St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-05-11

posed without returning fire from all our
guns, but laughed at danger and chatted
good-humoredly. A few nervous fellows
could not help lodging. mechanically,
when shells would burst right over them,
or close aboard, or would strike the
water and pass overhead, with the pecu
liar suffering roar made by tumbling
rifed projectile.
Still the flagship steered for the center
OF the Spanish line, and, as our other
ships were astern, the Olympia received
most of the Spaniards' attention.
Owing to our deep draught, Comma.
dore Dewey felt constrained to change
his course at distance Of 1000 yards,
and run parallel to the Spanish column.
open with all guns" he said, and the
ship brought her port broadsde bearing
The roar OF all the fagship's 5-inch rapid
frers was followed by deep diapason
of her turret 8 inchers. Soon our other
vessels were equally hard at work, and
we could see that our shells were making
Cavite harbor hotter for the Spanards
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 pnt up gallant fight
The Spanish ships were sailing back and
forth behind the Castillo, and 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 six inch gun, and
exploded box of three FOUNDER ammu-
milton, wounding eight men. The Olym-
pa was struck abreast the gun in the
wardroom by a shell which burst out
side. doing little damage. The signal
halyards were cut from Lieut.. Brumby's
hand on the after bridge.
A shell entered the Boston's port quar-
ter, and burst in Ensign Dodridge's
stateroom, starting hot fire, and fire
was also caused by shell which burst
in the port hammock netting. Both
these fires were quickly put out. Anoth-
er shell passed through the Boston's
foremost just in front of Capt Wildes on
the bridge.
After having made four runs along the
Spanish line, finding the chart Incorrect
Lieut.. Calkins, the Olympia's navigator,
told the admiral he believed he could
take the ship nearer the enemy, with lead
going to watch the depth of water. The
flagship started over the course for the
fifth time, running within 1000 yards of
the Spanish vessels.
At this range even poundrs were effec-
tive, and the storm of shells poured upon
the unfortunate Spanish began to show
marked results. Three of the enemy's
vessels were seen burning and their fire
slackened.
On finishing this run, Admiral Dewey
decided to give the men breakfast, as
they had been at the guns two hours
with only one cup of coffee to sustain
them. Action ceased temporarily at Z 35
o'clock, the other ships passing the flag
ship and cheering Justify.
Our ships remained beyond range of
the enemy's guns until 10 so o'clock,
when the signal for close action again
went up. The Baltimore had the place
of honor in the lead, with the flagship
following, and the other ships as before.
The Baltimore began firing at the Span
ish ships and batteries at 16 minutes
past II o'clock, making series ofhits as
if at target practice. The Spaniards re-
piled very slowly, and the admiral sig
nailed the Raleigh, the Boston, the Con
cord and the Petrol to go into the inner
harbor and destroy all the enemy S ships.
By her light draught, the little Petrol
was enabled to move within 1000 yards.
Here, firing swiftly, but accurately, she
commanded everything still flying the
Spanish flag.
Other ships were also doing their whole
duty, and soon not one red and yellow
ensign remained aloft, except on bat
terry up the coast. The Spanish flagship
and the Castillo had long been burning
fiercey, and the last vessel to be aban-
doned was the Don Antonio De Ulloa,
which lurched over and sank.
Then the Spanish flag on the arsenal
staff was hauled down, and at 1890
o'cloch white flag was hoisted there
Signal was made to the Petrol to destroy
all the vessels in the inner harbor, and
Lieut.. Hughes, with an armed boats
crew, set fire to the Don Juan de Austria,
the Marquis Duero, the lsla de Cuba and
the Ell Carlo. The large transport Ma
Mia and many tugboats and small craft
fell into our hands.
Capture or destroy the Spanish
squadron" were Dewey's orders. Never
were instructions more effcctually car.
ried out. Within seven hours after ar.
irving on the scene of action nothing re-
manned to be done.