The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-05-13

they had ashore, gave them an enormous
advantage. Therefore when it is consid-
cred that the Spaniards lost over 600 men
in killed and wounded; that all their ships,
amounting to about fourteen, were de-
stroyed and that their naval arsenal at
Cavite was also destroyed, with its de-
lenses, it will become apparent that the
victory of the American commander is one
of the most complete and wonderful
achievements in the history Of naval war
fare.
Not a man on board the American fleet
was killed; not ship was damaged to
any extent, and only six men were injured
slightly on board the Baltimore.
This grand achievement is quite as much
due to the generalship Of Admiral Dewey
as to the fact that American gunners,
ships and guns are superior to anything in
the same line aioat anywhere. Credit
must also be given to the fullest extent to
the officers under Admiral Dewey, for
they seconded their gallant commander in
every way possible and thus helped him
win the laurels which are justly his.
Spanish Guns Open Fire.
The American fleet entered Manila bay
Saturday night with the greatest of ease.
The Spaniards had not established pa
troll and there was no searchlights at the
entrance of the bay. In fact, the Ameri-
Gull SHIPS NUulu nave pdSocu 1u-
side the bay without any challenge had
it not been that some sparks flew up from
the McCulloch's funnel. Thereupon a
few shots were exchanged with the Bate
ries on Corregidor island, but the fleet
did not slow down and soon took up a
position near Cavite, awaiting dawn in
order to commence hostilities.
yealed the opposing ships, and the Span
iSh fin VShfn ONpnpd% q g
followed by some of the large Spanish
warships, and then the Cavite forts
opened up and the smaller Spanish vessels
brought their guns into play.
The American squadron, which had
been led into the bay and through
the the c6 ban nj by the the flagship olym
Shells Of the spaniards began to Strike. the
water around them, but moved majestical-
~ onward. When nearing Baker bay: a
sudden upheaval of the water n short dis
lance ahead of the Olympia showed that
the Spaniards had exploded mine or a
torpedo. This was followed by a second
and similar explosion. They were both
utterly unsuccessful.
nearer and nearer to the Spaniards, whose
gunnery was very poor, the shots from
the Cavite batteries and from the Spanish
ships being equally badly aimed, either
falling short or going wide of the mark.
Real beginning of tho Battle.
When the American fleet entered the
bay, coming through the southern channel
between Cabalo Frile islets, the following
was their order: The flagship Olympia,
the Baltimore, the Raleigh. the Concord,
the Boston, the Petrol and the McCulloch,
with the two store ships, the Nanshan and
the Zafro, bringing up the rear. And in
that order they swept grandly before the
city and faced the enemy in column line.
Though the Spaniards had opened fire
at 5000 yards the Americans reserved
their fire until within 1000 yards of the
enemy, when the real battle began.
The Reina Christina, Castillo, Don An
tonic de Ulloa, Isla de Cuba, Isla de Luz
ION and the Mindanao were in line of
with four gunboats and the torpedo-b boats
inside the harbOr.
The American ships then passed back
ward and forward six times across the
front of the Spaniards, pouring in upon
the latter perfect hail of shot and shell.
Every American shot seemed to tell,
while almost every Spanish shot missed
the mark.
After having thus scattered death and
decentralization among the Spanish feet
and in the Spanish batteries, the Amer
lean feet retired for breakfast, and in
cidentally a council of war was held on
board the Olympia.
BY this time the Spanish ships were
in desperate condition. The flagship
Reina Christina was riddled with shot
and shell, one of her steampipes had
be on fire. The Castillo was certainly on
fire, and soon afterward their condition
became worse ana worse, until they were
eventually burned to the waters edge.
Sinks with Ali Fighting. 49,
The Don Antonio de Ulloa made a
most magnificent show of desperate BRAY
cry. When her commander found she
was SO torn by the American shells that
ne could not keep her afoat he nailed
her colors to the mast and she sunk with
all hands fighting to the last. Her hull
was completely riddled and her upper
deck had been swept clean by the aw-
full fire of tie American guns, but the
Spaniards, though their vessel was sink
ing beneath them, continued working the
guns on her lower deck, until she sunk
beneath the water.
During the engagement Spanish tor
pedo boat crept along the shore and
around the ofhng in an attempt to attack
the American store ships, but she was
and was actually shot to pieces.
The Mindanao had in the meanwhile
been run ashore to save her from sink
ing, and the Spanish small craft had
sought shelter from the steel storm behind
the breakwater.
~ Cavite Batteries silenced.
The battle, which was started at about
$50 a. m. and adjourned at $50 a. M,
was resumed about noon, when Admiral
Dewey started in to put the finishing
touches on his glorious work. There was
mot much fight left in the Spaniards by
that time, and at 2 p. M. the Petrol and
Concord had shot the Cavite batteries
into silence, leaving them heaps Of ruins
and floating the white flag. 3zz::&
The Spanish gunboats were then scut-
tied, the arsenal was on fire and the ex-
plosion of Spanish magazine caused
further mortality among the defenders
of Spain on shore. sS :zssss
On the water the burning, sunken or
destroyed Spanish vessels could be seen,
while only the cruiser Baltimore had suf-
fered in any way from the FIRE Of the
enemy. A shot which struck her ex-
ploded near one Of her guns and slightly
injured half a dozen Of the crew.
Several shots passed dangerously close
to Admiral Dewey, but little or no dam
age was done on board the flagship.
On the other hand about 15O men are
said To- have been killed ION board The
Epanish ship, which was totally De,