The herald., 1898-06-13
Graphic Story of the Fierce Battle in the
Bay of Manila
AN UNBROKEN STREAM OF SHELLS
Spanish Ships We're Literally blown Out Of the Water.
Humanity of the Admiral--Refused to Bonn.
bard Manila Because of Women
and Children
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
MANILA BAY, May A. via Hongkong,
May 10.-(Special correspondence of .he
Associated Press. Copyright 1881 With
decks cleared for action, guns shotted,
crews all at quarters and eagerly peering
through the portfolios, Commodore Dewey
having previously made signal to follow
the flagship, headed for the entrance of
Manila bay between the batteries on the
islands of Pulo Cabelo and Ell Fraile at
10 p. m. on Sunday night last, April 80.
Here were the guns that were to blow us
out of the water and the much vauntetf
torpedo mine field that it was impossible
to pass without skilled pilot.
AT 1920 a signal light and gun on the
beach announced that we had probably been
seen, as the night was bright moonlight,
but the dark green paint and the inky dark
ness on board ship prevented any estimate
OF our strength from being made.
The Olympia and Baltimore slipped
through unseen before the gunners on El
Fraile, but a sudden roar, a flash, and a
shell whistled over the Raleigh and ex-
ploded close alongside. The Baltimore
opened fire and five-inch shell from her
broke the silence of the American fleet, but
the course of the ship was not changed.
Three more shots were fired at the Con-
cord and Boston, and they were promptly
replied to, after which the ships were out
of range. Speed was then slackened and
the column headed up the bay for Manila,
thirty miles distant.
The Prey Found
The commodore skirted the city at early
dawn, but the Spanish fleet was not there
Soon afterwards 1t was distinguished drawn
up in line of battle off the strongly fortified
arsenal of Cavite, seven miles from Manila
The signal, Prepare for general action
and close up" was then foated from the
flagship Olympia and the bugle and drum
called to general quarters" and the glori-
GUS Stars and Stripes waved out from every
masthead and gaff of the six ships of he
squadron as the Olympia headed for their
line of battle. Our formation was in COL
umn, 400 yards apart, with a slackened
speed of six knots.
The fullness of day revealed the Spanish
fleet of nine vessels-the Reina Christina
(fagship), the Castillo, Don Antonio de
Ulloa, Isla de Cuba, Isla de Luzon and four
small gunboats. The Spanish mail steamer
Mindanao was also in lire, having been has
tily fitted with guns. Each end of their
line was protected by batteries of six and
eight inch guns on the peninsula of Cavte.
The Castillo was moored head and stern.
and the other ships had steam up in order
to be able to retreat behind the mole auM
batteries of Cavite to repair accidents and
take breathing SPELL
In Good Range
The shore batteries opened OH US long
before we were in range. Our guns were
r!Io
pia swung around her port broadside ard
let drive her four eight-inch turret guns.
The Baltimore. Raleigh, Petrel Concord
and Boston, in succession, followed the
flagship and opened fire as soon as their
guns would bear on the enemy. The en-
gagement was general as the Americans
swept down parallel to the Spanish line,
but was fought at long range, owing to our
ships being kept away from the enemy in
the shallow water. The modern high
power guns and excellent gunnery of the
Americans showed its effects, while .hc
Spaniards' shots fell far short or went over
our heads.
The end of the line being reached, we
turned shifted our batteries and stood down
the line until we were at from 25OO to 5000
yards from them. II is inconceivabe with
what accuracy and rapidity our guns were
fired. The sides of the Raleigh. which has
a battery of ten fve-inch rapid-fire guns
were a continuous flame. and the eight
inch guns of the Olympia, Boston and
Baltimore hurled an unbrokeu stream of
25O-pound shells at the doomed ships of :he
enemy.
Deadly Aim
The Castillo was r!ddled and burning A
cIoIl
Christina showed she was in trouble Two
hours later she burst into flames and both
ships were burned to the waters edge. The
other Spanish craft had been handled so
severely that they had retired behind the
mole of the navy yard. The Mindanao was
beached.
one torpedo boat, early in the fight, tried
to slip out and attack our reserve squadron
composed of the McCuloch and the trans
ports Nan Shan and Zafiro, which we had
left out of range of the action She had
hardly made clear her purpose before the
small rapld-fire guns of all our ships was
concentrated on her, and she was fairly
blown cut of the water onto the beach.
Halt for Breakfast
AT 1880 the commodore made signal to re-
tire to give the crews rest and breakfast.
They had been standing by their guns all
night and had been firing them for three
hours. The rest was welcomed by all.
After breakfast and the council of war.
II was decided to attack and destroy the
shore batteries at Cavte. On signal the
Baltimore led the way, ran up to within 2O1o
yards, reserved their concentrated fire and
literally smothered them with shell. The
other ships quickly took their>places and
within thirty minutes not another shot was
fired from the shore.
The Don Antonio de Ulloa still floated the
flag of Spain and fired few shots. Her
decks were swept of every living soul and
she sank riddled with shell. The work of
the ships was over.
The Raleigh. Concord and Petrol were
then ordered inside to destroy shipping. :"
But the draught of the Raleigh, twenty
feet, was too great to allow her to get over
the shoal water and after getting aground
twice the attempt had to be abandoned
The Concord ran over and found the Min.
danao, while the Petrol went up to the navy
yard. The enemy, however, had anticinated
them. and all the gunboats were on fire mr.
scuttled. The arsenal was in ruins from N a
shellng.
The Surrender
At 1880 the Spanish flag was hauled down