Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-05-05
BIG V|CTORY!.
Spanish Fleet Annihilated and the
Philippine Islands Captured
Last Sunday.
LASTED TWO HOURS.
Spain is Declared Practically in q
State of Revolution Already
as Result.
LASTED TWO HOURS.


the News from Key West says:
Clenfugoes has been bombarded
not only did the Marblehead 81
lence the Batteries of the town, on
the afternoon of April goth. but
shelled the town itself, playing
hovoc with buildings and driving
thousands of inhabitants to tho
interior. The shooting at the forts
was at 1000 yards. As soon as
the forts were disabled, Captain
ordered that the five inch
guns be given an elevation to reach
5000 yards. The firing began
with the starboard batteries follow
ed by the ports. The fight was
not finished until q late hour.
Washington May 2.-Special.-
2 p. m. -Dispatches from Manila,
via Singapore, saying that the
Spanish fleet was almost complete
ly destroyed in an action fought
Sunday with the American feet
under command of Commander
Dewey. The feet met at the en-
trance to Manila bay, the Spanish
having six cruisers and five small
gun boats.
A correspondent who witnessed
the fight from a tug which he had
chartered to follow the Spanish
feet says the American feet adj
vanced in two lines, the flagship
Olympia leading that to port and
the Raleigh that to starboard.--
The Spaniards opened the ball
with shots from the six-inch guns,
but their craftsmanship appeared
to be poor. The American vessels
did not return the fire until within
less than mile, when q string of
gaily colored flags huttered up to
the signal staff of the Olympia, re-
presenting the motto. Remember
Der the Maine, Commence Firing -
Instantly the sides Of the cruisers
were shrouded by smoke and the
splinters flew from the Reina
Christine and Isla de Cuba. AS
theAmerican vessels passed abreast
of the Spaniards and delivered
their fire, they circled round get
ting into position between Admiral
Montijo and Manila so as to cut
off his escape. The movements of
individual ships could not we'll be
discerned, but the Boston seemed
for a few moments to be in peril
GUS position, receiving the force
of three Spanish cruisers at once.
The Olympia moved up to her as
sistance and in a few minutes black.
er smoke began to mingle with the
gray breath of the cannon, which
shrouded the Reina Christina, and
it was evident that she was on fire,
Her guns continued to be actively
served and the other Spanish YES
sells clustered closer round to be in
a position to render assistance.
By this time the heavier metal
and better gunnery of the Ameri.
can ships was beginning to tell,
and the Spanish fire was evidently
stacking. They were doing their
best, but they were plainly over
matched, the 8-inch rifles of the
Olympia doing terrible execution
on the unprotected sides of the
Spanish vessels. - The latter in
passing the Castillo sent shell
through the port side forward,
which set her on fire, her foremost
tumbling over the side about the
same time. The smoke again set
tied down thickly and when it
blew away again the Reina Chris
tina and Castillo were seen to be
burning briskly, and evidently be-
yond rescue. -
After few minutes more the Span
iards had evidently had enough OF
it and were making preparation to
escape. Their vessels drew off to.