Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-05-13

were being beaten.
About Z 80 A. NJ. there was lull in
the terrific uproar. The wind blew
away the haze and smoke, and one
of the American gunboats was seen
making off toward the western part OF
the bay, clearly disabled. A cheer
went up from the Spaniards.
Then flames burst from the bow OF
the Cristina, one OF the two best ships
and the flagship of the fleet.
The Americans again closed in and
the uproar was renewed with increased
fury.
The Americans could not have
suffered great loss up to this time, as
not many shots from the heroic but
incompetent Spanish gunners had
struck them.
When the ships were again seen the
Cristina was wrapped in flames. On
her decks the sailors, Spaniards and
natives, were rushing frantically about.
The Isla de Cuba went near and part
of the Cristina's crew-perhaps all that
were still alive-and the Spanish Ad-
miral went aboard her.
But hardly were they aboard when
she, too, burst into flames.
Confusion now reigned throughout
the Spanish fleet.
On every vessel the decks were
slippery with blood, and the air was
filled with the shrieks and groans of
the wounded.
The Spaniards and native sailors
rushed about in a frenzy of rage
rather that of terror.
The Americans, seemingly calm and
cool, and still in good order, pressed
their advantage. In fact they pushed
on too closely, for they, too, now be-
gan to lose as the fire from the Cavite
batteries became effective.
At this juncture the Don Juan de
Austria became the center of interest.
She had been in the very front Of the
battle, and had received perhaps more
of the American shots than any
other.
Admiral Montojo, on the burning
Cuba, threw up his arms with ges-
sure of despair as heavy roar
came from the Austria and part
of her deck flew up in the air, taking
with it scores of dead and dying and
mangled.
A shot had set off one of her maga.
zines. She was ruined and sinking.
But her crew refused to leave her.
Weeping, cursing, praying, firing
madly and blindly, they went down
with her.
AS the Don Juan went down the
CaStllla Durst into names.
The remainder of the Spanish fleet
now turned and fled down the long,
narrow isle behind Cavite.
Several of the gunboats were run
ashore, others fled up small creek
and were grounded there.
The guns of Cavite kept on thunder
ing, and the Americans, pressing their
advantage no further, drew off.
AS they steamed away toward their
waiting transports the Spaniards went
wild with JOY. They thought that,
in spite of outward appearances, the
American fleet was crippled, and that
as it would be unable to escape from
the harbor it would fall into their
hands.
This was telegraphed up to Manila
and so on to Madrid, where it filled
the Ministry with momentary delight.
But before the Ministers at Madrid
had read the false news the American
fleet, with decks again cleared and
fresh supplies of ammunition, was
steaming back toward Cavite.
The second engagement was short.
The last Spanish ship was soon
grounded or sunk.
The American guns were trained on
Cavite, and one ship after another
steamed along, pouring in q deadly
fire.
At IL 80 A. NJ. the batteries of
Cavite ceased to answer, and the
American fleet with ringing cheers
from the exhausted but triumphant
crews, steamed jubilantly back to the
transport ships.
And to the long list of splendid
naval victories beginning with the
Revolution was added the glorious
victory of Manila.
And to the long list of naval heroes,
of the immortal names like John Paul
Jones, Perry, Decatur and Farragut,
was added the name of Dewey, who
forced his way through forts and over
mines into the heart of a hostile and
remote harbor, far from any base oi
supplies, far from any hope of rein
forcemept, and fought with magnifi-