Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-08
lsERICAN EXECUTION TERRIFIC.
SDaliSh Admiral Chased from Ship to
Ship Of His Squadron.
raNISH FLEET ANNIHLATED.
shore batteries siienced and the
city soon ut the Mercy OF the In
trcpId Dewey-We Lose Not n

CHICAGO. May THE Chronicle has
Che following;
ro-ckoug. May 7--Commodore Dewey's
e-- lieutenant Thomas NJ. Brumby. ar
,,.5 40 Hongkong this morning. on the
rrtcd States revenue cutter Hugh Nc
c,r.ch. with the first official news OF
&c greatest naval battle Of modern
,~cs-,hat Of Manila harbor.
Tic official dispatches were at once
t.-V.rled by cable to the United States
Government at Washington.
r.e arst connected story Of the engage
mon, was told by the officers Of the Nc
csg5-h. who saw it and participated in
e. They said that SPANS feet OF ten
.see.Is was wholly destroyed.
The Reina Maria Christina, flagship Of
a.. snauish squadron. was the centre of
s-a.k az the beginning Of the action, and
,-isr the hot fire poured in on her from
,ts American ships she was soon burn
irs from stem TO stern.
Admiral Montejo, the Spanish admiral,
Qss compelled TO escape in small boat
O., the 1sla de Cuba, another of the Span
!h vessels. and as soon as his flag was
i,lste8 the guns Of the American feet
were turned on that vessel, and in Il few
minutes IL was destroyed.
The admiral was again forced TO es-
cave ia a small boat.
The defences of Manila and its bate
res. as well as those at Cavite were
sleaced, and beaten TO the ground by
tic rain Of shot and shell.
THROUGH THE TORPEDOES.
During Saturday night the vessels Of
fhe American squadron crept inside the
lay through a supposed maze OF mines
and t0rpedoes They were not observed
iy any Of the watchers on the Spanish
farrisons until some stray sparks were
emitted from the funnel Of the dispatch
boat Hugh McCulloch.
Then a few shots were exchanged with
te garrison on Corregidor Island, but.
owing to the darkness they were inef-
fective.
There were no patrol established. nor
were any searchlights placed at the en-
trance TO Manila bay.
The vessels Of the American squadron
never stopped or slowed down until they
lad assumed position directly opposite
che city Of Manila. This was just at day
break.
The order Of battle assumed by the
Spanish feet at the beginning of the en-
gagements was with all the small craft
inside Cavite harbor. which is protected
by stone and timber breakwaters, and
the larger ships manOeuvring on Cavlte
and Manila. The American batue-line was
led by the flagship Olympia and the
cruiser Raleigh. The Boston. Baltimore,
Concord. and Petrol and the revenue
cutter McCulloch followed. The Ameri-
can fleet, at easy speed, approached the
Spanish ships, which were drawn out IN
TWO lines. the Reina Maria Christina, the
flagship, in the centre. As the dawn
broke and the position of the American
e5uadron was discovered the Spanish
feet Immediately opened fire. supported
by the Cavite forts.
SPANISH FIRE FIRST.
The spaniards fred the first shot. The
challenge was given by the Reina Maria
Christina. The Olympia replied, and at
once the entire American fleet was in
seton. The Spanish ships did not hest
tate in their fire. and the Cavite bate
rels let loose their heavy guns. The best
guuners In the American fleet manned
the most destructive weapons on their
fhips. and the havoc wrought was fright
Gl. The engagement soon became gene
a
some distance from the brunt OF the en-
counter. and the enemy's shells passed
81, did not touch her.
The craftsmanship Of the Spanish gun
rors seemed 10 be wild from the outset
and meanwhile the main SHIPS Of the
American squadron were pouring in
deadly fire, doing great execution both
against the Spanish fleet and IN the
Csute fortihcations on land. The Ameri-
con cruiser Baltimore, at one period OF
the engagemcnt, received the brunt Of
the cnemy's fire, and suffered the most
q al the vessels in the American squad
Ton. From five To ten Of the enemy's
shot took effect on the Baltimore but
none OF her officers or crew We're Sc
rousiy hurt.
N0NTEJO CHASED MERCILESSLY.
As soon as the Spanish admiral left
The Re.na Maria Christina and boarded
de lsIa de Cuba, the fire WAS directed
a. the latter mercilessly, every S-inch
Gun on every ship joining those Of the
flagship. The Isla de Cuba was riddled.
After d few rounds she was put out OF
tcaon and almost before Admiral Mon
'elo had had time to get his bearings he
Nas driven out a second time.
The Spanish cruiser Castillo burst into
names under the remarkable gunnery OF
Dsaeys men.
The American Commodore then directed
le. fire against the batteries. This
va a surprise 10 Admiral Montejo. who
apparently thought himself secure under
'As guns Of the Caylte fortincations.
AMERICAN SHIPS wORSTED.