The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-05-31
OFFICERS FROM MANILA ARRIVE
ON THE BELGIC.
They Were in the Fight From Begin
ing to End and Graphically Describe
the Battle Scene.

the Battle scene.
There is an interesting party of ira
valers on the Belgie. 1t is made up
of not less than four of Uncle Sans
officers who took part in the great
fight in Manila bay on the morning
of May 1st. They are
Colonel q. A. Loud, paymaster of
the dispatch boat McCulloch;
DR.. Charles p. Kindleberger, sur
geon of the Olympia;
Ralph Phelps, private secretary to
the captain of the McCulloch;
j. c. Evans, gunner of the Boston.
Messrs. Loud, Kindleberger and
Evans came direct from Manila They
left the scene of battle on the McCul-
loch on the morning of May 5th and
it was that trip of the little steamer
that brought the first American re-
ports of the fight. Mr.. Phelps was in
Hongkong. He remained over there
in charge of important business mat
ters of the captains.
DR.. Kindleberger and Gunner Ev-
ans are going home on account of
the expiration of their sea time. They
are now, under the rules, expected to
perform shore duty for three years,
but both will endeavor to go back to
the sea again at once. Colonel Loud
and Mr.. Phelps are merely going on
business and will return to the Nc
Culloch.
These men, as may be expected
from the important parts they took
in the Manila fight, have each very
intnractinrr N or tA +nl1
speak first of all, however, of the va
lor and determination of their oppo-
nents.. They say that the Spaniards
fought bravely even after the last.
vestige of hope was gone and stayed
by their guns as long as they could
be used at all.
Mr.. Loud, who was on the McCul-
loch during the battle, was witness
of events on both sides. From his
position he could see every movement
of the American ships and could also
see the battle plans of the Spaniards.
"For two hours" says Mr.. Loud.
"the steady thunder of cannon was
kept up. The roar was something ter
rible. A terrific fire was kept up
from the forts and the Spanish ships
upon our fleet. It looked to us from
the McCulloch that our vessels could
not possibly survive the awful fusi-
lade. Heavy shells and solid shot fell
around them like hail from the clouds
and many exploded Immediately over
the ships.
AT one time | really thought we
would be beaten. This was after the
fire had been kept up for an hour. 1t
looked like every gun on the Spanish
ships had turned loose on us all to-
gether. and the shore line was veri-
table blaze of fire from the batteries.
The din was simply indescribable.
Tons upon tons of shot fell over our
ships. Yes, there was steel enough
to have sunk our entire fleet.
Our salvation was in the bad
of the Spaniards. They
handled their pieces like boys. Near
ly all of their shot went wide of the
mark. Most We're high, flying over
the fleet and falling into the bay be-
yond. Some of the batteries. however
er, were better trained. Several guns
maintained a ralling fire on the fleet.
Nearly all of our ships were struck
by both large and small shot, but no
damage of consequence was done.
THE report you have that a solid
shot entered the engine room of the
Baltimore is erroneous. This shot
crossed the deck from the port side.
struck in an open tmret, was turned
back and passed out on the same side
again. No damage was done to the
vessel and the two or three men hurt
at the time We're merely scratched or
Scared by flying spliuters
al