Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-10

shells would burst right over them or close
aboard. or would strike the water and pass
overhead. with the peculiar spluttering roar
made by a tumbling rified projectile.
The Olympia Under Heavy Fire.
Still the flagship steered for the center
of the Spanish line, and, as our other ships
were astern, the Olympia received most of
the Spaniards' attention.
Owing to our deep draught Commodore
Dewey felt constrained to change his course
at distance of 1900 yards and run parallel
to the Spanish column. Open with all
guns, he said, and the ship brought her
port broaGside bearing.
The roar of the f1agships five-inch rapid
firers was followed by deep diapason of
her after turret eight-inchers. Soon our
other vessels We're equally hard at work,
and We could see that our shells were max
ing Cavite harbor hotter for the Spaniards
than they had made the approach for us.
Protected by their shore batteries and
made safe from close attack by shallow
water, the Spaniards were in a strong po-
sitlon. They put up gallant fight The
Spanish ships were sailing back and forth
behind the Castillo, and their fire, too, was
hot.
Explosion on the Baltimore.
One shot struck the Baltimore and pass
ed clear through her. fortunately hitting
no enc. Another ripped up her main deck,
disabled a six-inch gun and exploded a
ing eight men.
The Olympia was struck abreast the gun
in the ward room By shell which burst
outside, doing little damage.
The signal halyards Were cut from Lieu
tenant Brumbys hand on the after bridge.
Y shell entered the Eostons port quarter
and burst in Ensign Dodridge's state room.
starting not fire, and fire was also cauS-
ed by shell which burst in the port ham,
mock netting Both these fires We're quick
ly put out.
Another shell passed through the Bos-
toms foremost just in front of Captain
WildeS, on the bridge.
After having made four runs along the
Spanish line, finding the chart incorrect,
Lieutenant Calkins the Olympia'S naVi-
gator told the commodore he believed he
could take the ship nearer the enemy, with
lead going to watch the depth of water.
The flagship started over the course for
the fifth time, running within 1000 yards
of the Spanish vessels.
At this range even six-pounders were eff
fective, and the storm of shells poured
upon the unfortunate Spanish began to
show marked results.
Three of the enemy s vessels were seen
burning and their fire slackened.
just a Stop for Breakfast.
On finishing this run Commodore Dewey
decided to give the men breakfast, as they
had been at the guns two hours. with
only one cup of coffee to sustain them.
Action ceased temporarily at twenty-five
minutes of o'clock, the other ships pass
ing the flagship and cheering Justify.
Our ships remained beyond range of the
enemy's guns until ten minutes of IL
o'clock, when the signal for close action
again went up. The Baltimore had the
place OF nonor in the lead, with the flag
ship following and the other ships as be
fore.
The Baltimore began firing at the Span
ish ships and batteries at sixteen minutes
past IL O'Clock, making series of hits as
if at target practice The SpanlardS re-
Piled slowly, and the commodore signaled
the Raleigh, the Boston, the Concord and
the Petrol to go into the inner harbor ana
destroy all the enemys ships.
BY her light drought the little Petrol
was enabled TO move within l 900 yards.
Here. firing swiftly but accura tely, she
commanded everything still flying the
Spanish flag.
Other ships were also doing their whole
DUTY, and soon not one rcd and yellow en-
sign remained aloft, except on a battery up
the coast. The Spanish flagship and the
Castillo had long been burning tercely,
and the last vessel to be abandoned was
the Don Antonio de Ulloa, which lurched
over and sank.
White Flag HOisted.
Then the Spanish flag on the arsenal
staff was hauled down, and at half-past
IL o'clock a white flag was hosted there.
Signal was made to the Petrol to destroy
all the vessels IN the inner hafDOr, anu
Lieutenant Hughes, with an armed boats
crew. set fire TO the Don Juan de Austria.
Marquis Duero, the Isla de Cuba and the
CCrreO.
The large transport Manila and mary
tugboats and small craft fell into our
hands.
Capture or destroy Spanish squadron
were Dewey'S orders. Never were in
structions mere effectuaily carried out
Within seven hours after arriving on the
ap. nf jfn moi rel a ah h.
done.