The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-02

Tho Boston, $3.50 tons; the Raleigh, 8l8?
tons; the Concord, 100 tons. the Petrol,
800 tons, and the McCuloch had about all
thoy could do to handle the Velasce Don
Antonio de Uiloa Don Juan de Austria,
General Lezo, III Canv, Marques del Quero.
Isla de Cuba and Isia DO Llzon, but by
quick maneuvering md rapid work of the
guns, fought their way to victory brnyely.
The hot work gu The Olympia brought
the end of the Roma Cristlna A shot
from the American exploded u magazine
on the latter boat. and she took fire Do
spite the efforts of the Spaniards, the
flames made rapid Roadway, Captain
, Gridley worked his ship around to rake
the Spaniard He fought tho Spanish
ship with one battery and kept up fire
on the forts with the other, The masts on
the American boats wero shot away, but
few shells got through tho armor,
A well-traiued shot from the Olympia
plunged through the Il ,htlng tower OF the
Reinn Cristina and killed tho ships COM
mander, Captain Cadasso. Tho Admiral
| was standing with him at the timo. When
the news that their commander had fallen
spread through the ship the scamen seem.
ed to lose heart Thoir ammunition had
boon none too plentiful, and with its rap
idly failing quantity and tho fire that was
raging, they were ready to give up.
Then there took place piece of bravery
on tho part Of the Spanish Admiral. See
lug that his flagship was doomed and UNI
able to fight, he ordered small boat low.
cred and, with II daring crew, rowed to
the small gunboat Isle de Cuba, where he
again hoisted his flag, The American
sailors refused to fire On the piucky Ad-
miral. Suon after he loft the Reinn Girls
tina the flames devoured tho boat, most of
the crew jumping overheard only to
drown in the waters of the bay.
In tho meantime, Captain Dyer had
sealed the fate Of the Castillo. She like
the flagship, had considerable woodwork
inside Of hor, and after b.ing under fire fer
shells and deadly tUrpedoes pl0wed great
holes In her sides and below the water line.
She was completely riddled and torn to
pieces by the rain Of leaden missiles Most
of her crew and officers were killed, She
burned out, AMI after the engagement was
but a smoking hulk.
With the NEST formidable ships Ct the
enemy dispo ,ed of, Commodore Dewey At
| clock, withdrew with his ships few
miles out to sea, There the wounded
were cared for,guns examined, some tink-
ering doue and preparation made for a
second attnck. AT 8 o'clock they started
second attack. The smoke had arisen,
and showed a wrecked Spanish fleet. Tho
carnage wrought by the Americans WAS
plainly evident.
With as strong q flro as before the feet
again moved into battle. Numbers were
more equal now, that the enemy had lost
several boats. During the first half hour
Of fighting, the Spanish cruiser Don Juan
do Austria was severely damaged and her
lima nder killed.
The Spanish forts wero more aotive this
, time, aud particular attention WAS paid to
them, strong fire being directed at the
defenses. Tho Spanish ships Mindlnao
and Don Antonio de Ulloa were rendered
useless.
Several Of the Spanish ships were DELHI
erutely blown up to prevent their capture
, by the American feet, but their names
have not rs yet been cabled from Manila
Pouring a 1nurderous fire into the torto,
the American flagship and several moro
of the boats forced tho entrance to the har.
Dor They steamed to the west side OF
tho bay and there landed their wounded.
No list of any killed or injured on the
American side has, OF course, boon cabled
from Manila, as the Americans have NJ
cable con uection. 1t Is believed, however,
that the American loss Is not very great.
Naval officers in London regard 1t as
great victory and call 1t tho unnlhllauou
Of the Spanish feet in tho Philippines.