The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1898-05-11
CLovERPoRT KENTUCKY, WEDNESDAY, MAY IL 1898

No other mines exploded, however
and It is believed the Spaniards had
only these two in place.
Only a few moments later the shore
battery at Cavite Point sent over the
flagship a shot that nearly hit the bat.
terry in Manila, but soon the guns goi
better range and the shells began
to strike near us or burst close aboard
from both the batteries and the Span
ish vessels.
The heat was intense. Men stripped
on all clothing except their trousers
As the Olympia drew nearer all was
silent on board as IL the ship had been
empty, except for the whir of blowers
and the throb Of the engines. Sud-
denly a shell burst directly over us.
From the boatswain's mate, at the
after 5-inch gun, came a hoarse cry,
Remember the Maine!" arose from
the threats of 500 men at the guns.
This watchword was caught up in tur-
rets and firerooms, where every sea-
man or fireman stood at his post.
Remember the Mainel" had rung
out for defiance and revenge. Its ut
terance seemed unprecedented, but
was evidently in every mans mind,
and, now that the moment had come
to make adequate reply to the murder
Of the Names crew, every man shout
ed what was in his heart.
The Olympia was now ready to be-
gin the fight. Commodore Dewey, his
Chief STAFF Commander Lamberton
and aid, with Executive Officer Lieu
tenant Rees and Navigator Lieutenant
Calkins, who conned ship most adj
mirably. were on the forward bridge.
Captain Gridley was In the coming
tower, as it was thought unsafe to
risk losing all the senior officers by
one she'll
you may fire when ready, Gridley,"
said the commodore, and at Al min
utes past o'clock, at a distance Of
$500 yards, the starboard S-inch gun
in the forward turret foarsd forth
compliment to the Spanish forts.
Presently similar guns from the Bal
shells hurting toward the Castillo
and the Reina Christina for accuracy.
The Spaniards seemed encouraged
to fire faster. knowing exactly our dis
lance, while we had to guess theirs.
Their ship and shore guns were max
ing things hot for us.
The piercing scream of shot was
varied often by the bursting Of time
fuse shells. fragments Of which would
lash the water like shrapnel or cut
our hull and rigging
One large shell that was coming
straight at the olympia's forward
bridge fortunately fell within less
than 10 feet away. One fragment cut
the rigging exactly over the heads Of
Lamberton and Rees.
Another struck the bridge gratings
in line with it. A third passed Just
under Commodore Dewey and gouged
a hole in the deck. Incidents like this
were plentiful.
Our men naturally chafed at being
exposed 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 peculiar splut-
tering roar made by a tumbling rifled
projectile.
Still the flagship steered for the CEN
ter of the Spanish line, and, as our
ships we're astern, the OLYMPIA received
most Of the Spaniards' attention.
Owing to our deep draught Commo-
dore Dewey felt constrained to change
his course at a distance of 1000 yards
and run parallel to the Spanish col
umn.
open with all guns" he said, and
the ship brought her port side bearing.
The roar of all the fiagship's 5-inch
rapid-firers was followed by a deep
diapson of her turret S-inchers.
Soon our other vessels were equally
hard at work. and we could see that
our shells were making Cavite harbor
hotter for the Spaniards 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 put up gallant
fight.
The Spanish ships were sailing back
and forth behind the Castillo, and
their fire. too. was hot.
One shot struck the Baltimore and
passed clean through her, fortunately
hitting no one. Another ripped up
her main deck. disabled a 6-inch gun
and exploded a box OF S-pounder am
munition. wounding eight men.
The Olympia was struck abreast the
gun in the wardroom by a shell which
burst outside. doing little damage.
The signal halyards were cut from
Lieutenant Brumby's hand on the
after bridge. A shell entered the Bos-
tons port quarter and burst in Ensign
Dodridge's stateroom. starting a hot
fire, and fire was also caused by shell
which burst in the port hammock net
ting. Both these fires were quickly
put out Another shell passed through
the Boston's foremost, Just in front Of
Captain Wildes. on the bridge.
After having made four runs along
A. O.. .t.l Tfna anHlu the chart