The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-06-01
Quiet and Graphic Description Of
the American Victory.
THE FLEET AND ITS WORN
Ships Cheered BY Britishers-Balti
From Hong Kong 25O-lb She'll

The lions of the town yesterday
were the Belgic passengers fresh from
the scene of the great triumph of Am
erican arms as directed by Admiral
Dewey. Those aboard who saw the
fight in Manila bay were Col A G.
Loud, paymaster on the McCulloch.
DR.. Chas. P. Kindleberger of the OIym-
pia and J. G. Evans, a gunner of the
Boston. They, with Mr.. Phelps of the
McCulloch, who was left in Hong Kong
for duty when the fleet went to battle,
are returning to the States under or
ders. All hope to soon again sail over
the Pacific and join vessels in the.
Dewey fleet. The passengers were
much sought after by prominent citi-
zens and by officers Of the Charleston
and Bennington. Col. Loud, who saw
the fight from the McCulloch, had pre-
pared for the Advertiser the following
account of the fleet movements and thea
engagement:
The Hugh McCulloch arrived ind
Hong Kong on April II and Joined the
fleet consisting of the Olympia, Balti-
more, Raleigh, Boston, Concord, Petrol
and two transports.
Two days after our arrival the trans
fer of the >McCulloch was made from
the Treasury Department to the Sec
retary of the Navy.
On May 23d, the Governor of Hong
Kong sent a request to the Commo-
dore to leave Hong Kong within "a
hours, as a state of war existed. The
Commodore replied that he would
leave Immediately with the ships that
did not need repairs and take the
others as soon as possible
At 2 o'clock, the Boston, Concord,
Petrol, Hugh McCulloch and two
transports left and went to Mrs Bay,
80 miles distant. On Monday, the
Olympia, Baltimore and Raleigh fol-
lowed.
The Baltimore arrived in Hong Kong
on Thursday, the 21st Of April and in
As hours had gone in the dry dock and
been painted and put in order. AS the
fleet passed the English receiving
ships they gave us three cheers. We
waited a day for Mr. Williams, the |
Consul at Manila, who came up on the |
Esmeralda. At II o'clock, we started |
with Olympia leading the line of ships, |
the six fighting ships being in one line |
and the McCulloch and two transports |
in another.
On Saturday morning, we arrived off |
Point B, the first land we sighted At |
daybreak the Boston and Concord were
ordered ahead at full speed. By II |
o'clock they were out of sight. At II
o'clock, the Baltimore went ahead.
70 Sty1,i Onv INxri
3 o'clock all the other ships had ar
rived there. 1t had been reported that |
the Spanish fleet was there, but we |
found nothing at ali. A boat was low
cred from the Concord and sent |
ashore, but not a person could be |
found. All Commanders were then or
dered on the flagship for further or |
ders
At o'clock we started ahead again |
at about six miles per hour, it being |
the intention to pass the forts at mid |
night No lights were shown, except |
a green one on the stern of each ship. |
At II o'clock, the crews were called |
to quarters and at 1870, we were |
abreast of Cor. Island, the entrance of |
Manila Bay. On one side is a channel |
one mile wide, the one on the other |
side being five miles. There are forts |
on the top of Cor. Island and also on
the main land.
We were advised that there were
mines in the harbor. As we were Op-
posite the island we saw a rocket go
up from the Island and answered from
the shore. We were now between the
Island and main land. The night was
very dark, making it hard to see any
thing.
All the ships passed by without no
tice. They now could see our stern
lights and we saw a fash and then a
shell struck in the water ahead of us
followed by several more. We an
swered with three shots. No further
shots came from the forts and we pass
ed on. The next day these forts sur
rendered.
We went forward at about 3 knots
and at o'clock we saw Manila with
the merchant ships showing up in
front of it and a battery on the other