The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-05-22

course known to the Yansee feet. L
was soon apparent, howe'er. that two
more Spanish cruisers we're close at
hand and there was othershipping. not
clearly distinguished, ner by.
1t was plain that tn Spanish ad-
miral was taken entirey by surprise.
His fleet was ready, buthe did not ex-
pect the Americans to inter the bay.
Admiral Montejo hai fully expected
the American feet tc remain in the
vicinity of Subig bay aud that he would
have to 30 out to The open water to
meet it. He thought Commodore Dew
ey would try to force an entrance past
the batteries of Subj; bay and make a
landing there and the governor general
mad a force OF $500 men there to pre-
vent junction between the insurgents
and the Americana That the latter
would have the tenerity to enter the
mine-sowed bay aid give him battle
in front of ManilS never entered his
head.
With the rapidly for which he is
noted Admiral Moltejo formed his line.
1t is not known yet what his exact for
nation was. 1t d a mistake, however.
to say that the C4stilla was part OF the
formation. That cruiser ran aground
Friday morning and could not be dis
lodged. She was therefore improvised
as part Of the lfnd batteries. although
good portion If her armament. COM
prising the movable guns, was remov-
ed to shore Saturday,. Later she was
riddled with American shells. some OF
which set her IN fire, and she burned
nearly to the vater's edge.
The American feet forced the fight
ing from the irst. Captain Wildes OF
the Boston vas ordered to run out
| ahead and his ship had the honor OF
| firing the fist shot. The effect was
not noticed, for the battle began almost
Immediately afterward on both sides
the fire OF tie Spanish feet being aug
mented by that of the Cavite batteries
| Under orders the American boats de-
| ployed to the right and left until or.
dered back for the formation and ad
vance whith finally destroyed the
Spanish feet. Admiral Montejo direct
ed the movement of his feet from tht
| deck of the Reina Maria Christina dur
ing the early part of the fight. anC
Commodore Dewey never left th'
Olympia until it was all over.
The Boston and Baltimore were II
advance Of the American line and tn,
roar of their guns was incessant. Blu
presently the commodore's flagship
came up as though envious OF the par
the Others were playing. Her mail
battery OF eight-inch guns was sool
thundering away. while the cannon o
the Concord and Raleigh were making
it interesting for the remainder OF tn
Spanish boats. The Petrol was no
idle, nor was the McCulloch. whicl
dodge6 in and out among the feet
doing its work OF dispatch boat Th'
noise Of the bombardment was deafen
ing on both sides, and the firing. con
sidering the dense smoke which sool
arose and obscured the fleets from eacl
other. was well nigh continuous. al
though every shot was intended 4
count. The noise was plainly heard a
Manila. each shot being easily noted
although, Of course, the result was no
| known.
Suddenly q Spanish ship. whic
proved afterward to be the Don Jua
de Austria, ran down the Spanish lin
under 4 mistaken signal from the ad
miral. 1t was struck at least thre
times by the American shells. one c
which vas plainly seen to hit one OF 1t
guns, disabling it. 1t fired as It wen
but a shot from an eight-pounder o
the Olympia struck the Spanish boa
near the waterline. Watchers saw tn
Don Juan quiver as a horse does whe
shot in battle. Then in a sudden ces
sation Of firing on both sides, whic
seemed almost for the purpose
watching what followed. the SPANS
cruiser exploded with a noise whic
made all the cannonading that ha