The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-06-15
THE VICTORY AT MANILA.
Graphic Descrip ton by Men Who Saw
the Fight

N--~ =
SAN FRANCISCO, June T.-Among
the passengers who arrived on the Bel
gle to-day from Hong Kong were four
men who participated in the fight Of
Manila bay on May I. They are Pay
master G. A. Loud, of the dispatch
boat Mccullough DR.. Charles 2. Kin
dleberger, surgeon of the Olympia;
Ralph Phelps, secretary to the captain
of the McCulloch, and J. c. Evans,
gunner of the Boston. They left Ma
Mia on May 5. They say that the
Spaniards fought bravely even after the
last vestige of hope had gone and stayed
by their guns as long as they could be
used. DIR. Kindleberger gives a graphic
account Of the terrific fight. He was on
the Olympia through il all. In the first
assault the flagship took the lead, the
other vessels following in her wake at
four ships-lengths. Tne Spanish fleet
was approached by laps, each turn
bringing the contestants nearer tOgeth-
er. By this plan the American vessels
frequently poured broadsides into the
enemy, but were themselves more ex-
posed to fire. AT one time the smoke
became so dense that it was necessary
to draw aside, allowing the cloud to lift.
The vessels We're examined, and it was
found they had sustained no damage
Breakfast was served to the men, aud
in a few minutes they re-entered the
fight with the greatest enthusiasm.
The second fight was even more fierce
than the first. 1t was in that that the
Baltimore was struck.
During the first fight the Spanish
admiral's ship put bravely out Of the
line to meet the Olympia. The entire
American fleet concentrated fire on her
and she was so badly injured that she
turned around to put back. At this
juncture the Olympia let fly an S-ineh
shell, which struck her stern and
pierced through almost her entire
length, exploding finally in the engine
room, wrecking her machinery. This
shell killed the captain aud 90 men
and set the vessel on fire. In the heat
of the fight the two torpedo boats NOV
ed out to attack the fleet. They were
allowed TO come within 500 yards, when
a fusilade from the Olympia sent one
to the bottom with all on board and
riddIed the other. The second boat was
later found on the beach and covered
with blood.
In the secon fight the Baltimore
was sent to silence the fort at Cavite.
She plunged into a cloud of smoke and
opened all her batteries on the fortiH-
cations. In very few minutes a shell
struck in the ammunition aud the fort
blew 10 with a deafening roar. The
work of the Baltimore was glorious.
After the principal ships had been de-
stroyed the Concord, Raleigh and Pc
trel, being of light draft, were sent close
to handle the remaining vessels Of the
fleet. They made quick work of them.
In taking possession of the land forts
several hundred wounded Spaniards
fell into the hands of the Americans
and nearly 200 dead were accounted for
on the spot. Holes in which numbers
had been hastily buried were found.
The dead were returned to relatives, so
far as this could be done, and wounded
were cared for in the best manner by
American surgeons. The Spanish loss
footed up 100 killed, 600 wounded and
a property loss of anywhere from So,
900, 900 to 100000.
The day of the light was clear and hot.
Not breath of air was stirring. After
the first battle the Americans were
greatly tagged by heat, and the rest
and breakfast allowed them by the
Commodore was of inestimable benefit.
While the men were ct breakfast a con-
ference OF all officers was held on board
the Olympia, when the plan of the
second battle was made known by the
Commodore. Several shots struck the
Olympia and she was pierced number
of times. One shell struck the side of
the ship against the hospital ward.
The chaplain and nurses were watching
the fight through port a few inches
away aud were stunned by the coneus-
sion. Experts have figured out that
the fighting volume of the guns of the
respective sides of the battle was three
for the Americans against seven for the
Spanish. 1t is clear that the superior
ity was in the men and ships, the men
having the experience and nerve.
Gunner Evans, of the Boston, was
one Of the men who sent the Spanish
ships down. He directed the fire of
one of the big guns on the cruiser. He
was at times greatly exposed, bat did
not receive a shot. Not man on the
Boston received a scratch.
Paymaster Loud, who was on the
McCulloch during the battle, was a
witness of events on both sides. ''FJr
two hours" said Mr.. Loud, ''the steady
thunder of cannon was kept up. The
roar was something terrible. At one
time l really thought we would be beat
en-. This was after the fire had been
kept up an hour It looked like every
gun on the Spanish ships had turned
loose on US alto gether and the shore line
was veritable blaze of fire from the
batteries. The din was simply indie !
scribable. Tons upon tons of shot fell
over our ships. There was steel enough /
to have sunk our entire fleet. Our sal
vation was in the bad craftsmanship
Of the Spaniards. They handled their
pieces like boys. Nearly all of their
shots went wide of the mark. Most |
were high, flying over the fieet and fall |
ing into the bay beyond. Some of the
batteries, however, were better trained.
Several guns maintained raking fire
on the fleet. Nearly all of or ships
were struck by both large and small
shot, but no damage of consequence
was dOne.f
Do You Read
What mamie ara saving ahont Hooai.