Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-09-11
ENSIGN ]. 5. D()DDRIDGE
Writes an Entertaining Letter From
Manila Bay
TO A RELATIVE IN THIS CITY-A
TERsE DESCRIPTION OF THE
MOMENToUS EVENTS AT THE

The following interesting and valu-
able letter from Ensign John s. Dodd-
ridge, of this city, on BOARD the U. 5. s.
Boston, at Manila, has been received by
re4atlve in this city. The Register is
permitted to publish it. 1t is dated
Manila, July luth, and comes via San
Francisco, september 4th:
~. S. 5. Boston
Manila Bay, July 10. 1898.
Dear Aunt:
Your letter was just the kind Of let
ter enc always appreciates, and | thank
you from the bOutcm OF my heart. |
am glad to hear that all are well. In
my letters home | have not given my
personal experiences during the fight.
l.. in her last letter asked me to
tell her about myself. am going to
give my personal experiences IN this
letter, and of course you will let l.. see
ii.
Il am a watch officer on the Boston,
and have charge of the secondary bat
terry, situated in the military tops and
On the upper deck. When we left
Miro Bay we commenced to strip down
for battle. Tables, benches, wood
work of any kind-everything was
thrown overheard, as it is considered
dangerous TO have woodwork on board.
After we sighted the enemy's coast one
hundred miles north of Manila, the adj
miral sent the Boston and the Concord
to reconnoitre Subig Bay, splendid
harbor forty miles north of Manila.
We had heard that Aubig was mined
and fortified, and that we would prob
isl 4 10 ic,
reached Subig about noon of the Goth
of April and steamed slowly in, the
Concord following. 1t was our first ex-
perience. Our guns We're loaded and
everybody was ready to fire. We did
not see sign of the enemy, however,
so we rejoined the squadron at the. en-
trance to Subig Bay. The ships were
stopped and the captains of all the
ships went on board the flagship for
final instructions. When our captain
returnedbe called all the officers on
~ quaUcer deck and told us that we
aid run the batteries at the entrance
1Sf Manila Bay at midnight and engage
the Spanish fleet at. daylight. The
squadron then steamed slowly in the
direction of Manila Bay, and at $3.50 p.
m. we went to quarters. The ships
were in column and no lights were
showing except stern light on each
vessel Nothing could be heard on
board the ship except the throbbing OF
the engines. AS We neared the forts
we saw signal lights from picket boat
to the fort. We thought we were dis
covered and we expected to be fired on
at any minute. but still nothing hap
pened- We had almost slipped by the
forts when the Spaniards at last woke
up, and. fash bang, whirr. whirr, high
over our heads. 1t was the first gun.
We promptly replied and after an ex-
change Of few shots the fort was sill
enced. 1t was now past one o'clock
and the order was given to sleep by the
guns. | turned in on the deck with
my revolver and sword at my side, and
in a minute or less I was asleep.
knew nothing more until five o'clock,
when everyone was called. 1t was day
break. | went up on the bridge to see
where we were We we're off Manila
As it became lighter we sighted the
Spanish feet and headed straight for
them. The Spaniards soon opened fire
from the shore batteries and the ships
We did rot return the shot until we
were NltulE ODJ shI A'os anu tii~-A "
commenced. During the next two
hours firing was fierce on both sides
We were sometimes enveioped by oul
own smoke and could see nothing. The
shells were flying over us so frequently
that there was constant whlrr over
head Then shell went through oul
foremost. Then another into our ham
mock MEETINGS. One shell entered my
room and did a good deal of mischief
I DID not know it until after the fight
as l was not stationed in that part OF
the ship. The heat was intense and
several of our men were Frustrated
Another shell came in on the gun deck
but did no harm We kept the water
running on the deck to prevent ire
and my feet were soaking wet from the
start. 1t was simply wonderful that
no ore was killed After the fight We
had some beef tea and sandwiches, ano
then sleep. OF which we were in need.
If he'd the time | would like &c
| write to everybody. Remember me tc
all I received Uncle Sans letter, FOL
which I send thanks.
with love and best wishes to all,
''I am, your loving nephew.
"JCfTN SEHCN DODDRlDGE.