The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-06-21

overheard, securing and covering
boats, etc. On Saturday night we
were nearing the entrance to Manila
Bay, and a sharp lookout was kept
We were going in under cover of dark
ness and right below and in range of
their guns frowning down from forts
on both sides of the entrance. No
lights were shown except a stern
light on each ship. All hands were at
quarters and all guns loaded, with ex-
ira charges ready at hand; every eye
was strained and every ear was on the
alert to catch the slightest sound. Now
and again lights could be seen flashing
from the surrounding hill-tops and an
occasional signal flared up at one mo-
ment to be swallowed by the unbroken
darkness the next. At twenty minutes
past twelve there was a sudden flash
inshOre and abaft our starboard quar-
ter. followed a second or two later by
dull report and that peculiar awe
striking swishing sound Of flying
projectile-the first shot had been fired
and the game was on. Owing to the
darkness or to the poor craftsmanship
of the Spaniards, that shot flew wide
of its mark, as did two more fired
in rapid succession from the forts and
When day broke on that never to be
forgotten Sunday morning, May the
1st. Manila harbor with it's handful
of merchant vessels bore right ahead.
and off our starboard bow we could
make out the enemy's fleet dimly
looming up in the early dawn lying
outside of Point Cavite, their forti-
fed Navy Yard and general strong
hold. The Olympia was steaming
slowly at the head of the column, the
Baltimore a couple of ship-lengths
astern of her, and the balance Of fleet
following The McCulloch and the
transports were left standing off in
bay The most critical moment Of our
lives was drawing near, and when at
sos the flagship made signal: Pre-
pare for general action" when the
Stars and Stripes were broken at
every masthead and every peak when
Captain Dyer solemnly pointing up at
the waving folds of "Old Glory" said;
There it goes, men; we have an empty
stomach this morning, but we have
a full heart; now let us see, what we
can do under this flag when every
man silently took his station, there
was nothing but grim determination
to edo or die" to be seen written on
on the aggressive for at 5:15 they fired
| shot from one of their forts, follow
| ing il up by a regular fusilade from
their vessels and shore batteries. The
most of their shots fell short and a
! few carried over US, dropping into the
| bay all around the ships, too far of
| to do any damage, but yet too close
| for comfort We seemed in no hurry
to return the fire, and fully 25 minutes
were spent in maneuvering for posi-
| ton. the range being diminished stead
/ ily if slowly by our fleet steaming
closer and closer right in the teeth or
the enemy's fire. Those minutes seem
/ ed hours and some our men were ac-
! tually begging permission to shoot
| At last the first shot was fired by our
! ships at about 5000 yards range, and
| the battle was on in earnest. A small
! torpedo boat was seen to emerge from
the shore making for our transports
at a high rate of speed. The second
ary batteries of our ships were made
| to bear on her, shells fell around her
in a veritable shower and finally
turning she was rung nigh and dry
on the beach and abandoned. Our
fleet was now steaming back and forth
off Cavite Bay, making three legs"
| 10 eastward anu tWO ~ WCFoI " Oh VI
forming large figure "S'' and deliver
ing broadside after broadside with
splendid results. All this time the
enemy's vessels Reina Christina (fag-
ship), Castillo, moored head and stern
with port battery in use, Don Antonio
de UlIoa. Isla de Cuba, Isla de LuzOn.
tn elarge transport Mindanao and
number of smaller gunboats were
/ keeping d steady fire, the smaller ships
retreating inside Of mole several times
during action. The forts were not idle
but kept laundering forth their tribute
with no noticeable effect The enemy's
fire seemed to be concentrated on the
Baltimore. and she was hit six times
A Al inch armor piercing shell pune
tured our side on main deck line, tore
up the wooden deck and, striking the
steel deck under this glanced upwads
went through after engine-roOm hatch
; (Coufinupd on page 81