The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-19

third in line. had the honor Of firing the
first shot in anger on our side. One of her
5-inch guns returned a ready response TO
the Spaniard5' tardy salutation, and pres
emily the Boston followed suit. Then an
other shot came from the shore batteries,
and as our ships were on the close lookout
for the flash, the Concord placed the 6-inch
shell so exactly over the spot whence the
enemy had fired that we felt confident OF
It's good results. We heard afterward that
this shell had burst among the Spanish
gunners, killing several, and II this re-
port was true. 1t was marvellous shot.
At any rate. there were no more shots fired
from shore. and as the commodore did not
want to waste time on the batteries W
squadron kept on its course. Speed was
now reduced 10 less than three knots, as
there was no haste. The commodore wished
TO arrive off Manila at the first break of
dawn, but not earlier. The men wanted
to lie down beside their guns to get what
sleep they could, and the very strictest
lookout was kept for the enemy's ships
and torpedo boats.
At 4 O'Clock coffee and bareback were
served out to the men and the officers
were glad to get the same frugal provender.
The lights of Manila had long been in
sight, and Lieutenant Calkins, the navlga-
tor, knew his position TO a nicely. Indeed,
much OF the success OF this bold entry to
Manila bay by night was due TO the skill
and Judgment OF the navigator, who con-
tinued his patient and harassng labors all
through the battle with never failing &C
curacy end success. 1t should be remem-
bered that navigating a harbor that Is well
lighted and buoyed Is not always the east
est thing in the world and in this case
Lieutenant Calkins had no lights nor range
marks to guide him. | am informed that
special mention OF this officer was made
in the official dispatches, and he certainly
deserved H.
THE dawn began about 1870 o'clock. when
we were almost six miles from Manila. AS
the sun came up exactly behind the city
the shadow cast by the land obscured the
harbor foreground. Finally We made out
the presence OF group OF vessels in the
port. but before o'clock we were able 10
recognize them as merchant ships.
Our cruisers were now In close battle or
der. the flagship leading. followed by the
baltimore, the Raleigh, the Pstrel. the Con-
cord and the Boston. We had passed to the
northward of Manila and we're holding to
the south when we sighted the Spanish
SQUADRON, In the little bay of Caylte tpro-
nounced Kahyestay IL you please, with tho
marked accent on the yee). Al this point
we knew the Span.ards had we'll equipped
navy yard. which they called Cayite err
sonal. The officer in charge OF this arsenal.
Rear Admiral Pctricio Montoio fasaron,
was also commander In chief Of the squad
ron. the second in rank being Command
ante General Enrique sostoa oiesnnez,
cartain in the navy. Following is llat
and brief summary Of the important char
acttristics OF the vessels in Adrnifel Mon
tojo's commando
Reina Crstina. flagship, Captain !. Ca
darso commanding, $500 tons; battery. six
s,o-inch, Two s.T-inch. six s-poundeTs aad
six s-pounder rapid-fire gum: speed, lI5
knots; crew. 400 officers and men. Castillo,
CAPTAIN A. ~. De Olivia coUmanding; 1854
tons: battery, four 5s-inch, two 4.I.inch
two 3.s-inch. four 2.9-inch ana eisn'