The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-13
U. S. S. BOSTON.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

o&N44 LLL - Ia 11<S' vi <t.h lJtNiNA.
May 3, 1893.
tory. will start at the beginning and
tell you all that has happened since We
left Hong Kong.
The Boston. Concord and Petrol. nc
companied by the McColloch and the
two transports, left Hong Kong, Sun
day, April "a, for Mrs Bay, an unIn-
hab!ted port about thirty miles north Of
Hong Kong. The next day the Olym-
pia, Baltimore and Raleigh Joined US.
On the Goth we received orders from the
secretary OF the navy to use our utmost
endeavor to capture or destroy every
Spanish man OF war In these waters.
On The afternoon OF the 9th the entire
squadron sailed for the Philippines. We
arrived OFF the enemy's coast about
daylight OF the .3oth.
The Boston and Concord were ordered
to leave the squadron and reconnoitre
Subic Bay, Spanish 9naval station
about forty miles north OF Manila. We
entered the harbor with ship cleared To-.
action and crew at quarters We found
nothing. and rejo!ned the fleet late In
the afternoon. The ships were stopped
and the captains went aboard the flag
ship.
A council OF war was held and It was
decided to run the forts at the entrance
to Manila harbor at midnight.
WE KNEW THAT THE EN-
TRANCE TO THE HARBoRN WAS
MINED. BUT 1T WAS DECIDED TO
TAKE THE CHANCES. Isl IS t.;s7;
1t was a moonlight night, and we
were discovered by the forts and picket
boats. Only one fort fired on us and 1t
was soon silenced by few well direct
ed shots. We steamed slowly up the
harbor and at daylight we were off Ma
Mia. have drawn a rough sketch OF
the harbor and Notifications and from
it hope you will be able to make II
out.
When It was light enough to see WE
RAN UP THE STARS AND STRIPES
at each masthead and headed towards
the naval station of Kavite. We were
In column. the Olympia leading and
the Boston bringing up the rear. We
steamed by the forts and ships opening
fire at 5:25 Sunday morning at about
5000 yards range.
THE SPANISH HAD SIXTEEN
LARGE SHIPS IN ACTION. SEVEN
LARGE ONES AND NINE SMALL
'I'NLSes Ooi ~ was iOlI@ uHG
for two hours the fight continued. our
ships steaming In nm ellipse and firing
whenever our guns would bear. We
passed the forts and ships five times all
told. and hauled out OF action.
No one was killed in our fleet and on
~ two injured. On the Spanish side the
loss was very heavy. We do not know
exactly how many were killed and
wounded, but We have heard that the
loss was 200 or 800 killed and twice as
many wounded.
We were hit five times In the action,
ONE OF THE SHOTS ENTERED MY
ROOM AND Exploded DESTROY
ING A GOOD DEAL OF FURNITURE;
AND SETTING FIRE TO MY CLOTH
ING. The fire was quickly put out, but
my clothes were ruined. Two of the
Spanish ships took fire and sank and
three others were sunk The rest were
captured or destroyed The forts were
silenced 81
At lilo We went into action again
and bombarded the station. A few guns
replied, but were soon dIsmounted. Our
men fought with great GOODNESS and
bravery. We ceased firing at 1870. The
Spaniards hoisted n flag of truce and In
the evening surrendered Kavite. the
soldiers evocuating. Yesterday md to-
day we have been busy gathering in
the prizes, 9 etc. We do not know what
the commodore will do next. From my
sketch You may be able to make out
what We did. p h
WE HAVE 8 COMPLETELY DE-
STR0YED THE SPANISH FLEET IN
THESE WATERS, and the war In this
part OF the world Is over. We may BIO
mere TOT some months; don't know
how long, but hope it will soon be-
over. JOHN S. DODDR1DGE.