The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-06-22
u S. s. coNcoRD,
"(No. 49,

This is No. l3, but it certainly is for
lGck-for no army or hostile force has
ever been as fortunate, or had a more
complete victory than we have had. But
1 had better begin at the beginning. Suf-
flee it to say that we have no killed, and
that the Spanish fleet is completely de-
stroyed.
1--WE sighted the Philippines at dawn,
Saturday, SOth ult. Then the Concord and
Boston were signaled to go ahead and
reconnoiter Sonbik bay, about thirty
miles to the northward of Manila. We
went into the bay and inspected it thor
oughly, finding not the sign Of vessel
there. We thought the entrance was
mined, and know now that there were
about seventy torpedoes there, but we
were fortunate enough 10 miss them all.
Then we re-jOined the fleet and steamed
slowly down the coast, intending to enter
the bay Of Manila during the night or
course, we had every light on the snip ont
! or Obscured. We arrived of the entrance
about II O'Clock Saturday night and Went
TO quarters. Then we steamed in slowly,
AA4I ANNAAAss -AAh NAN AAtfN q sign
of light at any of the forts. We were well
in and past the fort at the entrance when
suddenly we heard shell whistle over
orr heads. Immediately followed by an
other. We answered with one shot from
the Raleigh, two from the Concord, and
one from the Boston. No more shots
were fired from the fort, ana We went on
-
large, and Manila is about thirty miles
from the entrance. Our object was to get
of the city at daylight. and we timed it
exactly. At 4:55 dawn began to break,
and we could make out ships of Manila,
! but apparently all merchant ships. At ;
O'Clock Sunday morning the Spaniards
began firing on our right, and we made
out their fleet off Cavite, the naval station,
five or ten miles from Manila. The flag
ship went column right, and we followed.
At $40 the signal was made 10 begin gen.
! eral action. and we opened fire. Tho
Spanish fleet was well prepared. and was
under the lee of two forts-One at Manila.
and tine other at Cavite. We steamed past
the entire fleet, and the eannonsding was
something terrific. shells literally raining
around us. When we reached the end of
the fleet we TUNED and came back the
same line, turning again at the other end.
| was on the bridge reading signals and
had splendid view of everything. though
most of the time was too busy with tho
signals to think OF anything else for
which was very glad. Shells burst all
around us, but, strange 10 say, we were
never hit. At 7:,S0 the Commodore made
! signal 10 withdraw from the action, and
we steamed out of range We had been
at quarters since eleven o'clock the night
before, and the men needed rest and
something to ear. At first felt disheart-
ened, but we soon saw that the Spanish
fleet had suffered very much more than
we had. Several Of their ships were on
lire, while as far as we could make out,
we were not seriously hurt. We had ex-
pended nearly half our ammunition. and
the Commodore called all the command
ing officers ON board the flagship for a
consultation.
= AT 1890 we ran in again and opened
1---~artieularly on the forts. The two
Is64, anerspanish ships were soon seen TO
inois belodly on fire that they could do
ID that tIand about Il o'clock they hauled
Aver. buteir flags. Shortly after that, an
.;als of thp-the Don Antonio de Ulloa-
,,,,a+.a or, ,wn her flag, but soon hoisted it
-, bad seen her haul it down and
it was not shot away. On look
'onhe oo again. saw that she was sink
Di "hich and she hoisted the eolors so
practice anbuld go down with them flying
Ire- At q her for five minutes, suppose,
fired at h had no idea Of time then, and it.
night. 1lly pathetic to see her go TO the
,,iidavits The water was not very deep, so
+, ,,on.t;, colors remained just above water
le settled TO the bottom.
ring danf we on 'he Oonoolu we're Or or
nh left to do that. By the time we
aled her and set her on fire tue
Ano,,, ,aviie had hauled down the Span
- rs and run up a white flag, as had
." navy yard. The remainder oft
ooun'is'l fleet had gone behind break
e upon nd we hauled off at about l2:3O-
"ltnstoofternoon we came back. but met
organs b resistance. The remainder Of
seemed inish fleet had surrendered, and,
she cougbips had been scuttled, we burn
sIeen- Z more, so that day we destroyed
rac ships. the entire fighting Spanish
- n tad had white flag floating over
y yard and the fort at Cayite. We
sum p'."i had a single man killed and only
on takini injured on the Baltimore. One
night; AZ the McCnllOeh died of heat or
/ don't know which. The
Luther are is awful. aud most of US are
Hamnic in blisters. The Spanish surpris-
Trial cry much by putting up the fight
n,,,., S,i. We had heard that they were not
I-.,,..- -,epa-ei. and all sorts OF rumors,
10y fought splendidly, and fought
as they had ship or gun TO fight
anteeu SWben the Don Antonio de Ulloa-
own she went down stern first,
over aer her stern was under water, and
built an ore her bow went under. they
long 10 cshot from one of the forecastle,
Dartmoad the men must have gone down
town lac shin. The Spanish loss was very