The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1898-05-10


The roar Of all the fagship's five
inch rapid firers was followed by
deep diapason OF her turret eight-inch-
ers.
Soon our other vessels were equally
hard at work, and we could see that
our shells were making Cavite Har-
Dor hotter for the Spaniards than they
had made the approach for us.
Protected by their shore batteries
and made safe from close attack by
shallow water the Spaniards were in
a strong position. They put up a
gallant fight. .a..
The Spanish ships were sailing back
and forth behind the Castillo, and
their fire, too, was HOT.
One shot struck the Baltimore and
passed clean through her, fortunately
hitting no one. Another ripped up
her main deck, disabling q six-inch
gun and exploded box of three-poun-
der ammunition, wounding eight men.
The Olympia was struck abreast
the gun in the wsrdroom by shell
which burst outside, doing little dam
age.
The signal halyards were cut from
Lieutenant Brumby's hand on the
after bridge. A shell eutered the
Boston's port quarter and burst in
Ensign Dodridge's stateroom, starting
a hot fire, and fire was also caused by
q shell which burst in the port ham,
mock netting. Both these fires were
quickly put out.
Another shell passed through the
Boston's foremost just in front of Cap
tain Wildes, on the bridge.
After having made four runs along
the Spanish line, finding the chart in
correct, Lieutenant Calkins, of the
Olympia's navigator, told the Com
modore he believed he could take the
ship nearer the enemy, with lead 60
ing TO watch the depth of water. The
flagship started over the course for
the fifth time, running within 1000.
yards of the Spanish vessels.
AT this range even six-pounders
were effective and the storm Of shells
poured upon the unfortunate Spanish
began to show marked results.
Three Of the enemy's vessels were
seen burning and their fire slackened.
On finishing this run Commodore
Dewey decided to give the men
breakfast, as they had been at the
guns two hours th.only one cup of
coffee to sustain them. Action ceased
temporarily at 7 :35 o'clock, the other
ships passing the flagship and cheer
ing Justify.
Our ships remained beyond range
of the enemy's guns until 80
O'Clock, when the signal for close &C
ton again went up. The Baltimore
had the place ofihonor gin Ethe lead,
with tbs flagship followingi:snd the
other ships as before.
The Baltimore began firing at the
Spanish ships and batteries..st IL :16.
The Spaniards replied very slowly
and the Commodore signaled the
Raleigh, the Boston, the Concord and
the Petrol to go into the inner harbor
and destroy all the enemy'ssships.
BY her light draught the little Pc
trel was enabled to move within
1000 yards. Here, firing. swiftly but
accurately, she commanded every
thing still flying the Spanish flag.
Other ships were also doing their
whole duty and soon notSone red and
yellow ensign remained ialoft, except
on battery up the coast.
The Spanish flagship and the Cas-
tilla had long been burning fiercely,
and the last vessel to be abandoned |
was the Don Antonio de Ulloa, which |
lurched over and sank.
Then the SpanishIfiag on the arse.
nal staff was hauled down, and at
half.psst IL O'Clock white flag was
hoisted there. Signal was made to
the Petrol to destroy all the vessels in
the inner harbor, and Lieutenant
Hughes with an armed boats crew
set fire to the Don Juan de Austria,
the Marquis du Eru, the Isla de Cuba
and the Correo.
The large transport Manila and
many tug boats and small craft fell
into our hands.
Capture or destroy Spanish squad.
rom" were Dewey's orders. Never
ware inafructiona. mara effacfuallx |