Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-05
MONTOJ0'S STORY
HE DESCRIBES THE CRUSHING DE-
FEAT ADMIxlsrERED TO HIM.
KNEW CONTEST WAS HOPELESS
The Reina Crirtinn, His F~Isxsbip,
Subjected to "a Terrific Hail Of
shell and shot = Was hit seventy
Tinncs.

VtNn VilhtIt
which was obtained by a special CORE
spondent Of the China Mall not long afte.
the Spanish commander was defeated by
Rear-Admiral Dewey at Manila. The
Spanish Admiral speaks freely Of the
great fight OF May 1st. and his talk. while
1t gives few details OF the battle with
which American readers are not already
familiar. still furnishes n vivid picture
of the conditions surrounding II from the
Spanish point Of view, and throws, addi-
tional light IN the neglect OK the PENN
sular Government to prepare for the
American attack.
Admiral Montojo Is described by the
China Mails correspondent as "about 60
years old, slight in stature. and in APP
pearance anything but warlike-more a
type of a Spanish grandee than II fighter"
In response to a request Cor a description
of the battle, he said that when he saw
the American squadron coming straight
across the bay toward Cavite. all the
Spanish ships were In Cavite Bay at an
Choir. the Castillo, q wooden cruiser. being
unable 10 steam. owing to broken en-
6tAt1 oA1 - Stff0
neipIess and undergoing repairs
WENT STRAIGHT AT HIS FLAGSHIP.
Continuing the Admiral said, In part:
'The Olympia. Baltimore, Raleigh. and
Boston engaged my flagship tthe Reina
Cristina) in turn about $50, attracted by
my flag. j recognized the necessity OF
getting under way. and accordingly slip
ped both anchors, ordering the other SHIPS
TO follow my example. Although we re-
cognized the hopelessness OF lighting the
American ships. we were busy returning
their fire. h Reina Cristina was hit
repeatedly. Shortly after $50 | observed
fire forward; our steering-gear was dam
aged, rendering the vessel u~nmanageable,
and we were subjected to Il terrific han
of shell and shot. The engines were
struck. and we estimated that we had
seventy hits about our hull and SUPER
structure.
1.-The boilers were not hit, but the pipe
20 the condenser was destroyed. A Few
moments later / observed the after part
on fire. A shell from the Americans had
penetrated and burst with deadly effect,
killing many of our men. My flag lieu
tenant said to me, The ship Is In fames.
1t is impossible to stay on the Cristina
any longer
HE signalled TO the Isla de Cuba, and I
and my staff were transferred to her.
and my flag wa hofsted. Before leaving
the Cristina my flag was hauled Town.
My flagship was now one mass OF names.
I ordered away all the boats ! could TO
save the crew. Many OF the men jumped
overheard without clothing and succeeded
in reaching the shore, several hunoreo
yards away. Only a few men were drown-
ed, the majority being picked up by the
boats.
At this question the Admiral smiled
grimly. and replied In the negative.
PRAISE FROM THE AMERICANS
1.-THE captain of the Boston," Admiral
Montojo continued. said 70 my chief OF
staff, Captain Boado: You have comoated
us with four very bad ships. not war
ships. There was never seen Drawer hght-
ing under such unequal conditions. IL is
a great pity that you exposed your nves
I'm vessels not At for fghting.' Commo-
dore Dewey also sent me a message by
the English Consul, saying that, peace or
war. he would have great pleasure In
sla pin me by the hand and congratu!a-
ting me on the gallant manner In which
we fought.
THE second engagement was merely
for the destruction OF the arsenal at.
Cavite. When the American ships steam
ed across the bay again they engaged the
forts. and were throwing shells In the
direction OF the arsenal. Vhe chief OF
tho arsenal hoisted n white flag 10 stop
the firing. and asked the American Com.
modore to cease operations, In order TO
allow The women and children who lived
in the arsenal to be removed to a place
Of safety.
1.-THE Commodore answered that he had
no desire TO cause loss Of life; all he wish
ed was TO destroy the arsenal and to COM
- A. 1xnatnn 81 .ttr ftnnt
because the orders OF his government
were 10 completely destroy all the Span
ish war vessels. The arsenal garrison
fought until driven from their positions.
1t Is impossible to say how many men
were killed ashore in the forts and arse
nal. From what ] have heard. j would
estimate the number killed at twenty or
thirty and 100 wounded"
TRIED TO mako HIS OWN TOR
PEDOES.
Admiral MmtUjo volunteered n state
ment of the neglect Of the Madrid Gov
ernment 10 respond to his repeated re-
quests for ships and torpedoes. He
placed the responsibility for the disaster
squarely at Madrid. and ,~ontinued:
CAPTAIN CADARsO KILLED BY A
SHELL
before jumping overheard Captain
Cadarso's son, q lieutenant on board the
Cristina, saw his father alive on deck,
but others state that as the Captain was
to leave a shell burst over the ship
and killed him. We estimated that fifty
two men were killed on board the Girls
tina and about $50 wounded. The chaplain
was killed. The assistant physician. the
chief engineer, and three officers were
wounded. The boatswain and chief gun
ner were both killed. In the Castillo only
about fifteen men were killed, but there
were many wounded, both on the Castll-
In and the Don Juan. on which thirteen
men were killed. Altogether, so far as
we know at present, 400 men were Killed
and wounded on our ships.
."As soon as l translated myself from
the Reina Christina TO the Isla de Cuba
all the shots were directed upon the
Cuba. following my flag. We sought shell |
ter behind the pier at Cavite, and, re- |
cognizlng the futility OF fighting more, j
to disembark and CAV orders
for the evacuation OF the remainder OF
the ships. My last signal 10 the captains
OF all vessels was. 'Scuttle and abandon
your ships This was about half-past z. |
prevent the guns being OF use TO the
the captains on abandoning
away portions OF the mechanism
and also succeeded In saving all the ships
papers and treasure. |
"At this point there was a cessation OF |
firing. The Boston sent ashore a boat |
with an officer carrying a white flag and
parleyed with the chief OF the arsenal. |
asked permission 10 destroy the yes
sells completely without interference from
the shore.
COULD DO AS HE LIKED WITH THE