The news & observer., 1898-05-09

One of Their Ships After Striking Her
Colors Fired on Boat Sent to Take
Possession.
sssS
London May 9.-The Hong Kong cor
respondent of the Daily Mail gives the
following additional details:
There was an act of treachery on the
part of "A Spanish ship which lowered
her flag and then fired at boats crew
sent to take possession of her. She did
not hit the boat but our guns were
| turned on her and tore her to pieces.
She went to the bottom with all OIL
board. Several vessels close inshore be-
haved in the same way and shared hel
fate.
THE Spaniards had fought to their
last gasp and now surrendered They
had been announcing that the Americans
would kill everyone in Cavite and when
we landed a long procession of priests
and sisters Of mercy met the boat from
the Petrol and begged our men not to in
jure the wounded in the hospitals. AS a
matter of fact the Americans rescued
some POO Spaniards and sent them
ashore.
''All the Spanish vessels are destroyed.
with 1000 men. The Spanish estimate
gives their loss rs 1000 killed and
wounded In the Reina Maria Christina
200 men are believed to have been killed
or drowned
"The officers Of the McCulloch. with
whom / conyersed to-day, bear testimony
to the bravery of the Spaniards They
particularly praised the gallant crew of
| the Castillo. who they describe rs the.
! brayest men ever sacrificed i'm battle
| They consider the result of the fight Il
remarkable instance of the advantage of
long range firing to the side which is bet
ter in artillery and craftsmanship.
Private papers captured at Cavite
show it was intended that the Spanish
| fleet should engage the Americans out
side the bay the day before the fight. No
IeXplanation is forthcoming of the change
of plans My informant told me Il land
l ing was not effected at Manila, where
| food is scarce, as Commodore Dewey
could not undertake any responsibility.
/ Still | do not think there is any danger
| of the insurgents maSSacreing the popn-
lation of Manila. If they began to do so.
Commodore Dewey would land men and
stop them,
The American commander has wired
for instructions regarding Manila, not
caring to take over the city on his own
| responsibility. Supplies are being stop
lped by the insurgents at Manila and Ca
yite, whore the hospital has been plum
dered for food. The Americans landed
supplies for the Spanish wounded. The
Olympia was hit thirteen times during
| the engagement"
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF BATTLE.
London, May S.-The Hong Kong cor
| respondent of the Times, describing the
fight Mt Manila. saws
THE cable from the bay to Manila
having been cut by the rebels the city
was taken by surprise by the appear
ance OF the American fleet. The Span
sh Hagshipe having got up steam. adj
vanced out Of line to meet the Olympia.
| Commodore Dewey had issued an order
for his fleet to concentrate its guns on
the Spanish flagship, and the signal was
obeyed with telling effect The flagship
retired. The Olympia fired an eight-inch
shell. which raled the Reina Maria
Christina throughout her length and
caused her boilers to explode. killing her
captain and sixty men. She dnfted
away on fire.
Altogether one hundred and forty
men. were killed, and about the same
number were wounded. Admiral Mon
tejo transferred his flag to the Castillo
which was. sunk shortly afterward by a
storm of shot. At a quarter Of eight the