The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-08
SAN THE FIRST BATTLE.
PARTICIPANTS IN DEWEY'S VIC
TORY REACH SAN FRANCISCO.
Among Them Is Gunner Evans. Who
Fired Destructive shots at the
Spanish War Nessels-sirnphic' Ac-


from Hongkong were fosE' men who par
tis@ pated In the fight Of Man.la' hay on
May !. They are Paymaster 9, A. Loud.
vi The dispatch beat McCulioeA; ps.
Charles 2. hindleberser. surgeon Of the
Olympia; Ralph Phelps, secretary 20 the
captain Of the McCulloeh. and j. c. Ev-
ans. 4 gunner OF the Boston.
They left Manila on May ) pr, kindie-
berger and Gunner Evans are g2irg home
On account OF the expiration OF their ssa
tirle. Paynaster Loud and Mir. Phelps
are here on business, and will return 70
the McCuuoch. They all speak Of the
valor ana determination OF their oppo-
nents in the battle OF Manila. They say
that the Spanish fought hraveiy, even at
ter the last vestige of hope mad gone. and
stayed by their guns as long as they could
be used.
DIR. kindleberger gives a graphic ac-
count OF the terrible light. He was IN the
Olympia through IL all. In the first as
sault the flagship took the lead. the other
vessels following N her wake at four ships
lengths. The Spanish feet was approach
ed by laps. each turn bringing the con-
testants nearer together. BY this pan the
American vessels frequently poured bFeaf-
SIDES into the enemy, but were themselves
exposed 10 the fire.
AT one time the smoke became So dense
that IL was necessary % draw aside. allow
ing the cloud to lift. The vessels We're
examined, and il was discovered that they
had sustained no damage.
Breakfast was served 10 the men, and
IN a few minutes they re-entered the hight
with the greatest enthusiasm. The second
fight was even more fierce than the first.
II was in thau that the Baltimore was
struck. During the first fight the Spanish
admirars flagship put braveiy out Of the
Inc to meet the Olympia The entire
American fset concentrated fire on her,
and she was so badly injured that she
turned around and put back. AT this june
ture the Olympia let fly an eight-inch
shell. which pierced through almost her
entire length. exploding finally in the en-
CINE room. wrecking her machinery. This
shell killed the captain and sixty men
and set the vessel on fire.
In the heat OF the fight, TWO torpedo
boats moved cut to attack the fleet. They
were allowed 20 come within $50 yards,
when fusillade from the Olympia sent
one TO the bottom, with all on board and
rddled the other The second boat was
later found turned up on the beach covered
with blood.
In the second fight the Baltimore was
sent TO silence the fort at Cavite. She
plunged into a cloud of smoke and opened
all her batteries On tho fortifieations. In
a very few minutes q shell struck in the
ammunition. and the forts blew UP with
a deafening roar.
The work of the Baltimore was eiori-
Gus. After the principal ships had leen
destroyed. the Concord. Raleigh and Es-
trel being Of light draft. were sent close
in 10 handle the remaining vessels of the
fleet. They made quick work of them.
In taking possession of the land forts.
several hundred wounded Spanisrds
fell into the hands of the Ameri-
accounted for on the spot Holes
in which numbers had been hastily
buried were found. The dead were return
ed TO relatives as far as this could be done
and the wounded were cared for N tho
best manner by the American surgeons.
The Spanish loss footed uIt 100 killed. eso
wounded and a property loss of from
s6000,000 to 100000.
The day of the fight was clear and hot.
Not a breath of air was stirring. After
the first battle. the Americans were great
~ tagged by the heat. and the rest for
breakfast allowed them by the oommo-
dore was OF the greatest benefit. While
the men We're having breakfast n confer
ence of all tha officers was held on the
Olympia when the plans of the second bat
tie were made known by the commodore.
Several shots struck the Olympia and she
was pierced a number of times.
Experts have figured CUT that the fight
ing volume OF the guns Of the respective
sides in the battle was three for the Amer
leans against seven for the Spenlards II
is clear then that the superiority was in
the ships and men themselves. the Ameri-
cars having the experience and the nerve,
Gunner Evans, of the Boston, was one Of
the men who sent the Spanish ships down.
He directed the fire of one OF the big guns
on the cruiser AS such officer he was at
ali times greatly exposed but did not re-
ceiye q shot. Not a man on the Boston re-
ceived a scratch.
Psymaster Loud. who was on the Me
Culoeh during the battle. WAS a witness
OF events on bosh sides From his posi-
ton he could see every movement OF the
American ships and could also see the
battle plans of the Span.ards.
For two hours" said Mr. Loud. 1.-The
steady thunder OF cannon vas kept UP.
The roar was something terrible,
AT one time / really thought we would
be beaten. This was after the fire had
been kept up for an hour. II looked IKE
every gun on the Spanish ships had
turned loose on Us altogether. and the
shore line was a veritable blaze Of fire
from the batteries. Tons and tons Of shot
fell over ships. There was steel enough
10 have sunk our entire fleet.
our salvation was In the bad marks-
mansh.p of the Spauiards. Nearly all
their shots went wide of the mark. Some
az the batteries. however. were better
trained. Several guns maintained a rak-
ing fire on tae feet. Nearly all Of our
ships were struck by both large and small
shot. but no damage OF consequence was
done.
we left Manila on The sth. ~ that time
Commodore Dewey was IN possession OF
the shore and arsena- Con siderable am
muuition and guns were captured Manila
on the opposite Of the bay. had not been
taken. and Il was rot The purpose OF Com
rnodore Dewey 10 do 80 a that time. OF
course. The city and its suburbs were COM
ple'eiy a, the mercy OF our guns. and We
could have laid Il n ruluS in a very short
ume. but the force on the waFsA.ps IS TOO
small 10 land and keep W.
When The troops arrive from San Fran
cisco Dewey Will aasnand ths immediate
surrender OF the city. and the troops sta