The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-05-13
Lowered Their Flag at End
of a Terrific Engagement.
CANNOT WITHSTAND IRON HAIL.
After the Battle the Petrol Captures .
Store Ship at Manila With Large
Amount of Coal on Board, While
Commodore Dewey Takes Pos
session of the Cavite Arse
nal and Destroys Guns.

WOrlu CdUlo. )-OOlIluAOuOIo DSWoJ .
Asiatic squadron of six fighting ships
on Sunday morning, May l, captured
the naval arsenal aud forts at Cavite,
Manila bay, and annihilated the Spanish
fleet at the Philippines The American
fleet sunk seven cruisers, four gunboats,
two transports and captured one trans
port, several tugs and small steamers.
The Spaniards lost 800 killed and 400
wounded. Not one American was
killed. Every United States warship
was practic; lly uninjured in the hard.
fought battle. 1t lasted three and one
half hours. Control of the Philippines
was wrested from the Spaniards. The
American flag is now flying over their
principal st, ongholds. The forts guard
ing the entrance to Manila bay at Cor
regidor island have surrendered. Ma
Mia is now under American guns and
absolutely at Commodore Dewey's
mercy.
The battle began at 80 o'clock Sun.
day morning and the final surrender
was at II 80 O'Clock. The Spanish flag
still flies at Manila, but the American
fleet is powerful enough to reduce the
city whenever Commodore Dewey de-
sires. The Notifications are not able to
repel our ships. The entire islands are
ours W hencver we assert our claim.
Commodore Dewey's fleet of nine
vessels ran the blockade past the
forts of Corregidor island at midnight
of Saturday. The ships were paint.
ed grey, their lights showing only
directly astern. The fighting ships
passed unseen. The McCulloch, Cap.
tain Hodgson, was discovered, how.
ever, and fired upon by the forts.
The Boston replied with it's eight
inch guns, followed by the Nc.
Culloch's three.inch guns. The forts
fred four shots, then relapsed into
silence.
1 Sighted by Spanish.
The fleet steamed at four-knot speed
up the bay, arriving off Manila at day
light. Then for the first time the Span
ish discovered the presence OF thu
cruisers. Immediately the guns from
Manila fort opened fire. Dewey re
fused to answer, as he feared firing
might kill some of the NONCOMPLIANCE
IN the harbor. He formed the fleet ii
column line of battle, advancing upol
Cavite, six miles south, where til!
heavy forts are located. At the sam
time the Spanish feet assembled. Th
firing by the Spaniards became general
Commodore Dewey waited unit
within close range. and when he ha
approached within 1850 yards of tn
feet, turned west, passing directly i
front of the forts and the Spanish ship!
Our feet approached in the followin
order: Olympia, Baltimore, Petre
Concord and Boston. AS the shi
turned in range they Joined in til
Olympia's bombardment. Terrific cal
onading was exchanged on both side
Our ships did great execution from tn
first. The land batteries. which ha
heavier guns than the feet, reptile
without cessation.
Admiral Abandors Ships.
We once more formed in column
when we saw their ships burning. I'll
other ships aided in subduing tt
forts and firing on the ships not e
tirely disabled. Nothing could wit
stand the accuracy Of the America
guns. The Spanish fire grew less bri
until IL 80 the commanlant put up
signal of surrender. One fort still fle
the Spanish flag, but the Boston
close range kept on firing and so sile
ced it, and the flag was pulled dow
Our feet drew off, passing Manila wi
no firing. A conference of comman
ers disclosed that none were killed a.
that there was no damage to the shi1
The accuracy of aim demanded tt
rible mortality on the Spanish vesse
The Spanish rear admiral, Patri
Montejo y Parsons flagship, Rel