Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-08
OF MANILA
Described by Men Who Were on
the Vessels That Took Part in
It--Give Spaniards Credit for
Valorous Fighting--Am
Men Superior to Spaniards.

anu lHe ieSl diIu breakfast al
lowed them by the commodore
was of inestimable benefit. When
the men were at breakfast a
conference OF all officers was held
on board the Olympia, when the
plan Of the second battle was
made known by the commodore.
Several shots struck the Olympia
and she was pierced a number of
times. One shell struck the side
of the ship against the hospital /
ward The chaplain and nurses
were watching the fight through
a port few inches away and were .
stunned by the conclusion. /
Experts have figured out that
the fighting volume of the guns Of
the respective sides of the battle
was three for the Americans
against seven for the Spaniards,
1t is clear, then, that the Ameri-
can superiority was not in the
ships but in the men themselves. |
the men having the experience and
nerve.
Gunner Evans of the Boston,
was one of the men who sent the
Spanish ships down. He directed
the fire of one of the big guns on
the cruiser. AS such officer he was
at times greatly exposed, but did
not receive a shot Not a man on
the Boston received a scratch.
Paymaster Loud, who was on
the McCulloch during the battle.
was a witness of events on both
sides. From his position he could
see every movement of the Amer
lean ships and could also see the
battle plans of the Spaniards.
For two hours" said Mr.. Loud.
.'the ateady thunder of cannon
was kept up. The roar was some
thing terrible.
cat enc time I really thought =
WE WOULD BE BEATEN.
This was after the fire had been
kept up an hour. 1t looked like ev-
cry gun on the Spanish ships had
turned loose on us all together, and
the shore line was veritable blaze
of fire from the batteries. The din
was simply indescribable. Tons
upon tons of shot fell over our
ships. There was steel enough to
have sunk our entire fleet.
Our salvation was IN the bad
craftsmanship of the Spaniards.
They handled their pieces like boys.
Nearly all of their shots went wild
of the mark. Most were high, fly
ing over the feet and falling into
the bay beyond Some of the bat
teries, however, were better trained.
Several guns mainland raklng
fir on the feet. Nearly all Of our
ships were struck by both large and
small shot, but no damage Of con-
sequence was done them.
1--WE left Manila on the fifth. At
that time Commodore Dewey was
in possession Of the shore forts ana
arsenal Considerable ammunition
and some fair guns were captured.
Manila, on the opposite side OF
the bay, had not been taken, ana
it was not the intention Of Dewey
to do so at that time OF course
the city and it's suburbs were COM
pletely at the mercy Of our guns ana
we could have lain them in ruins
in a very short time. But the torce
on the warships is too small to land
and take possession.
when the troops arrive rom
San Francisco Commodore Dewey
will demand the immediate SUR
render of the city and the troops
stationed there. If refusal IS
given fire will at once be opened
from the warships and fJrcible pos
session will be taken at once.
There will be no difficulty IN
holding Manila and the Philippines.
Complete subjugation Of the Span
ish forces in the group will be ac-
complished without trouble ana
very little danger to American llfe'
The insurgents are very friendly
and at the time we left were be-
seging the town in large force.
They are acting under orders OF
Commodore Dewey
Both DR.. Kindleberger, OF the
OLYMPIA, and Gunner Evans, Of the
Boston. had been ordered home be-
fore the battle of Manila, but when
they learned that a battle was inn
minent they asked permission to re-
main with the feet and participate
in the fight. This was allowed ana
Immediately after the battle they
started for home. When the Belgie
Continued on Fourth Page.