The record-union., 1898-05-08
The forts made a resistance, but were

oiei lhe ldSt VSSSel OF the enemy Aau
been destroyed.
By this time the shore batteries were
silenced. and the American fleet had
Won remarkable victory. American
ships were kept under way to maneu-
yer about the Spanish feet BY this
means much of the enemy's fire was
rendered harmless. The spectacle Of
the American warships maneuvering
as if on parade, and at the same time
directing whitening fire at the en-
emy's ships and forts, was a magnifi-
OF modern naval warfare.
There We're only few slight casual
ties. all told, among the ships Of the
American fleet, the worst of which re-
tion on the deck of the Baltimore. The
other ships of the fleet were practically
uninjured
AT least $50 Spaniards are known to
have been killed during the engage
ment, and several hundred were wound
ed besides. Some reports place the
total loss of the Spanish feet at 3Oo
killed and 400 wounded.
The Olympia led the squadron into
the bay through the channel, and the
fleet had passed Corregidor Island be-
fore the Spaniards perceived them. a
shot was then fired from the battery,
to which the. Raleigh, the Boston and
the Concord quickly retorted, and the
battery was almost Immediately re-
duced TO silence.
The squadron then slowly proceeded
up the harbor, and near daybreak the
town of Manila was seen about five
miles distant The American ships
steamed deliberately along in front of
Manila, but without opening fire until
the Spanish cannon from the batteries
around the town began firing and shots
began to strike the water around the
squadron. The Concord fired few
shots more or less as she passed, but
the other ships proceeded silently to-
wards Cavite
When nearing Baker Bay a sudden
upheaval of the waters occurred a lit
tie distance in front of the leading ship,
and quickly following this a second
water spout denoted that the Spaniards
had fired a couple of mines or torpedoes,
but their efforts to blow up the ships
were absolutely unsuccessful.
Almost Immediately the guns in the
Cavite battery burst into heavy can
nonading. The shells fell in the neigh
borhood of the Olympia, but major
ity of them fell short, and were badly
aimed. The squadron then drew near
er in toward the Spanish fleet, and the
battle began in real earnest.
The American ships, entered by the
southern channel by Faballo and Frisle
Islets, which were fortified. Commodore
Dewey resolved to risk the mines
which WEI =. supposed to block the chan
together. Replying with a few shells,
the squadron proceeded without stop
ping or changing it's course. The order
of the vessels were as follows: The
Olympia, Baltimore. Raleigh, Concord,
Boston, Petrol, McCulloch. Nanshan
and Zaflro, and thus they steamed to
the center Of the bay. They passed be-
fore the city, seeking the Spanish
trance of Baker Bay. backed and
flanked by the Cavite forts, with the
two torpedo boats and four gunboats
inside the mole, which served as pro-
Castillo, Don Antonio de Ulloa, Isla de
Cuba, Isla de Luzon and the mail boat
Mindanoa were drawn up outside.
The Spaniards fired the first shot at
5000 yards. but 1t was ineffective. The
American ships formed in column line
and steamed nearer, reserving their fire
until within 1000 yards. They then
passed backwards and forwards six
times across the Spaniards front, pour
ing in a perfect hail of shot and she'll.
Every shot seemed to tell. Then the
Americans retired for breakfast and a
council Of war
The Spanish ships were already in
desperate condition. The Reina Chris
tina was riddled, and one of her steam
pipes had burst. The Castillo was also
on fire, and both were burned to the
waters edge.
The Don Antonio De Ulloa made q
magnificent show of desperate bravery.
With her colors nailed to her mast, she
sank with all hands. Her hull was rid
died and her upper deck swept clean.
But the guns on the lower deck were
still firing defiantly as the vessel sank
beneath the water. A torpedo boat
tried to creep along the shore, around
the offing and attack the non-combat-
ants, Zafire, Nanshan and McCulloch.
but was driven ashore and shot into
bits.
The Mindanao was run onto the beach,
and the other small craft retired behind
the mole.
The fight started at $50, was ad-
journed at $3.50, and resumed about
noon.
The finishing touches were given to
Cavite by the Petrol and Concord.
The Raleigh grounded twice in shall
low water during the engagement.
Cavite is utterly ruined and has sur
rendered, the gunboats have been scut-
tied and the arsenal was set on fire
and exploded causing great mortality.
The ConmaGaro of the fioat IN boa rd