The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-10
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGHT.
How Brave Admiral Dewey Destroyed the
Spanish Fleet.

How Brave Admiral Dewey Destroyed the
Spanish Fleet.
Hong Kong, May 10.-An officer of the
dispatch boat Hugh McCulloch gave out
the following additional details concern
ing the engagement at Manila: Ad-
miral Dewey, on arriving off the Phil
ippines, took the precaution before go
ing on to Manila to look in at Bolinao
and Subig bay for any traces Of Span
ish vessels. Finding the coast in this
direction to be clear of the enemy, he
proceeded with all speed to his destina-
ton, and arrived off the entrance OF
Manila bay after nightfall on Saturday.
1t was, however, a bright moonlight
night, and the attack was therefore
postponed for a few hours.
The conditions becoming more favor
able, all lights were extinguished on
board the ships, the men were called to
quarters, and the fleet began the risky
operation of entering the harbor, taxi
ing the southern channel as more ac-
cessible. It was not. however, able TO
entirely elude the forts, which opened
fire on the Transports though without
doing any damage. This demonstration
was speedily silenced by few shots
from the cruisers, and the passage was
made good without further obstacle.
The squadron continued to steam
ahead without apparently being OBJ
served untYl daybreak, o'clock. AT
that hour it arrived opposite the forts
Of Manila. and the Spanish artillery
men Immediately opened fire, but at
such a long range they failed to score
a hit. One of the American cruisers re-
turned the fire, but was at once ordered
By the flagship to cease. Commodore
Dewey had more important business on
hand, and lost no time in continuing
the search for the Spanish fleet. 1t was
not long before he discovered the enc
my's vessels opposite the naval arsenal.
lying. not only at anchor, but also with
out steam.
The Spanish squadron, together with
the guns at the forts of Cavite, opened
q tremendous cannonade directly the
Americans came within range. forming
I'm line ahead. Commodore Deweys
ships steamed across the Spanish line.
the flagship Olympia leading the van.
At $50 the signal to begin the attack
was given by shot from the Olympia
and eight-inch guns on the enemy, and
poured in regular broadsides as they
passed and repassed the line. In the alb
sence Of any breeze the ships were soon
shrouded In smoke, and 1t became mo-
mentarily more difficult to tell exactly
how the fight was going, but 1t was evil
dent that the enemy, although obvious
ly overmatched, was not prepared to
give in without striking blow.
Having at last got up steam, Admiral
Patricio Montejo steamed out with his
flagship Reina Christina, bent on giving
battle to the Olympia, but the duel was
too unequal. The American man-of-
war discharged her eighth Inch guns both
fore and aft, and killed sixty of the
spanish crew, including the captain.
chaplain, and lieutenant, and caused
the boilers to explode. The Reina Chris
tina. by this time burning wreck, was
retired. Admiral Montejo. however.
transferred his flag TO the Castillo, on
board Of which he kept up a vigorous
FIRE until at length 1t, too, sank at Its
mornings.
n was now a quarter past and the
American crews, who had been serving
the guns with tremendous zeal. were
utterly exhausted with heat and hard
work. Admiral Dewey accordingly
withdrew his vessels for time. leav-
ing three Of the Spanish cruisers In
flames. He had sustained no loss In
men or ships beyond few cases OF In
fury from flying splinters At IL o'clock
the engagement was renewed. The
Americans setting to work with re-
doubled energy. poured In tremend-