Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-08

Made Admiral.
WASHINGTON, May IA day OF ex-
c,cment such as to-day was has not
tssr seen in Washington since the days
v-e7 reports came in OF great victories
during the civil war. Official and unofi-
rel Washington was In a ferment, and
few Of the employees IN any OF the de-
psrtne ents could maintain their compo-
sure sufficiently to so on with their rou-
tine work. They were in an explosive
state. and at the great State, War. and
Navy Department building the least sign
~ dispatches or the gathering Of crowd
OF reporters was sufficient to cause them
10 crop their work and swarm in the
corridors, clamoring for news. The ex-
element was contagious. and Senators
and Representatives. mixed In crowds
that gathered around the navy head
ouartars and gazed wistfully at the ma
h3rany doors Of the Navigation Bureau
behind which the cipher experts, under
lock and key, were slowly declphering
the words that conveyed Dewey's glo-
nous message to the American people
Senator Hanna aroused the crowd at one
tme by leading with hip. hip, hurrah'
f-r Dewey, and later a roar of stentorian
cheers from Theodore Roosevelts room
rathered everybody in the vast building
10 tho east wing, in time to witness the
departure OF the eastern contingent OF
the mounted rihemen. Mr.. Roosevelt had
said good-by to the boys before they
started, at 2:4O O'Clock this afternoon, for
San Antonio, and the cheer was the
means by which they took their leave.
Mr.. Roosevelt himself will follow Mon
day or Tuesday.
FIRST NEWS FROM WILDMAN.
The State Department has the honor Of
receiving the first news from the fleet. It
came in the shape Of cablegram of
three words from United States Consul
NyUdman, at Hongkong, and was as fol-
lows:
"Hongkong. McCulloch. Wildman."
That is the usual form in which naval
movements are reported by cable This
5ispatch was received by Third-Assist-
srt-Secretary Crldler, who had been on
duty all night. at 4AO o'clock this morn
mg. The naval officials were promptly
notified. and awaited with intense inter
est the dispatch which was expected TO
surely follow from Commodore Dewey.
About half-past 9. Manager Marean. of
ha Western Union Telegraph Company
arpeared at the department, bringing
with him a sheet comprising four lines OF
Pie mysterious jargon which makes up
tra naval cipher. lie handed this di-
r.euy TO Secretary Long, who gazed at
81 for a moment and turned IT over TO
Lieutenant Whittlesey, one of the cipher
experts Of the Navigation Bureau for
Translation into English Then the Sec
rotary made a pretence Of sitting down
ar his desk to transact other business
ts, u was plain TO be seen that in spirit
De had Joined the anxious throng of
uewspaper-men and officials who throng-
ed the reception-room and the Corridors
waiting for the news
The naval cipher IS one OF the most
complex IN the world. The messages
come in words Of strange formation
taken from an languages. These words
us turned by the translating clerks into
groups Of figures, and these in turn are
resolved into their equivalent words in
LaeIish All this takes time.
DEWEY'S REPORT.
In about half an hour, Secretary Long
appeared with a copy Of the translated
cipher IN his hand. There was a great
u.a toward him, but the Secretary good
nuredly made allowance for the eX-
element of the crowd. and smiling
D. read from the corner OF the
room. into which he had been forced
tAe following cablegram:
Manila. May 1.-The squadron arrived
a. Manila at daybreak this morning. I'M
u.Iately engaged the enemy. and de-
ruyel these Spanish vessels; kelna
Christina Castillo. Don Antonio dc
l.aa Isla de Luzon. Isla de Cuba. Gene
Ta Leo, Marques de Duero. CorTeo'
Ntasco. Isla de Anndanao, a transport
an the wateF-battery at Cavite Ihe
ss-adron is unlnjured, and only a lew
ren are slightly wounded Only means
o. tacnaphing Is 70 American Cohsui
81 uanekong. 1 shall communicate win
im Signed DEWEY.
DEWEY CUT THE CABLE.
Before This a brief summary Of me ca
besam az far as received had been
gyon out by a prominent officer, In
Which it was stated that Dewey had cut
ue cable himself. but was unable 10
Ike possession OF the town OF MANU.
'or lack Of men; also. thatNhe had the
Day and everything else completely at
DIS mercy.
j was Immediately noticed that the
'oolesram as officially promulgated, ala
''i entirely agree with this brief sum
~A'y' and tho presumption was that IA