New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-09

soon took up a position near Cavite. awaiting
dawn. In order TO begin hostties.
FIRST SHOT FROM THE MARIA CHRISTINA.
The break Of day disclosed the opposing
souadrons to each other and the Spanish flag
shin opened FIRE Her action was followed by
some OF the larger Spanish warships ana theh
the Cavite forts opened up. and the smaler
Spanish vessels brought their guns into play
The American squadron. which had been LED
into the bay and through the channel BY the
flagship Olympia did not reply. though the
shells Of the spanards began to strike the water
around them. but moved majcstcaily onward
Nearing Bakor Bay. sudden upheavai OF
water short distance ahead OF the olympia
showed that the Spaniards had exploded a NINE
or a tornedo This was followed by a second ana
similar explosion. They we're both without ell
feet.
The American fleet was then drawing nearer
and nearer to the Spanards. whose gunnery was
very poor the shots from the Cavite batteries
and from the Spanish ships either falling short
or going wide Of the mark
When the American feet entered the bay
coming through the southern channel. between
Caballo and Frile islets the following was It's
order: The flagship Olympia. the Baltimore
the Raleigh the Concord. the Boston. the Petrol
and the McCulloch. with the two storeships
Nanshan and Zafro bringing up the rear. In
that order they swept grandly before the city
and faced the enemy in column
AMERICANS JOIN IN THE FIGHT
Though the spaniards had opened fire at six
thousand yards the Americans reserved their
fire until within four thousand yards OF the
enemy. when the real battle began.
The Reina Cristna. the Castillo the Don An
tonic de Uroa. the Isla de Cuba the Isla de
Luzon and the Mindanao were in line OF oaufe
outside Of Cavite at that time. with the four
runboas and the torpedo boats inside the har-
Dor.
The American ships then passed backward
and forward six times across the front OF the
Spaniards pouring In upon the latter perfect
hail OF shot and shell Every American shot
seemed to tell while almost every Spanish shot
missed the mark.
moraNzation among the Spanish fleet and In
the Spanish batteries the American fleet retired
for breakfast council of held on
board the Olympia.
sPANIAaDS BURNED AND SUNK.
By this time the Spanish ships in
desperate condition The flagship Reina Girls
tina was riddled with shot and shell. one of her
steampipes had burst and she was on fire. The
Castillo was also on fire. Soon afterward their
condition became worse. and they were event
ually burned to the waters edge.
The Don Antonio de Ulloa made a show OF
desperate bravery. When her commander found
she was so torn by the American shells that he
could not keep her ahoat he nailed her colors
TO the mast and she sank with all hands fight
ing to the last Her hull was completely rid
died and her upperdeck had been swept clean
. by the awful fire Of the American guns. But the
spaniards. though their vessel was sinking
with them. continued working the guns on her
lower deck until she sank beneath the waters
During the engagement Spanish torpedo
boat crept along the shore and round the ofiing.
ships. but she was promptly discovered. was
driven ashore and was actually shot TO pieces
The Mindanao had in the meanwhile been
run ashore to save her from sinking. and the
Spanish small craft had sought shelter from
the steel storm behind the breakwater.
BATTLE RESUMED
The battle which started at about $50
q m. and suspended at $50 a. m. was resumed
about noon when Commodore Dewey started in
to put the finishing touches to his glorious
work. There not much fight left In the
spaniards by that time At p. m the Petrol
and the Concord had silenced the Cavite bat
teriss. leaving them heaps of ruins floating the
white flag.
The Spanish gunboats were then scuttled.
The arsenal was on FIRE and the explosion Of
Q Spanish magazine caused further mortality
among the defenders OF Spain shore.
On the water the burning. sunken or destroyed
Spanish vessels could be seen. while Of the
Americans only the cruiser Baltimore had suf-
fered in any way from the fire Of the enemy.
A shot which struck her exploded some
munition near one OF her guns and slightly in
iured half dozen of her crew.
Several shots passed dangerously close 10
Commodore Dewey. bur little or no damage
was done on board the flagship.
THE SPANISH LOSSES.
About one hundred and fifty said TO
have been killed on board the Spanish flagship.
which was totally destroyed Admiral Montojo.
the Spanish commander. transferred his flag to
the Isla de Cuba. when his ship caught fire.