The San Francisco call., 1898-06-12

struck his colors. Three hearty cheers went up from our boys, but it was only for few minutes, as the Spanish ad- miral hoisted his flag on another ship, the Castilla, as his first flagship was ali ablaze, and sinking fast.
 We then went at it again, this time with more determination to do or die. In a short time we had their whole fleet on fire and the torpedo boats driven on the beach. At S:30 the word came to cease firing, as there was not a Spanish flag floating anywhere in sight to shoot at.
 We then called on the Governor General to surrender all the forts, which he did. One dose was enough for him, and now we have spiked every gun in this har- bor.
 John, our forefathers may be dead. but if you had seen that battle you would think their spirit as much alive to-day as ever it was. l can. tell yeu that we avenged the deaths of our dead com rades of the Maine in good old American style. Before this battle if they knew you were an American they would spit in your face. But since the bomoard- ment things have changed. When they meet an American now they salute him with both hands.
 One man was found with his hand on the throttle, with a shot through his body. We found him on one Of the small gunboats that had retreated up the river. During the engagement one of the maga- zines in the arsenal was struck with an eight-inch shell and exploded. killing 800 men.
 We expect another fleet out here soon. and when they do come we will give them a warm reception We are lying as peacefully here now as if nothing had happened but we have our weather eye open on the Spaniards.
 I will give you the full details in my next letter. No more at present. He~ spectfully, H. J. WALSH
 U. s. s. Olympia
 
 K MOTHER boy who saw the bat n tie of Manila is W. J. Nokas. A A few weeks ago he was living in this city, but he thought he would
 like to see "a little action" so he joined the Olympia as an apprentice and sailed away to where fighting was to be had And beautiful fighting It was, according to the story he has Just sent home to his relatives in this city,
 Of course the story of the battle et Manila has been told as well as 1t ever will be told, but there were incidents connected with it that escaped the Watchful eyes of the correspondents.
 Before the battle commenced, says young NokaS, there was great conSter- nation among the crew Of the Olympia over the fear of flying spltnters- The bluejackets did not seem to have any fear of being shot by the Span1ards, but in some mysterious manner got it into their heads that the shells burst ing near by would cause the air to be filled with fragments of chairs and tables. To obviate this danger the boys watched their chances and threw every movable piece of woodwork overheard.
 Of course they did not suffer from flying splinters during the heat of the hard fought battle, but when breakfast time came they had to eat standing up. And the chances are they have been eating that way ever since, for the cap tain did not like the foolish destruction of Uncle Sams furniture. However, after considering the way the boys be- haved during the engagement he made no attempt to punish any of them.
 Young Nokas saw the first shot of the battle fired by the Baltimore. He was right in the thick of the fight, where shells were bursting all around and Spaniards were being killed by the hundred, and says that he did not feel the least bit afraid.
 The excitement was so great that none of the boys had time to think of feeling afraid. But after it was all over and they saw the great destruc- ton that had been caused the Span iards they fully realized the horrors of war and were glad they had such grand leader as Dewey, who saved them from similar or worse fate.