Washington sentinel., 1898-06-18
was bound to stay and see the
thing through.

| was DOuuu 10 stay anu sec lh'
thing through.
The rumor had spread through
the fleet that the Spanish forts were
almost impregnable and armed
with the very latest guns, and thai
the channels were sown thick with
destructive mines. There waSalso
a general lack OF confidence in
Spanish philanthropy. as applied
to the treatment of prisoners.
Nevertheless the Yankee sailors
were happy as they glided noise
lessly through the entrance into
Manila Bay. with all lights out ex-
cept one hooded lantern on the
stern of each ship to guide the ship
behind. But Gunner Evans, all
ways thoughtful. took one nttle
precaution. He kept his navy re-
volYer within reach. in order, as
he says, "at the moment felt the
decks OF the Boston rising under
me, to end the matter, so far as 1
was concerned, by a bullet in the
brain" He planned to put one
shot through his right temple, and
then, if he had life enough left,
another through the roof of his
mouth. Alter that, he figured, the
Spaniards might get what salts
faction they could out OF his re-
mains.
When the battle began the
Americans soon discovered that
they were facing a very heavy ar.
mament. The batteries OF the
Spanish ships were very respecta-
Bile, and on shore there were sew
eral ten inch guns-twice as heavy
as anything in Dewey's fleet.
The huge projectiles from these
weapons, any one of which would
have sunk any of the American
ships If it had hit it in the right spot,
were flying recklessly in all direc-
tions. Smaller shells whizzed over
the decks, mlraculously keeping
clear of the crews. For three hours
the men toiled under tropic sun,
IN the concentrated fires OF earth
and sky. They were stripped to
the skin, all but their shoes, and
with the heat of the guns added
to the natural summer heat OF over
100 degrees their blood seethed in
their veins. Every twenty minutes
Evans gave his gunners weak
whiskey and water. AT last, when
the smoke had settled like an
opaque cloud, through which
friends could hardly be distin-
guished from foes, Dewey took a
recess for breakfast.
1t was not breakfast alone,
though, that made that rest advis-
able. The men were so exhausted |
that thev could not have held out
another half hour. "We were not
only wearied physically" says
Evans, "but the nervous strain was
something awful"
81 called my men into the gun
room and served each with a stiff |
drink of whiskey, and told them
to take all the rest they could get.
l went into the chart room, as it
was about the coolest place on the
ship, and threw myself on the
chart table. was too nervous to
sleep and too exhausted to move. |
l Just lay there sort Of dazed.
"When Captain Wilds, who was |
still on the bridge, sent for me, l |
made an effort to go to him, but |
could not, and returned word that |
II he wanted to see me he would |
have to come to me. The captain
entered the chart room, and his
presence seemed to revive me. |
told him that my end of ship |
would be ready for work again in
an hour"
When non-commissioned Off
Ger sends such message as that
to his captain, the forces OF nature
must be pretty near their limit.
Nevertheless the Yankee sailors
picked themselves up, demolished
a hearty breakfast, and then went
in and finished polishing off the
Dons, just as they will wherever
else they have a chance.