Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-05-12
STORY OF THE VICTORY.
Detailed Account of Dewcy's Bold
Dash and Its Results.

The following dispatch, containing a de-
tailed account of the battle, was brought
here by the McCulloch:
Manila Bay, May Last night Commo-
faore Dewey arrived off Manila bay and with
out consulting his officers decided to make
a dash into the inner harbor From his
flagship. the Olympia, he signaled the COM
manders of the fleet to follow him, and with
all lights out the squadron of sea fight
ers steamed into the bay with the crews
at their guns. AS they passed the fortifica-
lions at Corregidor the order of the YES
sells was as follows: Olympia, Baltimore,
Raleigh, Petrol, Concord, Boston.
Eight o'clock had just struck when the
stately flagship steamed silently past the
frowning batteries that command the en-
trance to the bay and in spite of the fact
that The moon was shining brightly the fleet
was well up the harbor before the Span
iards on watch were aware of its approach
Corregidor lay a mile behind them when
the first gun doomed its warning that the
enemy was at hand.
First Shot from Spaniards
zone heavy projectile screamed over the
fnfoating ships and plunged into the water
far away. This was followed by a second,
which dropped astern. Instantly the
Raleigh, the Concord and the Boston ac-
cepted the challenge A shell from the
Concord described long curve and ap-
parently landed exactly inside the shore
squadron edged its way toward Manila
and the men, worn with long watching,
were allowed to drop beside their guns for
nap on deck. So closely had the arrival
of the fleet been timed that at break of
day Dewey was within five miles Of Manila.
Here he sighted the Spanish squadron.
Admiral Montejo's flag was seen f1uttering
from the cruiser Reina Christina just
ahead of II was moored the Castillo a pro-
tected cruiser of 5000 tons. Astern and to
seaward in line of battle were arranged
the cruisers Don Juan de Austria, Don An
tonic de Ulla, Isla de Cuba, Isla de Luzon,
luiros, Marquis del Onero and General
Leo. With the flagship, they remained
under way in anticipation of the action
that followed. The vessels moved down to
the attack in single file at uniform speed
or eight knots, and as they passed in front
of Manila three great batteries mounting
powerful guns opened up at distance of
hve. miles. Suddenly the Concord's guns
doomed out reply. For moment there
was silence and expectation. Commodore
Dewey signaled not to attack these bat
tefies, for fear Of sending his shells into the
crowded city.
Mines Explode.
"Veering up the bay, he passed slowly In
front of Cavite, where two powerful sub
marine mines were exploded ahead of the
flagship The commodore cooly glanced
at his watch as he stood impassively on the
bridge and capsd the attention of one of his
officl to We Sact that it was exactly six
minutes past five o'clock AS the mines let
go smile fitted over his face, because OF
che fact that the Spaniards in exploding
the mines had misjudged the position OF
the flagship. AS 1t was, tremendous vol
nmes of water were hurled into the air
But there was no hesitation. Dewey evil
IDENTIFY had no fear of the mines He sig
nailed the ships to steam ahead and in a
moment he was within range of the guns
of the batteries at Cavite. BY this time the
Spanish gunners had got the range and
the -"@iis began bursting close aboard.
Flagship the Target.
'"The Spanish vessels also opened up will
their guns and the missiles flew all abou
the flagship, which was evidently the mari
at which they were directing their fire
Aboard the American fleet the heat wa
Intense. The men, stripped to the waist
stood at their guns waiting for the sigma
60 open up. All was silent aboard tn
Olympia except the whirr of the blower
and the steady throb of the engines All a
once a shell screamed through the air ant
hurst directly over the deck of the flag
ship. Then came the signal from the boat
SWANS mate.
".temember the Maine"
Remember the Mainev was the defan
cry that rang out In the American ships