The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-15
MANILA WAS NOT so EASY.
DEWEY WAS DEPRESSED AFTER THE
FIRST ROUND OF FIGHTING.

Aune-haetoontal sBnulAEe en- our bhtpes
A private letter from an officer under Ad-
miral Dewey gives interesting details Of the
battle Of Manila After noting tho departure Of
the squadron from Mira Bay under orders
cabled from tho Navy Department, he says:
1.-Two days steaming-shiDs all together,
hence slow speod-brouRht us near the islands.
Friday night We sighted land. At daylight on
Saturday, April 30, the Boston and the Con-
cord were detached, with orders to look into
SubiE Bay.
I'VE went to quarters at 10 A. NJ. All that
morning and all day Friday We had boen strip.
ping ship and ohuokinR overheard spare loose
articles, tables, mess chairs and benches, lad
derS, everything that would aftcrward mako
trouble. All Joiner and woodwork on gun deck
was torn out and thrown away.
FAT IL o'clock We steamed into SubiR Bay,
quito expecting TO DO lrcd at 1t is a big sheet
Of water. and we ambled around until we had a
good look at II. We had rejoined the squadron
by 8 p. M. of tho 3oth. The commanding officers
went on board tho flagship and had . palavor,
camo back, and published the order of the day.
We wero to proceed at once to Manila Bay, run
past the forts at the entrance. passing them with
shottcd gums. Getting past, we were to steam
up the bay slowly, and at daylight to attack
what was there. The steaminR past was to be
done at slow speed on account OF tho transports
and revenue cutter, mono Of which could do better
than ten knots. The Commodore added that ho
had been told that there were four ships at Ma
Mia and three ships at Cavite. tho navy yard,
five miles distant. He intended detailing the Bos.
ton, Concord, and Petrol to take care of the navy
yard Job and tackling Manila with the rost Of
the squadron. We had boon on our feet all day
with no chow except what wo could catch In
tho way Of pickle, hardtaok. and timed meat.
Galley fires were, Of course. not lighted. The
| aanalfi0n rvaa curioua md ~itha1 intarouttp0
eve kept a keen lookout all evening, and q
little before IL headed In, With COrregidor, the
island with the biggest battery. In dim sight.
We had reason TO believe the passage was both
mined and torpedoed, and while the passage was
not narrow, there was that uncertainty which
some folks say adds zest to life.
"As we went on they were seen to signal
from tho tor Of Corregidor, but no shot was
6red and no mine exploded. A bit before / We
had left Corregidor we'll ~astern. and the order
was given to send spare ammunition below.
Hardly was this accomplished before a shell
from somo battery on the other side went whiat-
ling through our rigging. 1 was on deck at tho
time taking a pull of 'baocy. Almost at once
we let go an s.inoh shot at tho flash and then
several other shots were exchanged. All tho
time we were steaminE ahead and very soon
were out Of fire.
eve lay down here and there and got o bit Of
rest, but at daylight all hands were called to
quarters. With daylight we saw tho shipping
In the hsrbor. but no men.of.war at Manila
This meant they were at Ca vito and forCavit6 we
~headed-the Olympia In the van and transports
we'll clear of line of fro. Az we drew near tho
Spanish ships showed up. There were fourteen
in all. but seven Of these were small, four of
them were bigger than the Boston and three of
them 1900 tons or SO.
AT $50 the first shot was fred. Happened
to be on deck at tho time. In half a minute
there was the devil to pay. Tho air seemed
simply filled with things. In the midst of tho
racket some one called out that a torpedo boat
was leaving the shore and heading for us.
With my glasses I could see 1t plainly. In half
q minute our quick. fre guns wero bearing on IL.
and, by Jove. It was not thirty seconds till she
had turned to the shore and beached herself.
l was aboard her yesterday. She had q dozen
shot holes and was torn to pieces and sank as
she WAS beached.
my station as 4 so-called non-combatant ID
below In the wardroom to see that no fire gets
past us, 30. However, / was not Obliged
to stay there and SO had q good look at the
show. Everybody had been on dock for TWEEN
ty-four hours and no coffee could be served Out
beforeswe began. BY and by / thought of this
and going to the freroom I got Sonic hot water
mado some strong coffee, put 1t in a bottle ant
scrambled up on deck There were only rope lad
dersl and gave some Of the fellows Q swig O.
, eoneo Il = nto'1 Vi uiu 'his wv
) u 'nIoo LUCE ~ GIN y oe appreciated
ono tune' cu[louSiy ohoukn ho' "nile l was Oh
I. ueoA' "u' 80 ! ."o "ofu[oom' mac
3 perhaps mS o'oSoS' o~n' shen MI uS rish
3 ABOVE INC ""'oF4ihe' came Ill" tho "aroroon
oeSae me- eApioueu' su'.eu JUG iooAeF ful o
3 ciotIeS ana SCI Hroto II outnt, l iouho
p'eco Vi sneH ~ ~ Wv eiuo Vi Il warurooh
oenihu io' w. to' \ oponou tho otho
+ iocNers anu oufo"u' 'uf"0u 'n ii hose AM
: oireotiy h@n inc nre put OUT ana several ihohe
Oh "@'er III o'er IL "@furoo"'
0 You never Hny"noro sa" such d WRECK a
1 my room was itsot no Sho1 n IT, OUT our ow'
: s'ihcn gun hreu FiHhG @oross 1hc oeck' slmpE
o tore IL al 10 pioces, Everything oreaNaole wa
r orSheh anu the ouiAheAuS were al started al
r the DOCK she''es weFe torn OUT ana eVerSthin
-clo'neS' eio'lrie i"n, poohS' pAocS' ourlos an
the reSt-was on n hoor one mass ana thre
!. ihchos OF "@'or' oAh you picture iti
'AI I'1U WO % II bEnHl 10 DAHL On an