The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1898-05-27
A TRIBUTE
10 American vslur And Bnn ssansn.

hours distant, when in the black
ness OF night the American feet
weighed anchor and sped away
to Manila's harbor. Naught
could be heard save the swish Of
water. thump OF wheels and
throb OF engine, as the great war
vessels swung into line on their
mission Of destruction. No light
could be seen and few were the
words spoken as each seaman's
heart was stirred with anxious
expectation and filed with in
tensity of feeling in view of the
terrible struggle sosoon to come.
I'VE are now approaching the
Manila harbor,n announced the
officer on watch. Steam ahead,
answered the Admiral. I'VE have
now come to the entrance said to
be mined" Steam ahead and
signal the feet TO follow, flashed
back the answer" We have
been fred upon from the enemies
fort was the next report. Steam
ahead and save your powder"
was Dewey's order, and into the
harbor every vessel glided.
The stars had now begun to
fall in the skies and the gray
light of morning to dawn upon
the silent city, awaking from
slamber. The morning mists
had lifted enough to show the
outlines OF the city and curved
shores under whose batteries lay
the Spanish feet, aroused by the
signal given. Onward glided the
American feet and as it narrow
ed into line of battle, a shot from
the enemy's flag ship opened the
fight which was answered from
guns of the Olympia when the
fash of fire and roar of cannon
from every side announced to the
world that the greatest of naval
battles had commenced.
For hours, it ragged in fierceness
and fury. and the world looked
on with bated breath as these sea
monsters grappled in their death
struggle. each intent upon the
destruction of the other. But
when the last gun had been fred
and The smoke of battle had clear
ed, there was stiffness and great
calm had fallen upon the deep.
broken only by the sorrowful
vail that went up from the city.
A great tragedy had been enact
ed every Spanish ship had been
sunk or burnt and their brave
seamen had gone down TO a
watery grave.
Not an American ship was lost,
not seaman killed. 1t was a
triumph of American arms, a
victory won by the valor and
genus of American seamen.
The greatest OF naval battles
had been fought and the city OF
proud CastiliAn lay at the mercy
Of the American commander, her
ships sunk. her batteries silenc-
ed, and the very waters red with
the blood OF her bravest seamen.
Electric wires had flashed from
continent to continent, over land
and seas, to the remotest parts
of earth the glorious triumph OF
American arms in the islands of
the East. Wherever breGthes
an American citizen, wherever
pulsate Anglo-Saxon blood.
wherever virtue has a votary
and human heart is stirred by
sympathy for the distressed and
oppressed, a thrill of delight fills
the soul and that heart goes up
in profound gratitude toAlmighty
God. All hail to the American
fleet. as with patriotic emotions
and swelling pride we point to
the stars and bars and talk of
American valor. We honor the
brave men who have given us the
victory under alien skies. Far
from friendly shores encompass
ed with difficulties and surround
ed by a cruel and merciless foe.
they went forward in the death
struggle TO conquer or die. and
to-day no name in ali the land
rings out with higher praises
~