Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-05-12

4 c0t0 tht attihiii ats anu at - III " tiO1h fii
a distance of 500 yards, the starboard
8-inch gun in the forward turret roared
forth compliment to the Spanish forts.
Presently similar guns from the Balti-
more and the Boston sent 250-pound
shell hurting toward the Castillo and
the Reina Cristina with accuracy. The
Spaniards seemed encouraged to fire
faster, knowing exactly our distance,
while we had to guess theirs. Their
ship and shore guns were making
things hot for us.
The piercing scream of shot was va
ried often by the bursting of time fuse
shells, fragments of which would lash
the water like shrapnel or cut our hull
and rigging. One large shell that was
coming straight at the Olympia's for
ward bridge Fortunately fell less than
100 feet away. One fragment cut the
rigging exactly over the heads of Lam
berton, Rees and myself Another
struck the bridge gratings in line with
il. A third passed just under Admiral
Dewey, and gouged hole in the deck
Incidents like these were plentiful.
Our men naturally chafed at being
exposed without returning fire from all
our guns. but laughed at danger and
chatted good-humoredly. A few nerv-
ous fellows could not help lodging,
mechanically, when shells would burst
right over them, or close aboard, or
would strike the water and pass over
head, with the peculiar sputtering roar
made by a tumbling rifled proiectile.
Still the flagship steered for the cen
tire of the Spanish line, and, rs our
other ships were astern, the Olympia
received most of the Spaniard's at
tention.
Owing to our deep draught, Commo-
dore Dewey felt constrained to change
his course at distance of 1000 yards,
and run parallel to the Spanish column.
"0pen with all guns he said, and
the ship brought her port broadside
bearing. The roar of all the flagship's
5-inch rapid-firers was followed by a
deep diapason of her tIrret S-inchers
Soon our other vessels were equally
hard at work, and we could see that
our shells were making Cavite harbor
hotter. for the Spaniards than they had
made the approach for us.
Protected by their shore batteries,
and made safe from close attack by
shallow water, the Spaniards were in
a strong position. They put up gal
liant fight. The Spanish ships were
sailing back and forth behind the Cas-
tilla, ahd their fire was hot. One shot
struck the Baltimore and passed clean
through her, fortunately hitting no
one. Another ripped up her main
deck, disabled a six-inch gun, and ex-
ploded box of three-pounder ammu-
milton, wounding eight men. The
Olympia was struck abreast the gun in
the wardroom by shell which burst
doing little damage. The sig
nal halyards were cut from Lieut..
hand on the after bridge.
A shell entered the Boston's port
quarter, and burst in Ensign Dodridgc's
stateroom, starting a hot fire, and fire
was also caused by shell which burst
in the port hammock netting. Both
these fires were quickly put out.
Another she'll passed through the Bos-
toms foremost just in front of Capt. |
Wildes on the bridge.
After having made four runs along
the Spanish line, finding the chart in
correct, Lieut.. Calkins, the Olympia's |
told the admiral he believed
he could take the ship nearer the enc
my. with lead going to watch the depth
Of water. The flagship started over
the course for the fifth time, running
within 1000 yards ofthe Spanish YES
sells.
At this range even 6-pounders were
and the storm of shells poured |
upon the unfortunate Spanish began |
10 show marked results. Three of the |
enemy's vessels were seen burning and |
heir fire slackened. On finishing this |
run, Admiral Dewey decided to give
he men breakfast, as fast as they had |
been at the guns two hours with only |
one cup ofcoffee to sustain them. Ac-
ion ceased temporarily at Z 80 O'Clock,
he other ships passing the flagship
md cheering Justify.
Our ships remained beyond range of
the enemy's guns until 10 80 O'Clock.
when the signal for close action again
vent up. The Baltimore had the place
If honor in the lead, with the flagship
and the other ships as be-
ore.
The Baltimore began firing at the
Spanish ships and batteries at Is min
ties past IL o'clock, making a series
If hits as if at target practice. The
Spaniards replied very slowly, and the
Idmiral signalled the Raleigh, the Bos-
on, the Concord and the Petrol to 90 into
he inner harbor and destroy all the enc
ny's ships. BY her light draught. the
title Petrol was enabled to move with
n 1000 yards. Here, firing swiftly.
,ut accurately, she commanded every-
hing still flying the Spanish flag.
Other ships We're also doing their
whole duty, and soon not one red and
-ellow ensign remained aloft. except
IN a battery up the coast. The Span
sh flagship and the Castillo had iono
'een burning fiercely, and the last ves-
ell to be abandoned was the Don An
ohio de Ulloa, which lurched over and
ank.
Then the Spanish flag on the arsenal
taft was hauled down, and at - 40
a.