessels had gone into the admirars
room and exploded and there were only a
few things left whole.
have succeeded in getting a few SOU
Venlrs from the Spanish forts and vessels
such as buttons, buckles, ETC., which will
send to you as soon as 1 have an oppor-
tunity-
Easy to Take Manila.
1.-The city of Manila has not surrender
ed yet: in fact, our admiral has not de-
manded the surrender yet. as we would
have to feed and take care of the 30 600
nNln
wish to do. In case he did want the town
all he would have to do would be to send
word to the governor shore at Manila
that he would lombard the town II they
did not surrender in twenty-four hours,
and l think the Spaniards would soon
come down off their perch
I presume the people of the United
States went wild when they heard of the
victory Of our fleet over the Spanish We
are all anxious to hear how things are 60
ginning to realize what war Is and that
there really is war; and the more 1
think the more feel what a strange thing
it was that not one American sailor was
Killed during the battle here and hundreds
were killed on the Spanish side, and every
vessel OF the Spanish was either sunk or
blown to pieces. while our vessels euffer-
ed very little damage.
Spanish Ignorance of the Guns.
THE Spaniards had modern ships with
modern guns and their land batteries had
fine S-inch Krupp guns in them. My con-
clusions of our victory are that the Span
iards did not know how to handle their
guns; had they known how to shoot
straight l do not think one of US would
have lived to tell the story.
Il do rot have very much time to call
my own now, as We are working night and
day Irregular sea watches all the time) and
the result Is do not have time to write
letters Cor go to balls or tea parties or to
cinners-O So if you hear of any Of my
friends kicking about not hearing from me
Just tell them to read in the newspapers
about the Philippines and they can see for
themselves what the U. s. 8. McCulloch is
doing.
Il received your last letter, which had
been forwarded to me from Yokohama.
and was very glad to hear that you were
all enjoying good health. l am ENJOYING
good health also, but lot Of discomfort.
as 1t Is SO warm down here.
with kindest regards to the Marska!ls
and tnquiring friends and relatives, / re-
main. with best love to you all, your low
ing son and brother, Henry"
Assistant Engineer Schoenborn Is twenty
four years old and talented. He was a
member of the Washington High School
class of 1891. and then went to Cornell
University, where he graduated IN 1895 in
the courses of mechanical, electrical and
plarine engineering. Upon leaving the uni