River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-05-12
THE battle OFF MANILA.
Detailed Account of Com modore
Dewey's Bold Dash Against the
Spanish and It's Results.
NEATLY PLANNED AND CARRIED OUT.
marine Mines Explode Near the
Flagship but Cause No Constcrna-
tion-Enemy's Fleet Destroyed in
Two Brief Engagements.


Two Brief engagements.
Hong Kong, May 0.-The following
dispatch, containing detailed account
of the battle, was brought here by the
McCulloch:
Manila Bay, May1-Last night Commo-
dore Dewey arrived off Manila bay, and with
out consulting his officers decided TO make
a dash into the inner harbOr. From his
flagship the Olympia, he signaled the COM
manders of the feet to follow him. and with
alb lights out the squadron of sea fight
ers steamed into the bay with the crews
at their guns. AS they passed the fortifica-
tions at Corregidor the order of the yes
sells was as follows: Olympia, Baltimore,
Raleigh, Petrol, Concord. Boston.
Eight o'clock had just struck when the
stately flagship steamed silently past the
frowning batteries that command the en-
trance to the bay and In spite OF the fact
that the moon was shining brightly the feet
was well up the harbor before the Span
iards on watch were aware of its approach
Corregidor lay a mile behind them when
the first gun doomed its warning that the
enemy was at hand.
First Shot from Spaniards.
zone heavy projectile screamed over the
inhoatlng ships and plunged into the water
far away. ms was IOilOWSu ny d aSSS4lH -
which dropped astern. Instantly the
Raleigh, the Concord and the Boston ac-
copied the challenge. A shell from the
Concord described a long curve and APP
parently landed exactly inside the shore
battery, which fired no more. Slowly the
squadron edged its way toward Mania
and the men, worn with long watching.
were allowed to drop beside their guns for
a nap on deck. So closely had the arrival
of the feet been timed that at break of day
Dewey was within five miles of Manila.
Here he sighted the Spanish squadron.
Admiral Montejo's flag was seen futterlng
from the cruiser Reina Christina. Just
ahead of it was moored the Castillo. pro-
tected cruiser Of $500 tons. Astern and to
seaward in line of battle were arranged
the cruisers Don Juan de Austria, Don An
tonic de Ulloa, Isla de Cuba, lisa de LuZon,
Quiros Marquis del Onero and General
Leo With the flagship, they remained
under way in anticipation of the action
that followed. The vessels moved down to
the attack in single file at uniform speed
of eight knots, and as they passed In front
of Manila three great batteries mounting
powerful guns opened up at distance or
five miles. Suddenly the Concord's guns
doomed out reply. For a moment there
was silence and expectation. Commodore
Dewey signaled not to attack these bat
teuies, for fear of sending his shells into the
crowded city.
Mines Explode.
"Veering up the bay, he passed slowly in
front of Cavite, where two powerful sub
marine mines were exploded ahead OF the
flagship The commodore coolly glanced
at his watch al he stood impassiveiy on the
bridge and called the attention of one of his
officers to the fact that it was exact.S tx
minutes past five o'clock. AS the mil ct
go a smile fitted across his face, because of
the fact that the Spanlards in exploding
-{F pf
the flagship. As it was, tremendous vol
umes of water were hurled into the air.
But there was no hesitation. Dewey evil
IDENTITY had no fear of the mines. He sig
nailed the ships to steam ahead, and in a
moment he was within range of the guns
of the batteries at Cavite. BY this time the
Spanish gunners had got the range and
the shells began bursting close aboard.
Flagship the Target.
''The Spanish vessels also opened up with
their guns, and the missiles few all about
the flagship, which was evidently the mark
at which they were directing their fire.
Aboard the American fleet the heat was
intense The men, stripped to the waist,
stood al their guns waiting for the signal
to open up All was silent aboard the
Olympia except the whirr of the blowers
once a shell screeched through the air and
burst directly over the deck Of the 1ag-
ship. Then came the signal from the boat
SWANS mate.
'Renember the Maine"
=" Remember the Maine! was the defiant
cry that rang out In the American ships.
on the forward edge of tho flagship stood
Admiral Dewey, with his chief of staff, EX-
ecutive Officer Rees. and Navigator Lieut..
Calkins. Capt. GriIley, commander of the
ship, from the coming tower awaited the
order to begin the engagement. Dewey
49, f,l, ff-
of smoke were rising, and said, grimIy:
Shoot whenever you get ready, Gridley.'
AT 10 minutes Of six the starboard eight
inch gun in the forward turret Of the Oiym-
pia belched forth a welcome to the dons at
a distance of $500 yards. The firing was
taken up by the Baltimore and Boston in
turn, and shell after shell from their great
guns was sent hurting toward the Cas-
tilia and the Reina Christina. At first it
was all guesswork. The Spanards, know
ing the exact distance fired rapidly.
Their guns, ashore and afloat, We're maxi
ing it warm for the American squadron.
Shot plunged and screamed about the yes
fragments flashing the water till It
splashed all about their hulls. One shot
struck the Olympia nearly abreast of the
wardroom gun, but burst without doing
much damage. Another entered the Bos-
toms port quarter, exploding in the state
"
ly eXtnguished. Capt. Wildes, of the Bos-
ton. moment later had a narrow escape.
A shell from a Spanish gun tore through
the vessels foremost, passing just in front
of him.
Encouraged by the small amount of dam
age that was being done by the guns from
the Spanish ships and batteries, the flag
ship turned and steamed majeSticauy up
within 1000 yards Of the enemy's vessels.
At this range even the quick-frng six
Founders We're found to be effective ard
a perfect storm Of projectiles was poured
in upon the unfortunate Spanish feet.
Vessels Burning.
Three vessels were set on fire and their
men were forced to abandon the guns. Sat
isfed with the work thus far accomplished,
Commodore Dewey gave the signal and the
fleet steamed slowly out of the range of
the batteries, in order that the crews, which
had been continuously at the guns for
more than two hours, could go to break
fast. There was lull in the firing and
shortly before eight O'Clock the fleet
steamed past the flagship, the men cheer
ing Justify. For three hours they remained
out Of range of the enemy's guns, and then
the signal for action futtered at the hal
yards of the flagship.
Attack Renewed.
This time the Baltimore was given the
place of honor. She opened up with her
guns on the Spanish ships and batteries as
coolly as If at target practice. The replies
were slow and irregular. The Raleigh, the
Boston, the Concord and the Petrol were
directed to break into the inner harbor and
destroy every hostile ship in sight. The
gunboat Petrol, with her light draft, was
ena bled to move up within 600 yards. With
her guns going as rapidly as they could be
fired, she created awful havoc among the
vessels still flying the Spanish flag.
in the meantime the Reina Christina
had been burning iercely and had been
abandoned. The Ulloa. which had also been
deserted lurched suddenly and sank be-
meath the waters of the bay.
A few minutes later the Spanish flag
on the arsenal disappeared and was re-
paced by a white ensign that futtered
bravery in the wind. The signal was then
made to the Petrol to finish the destruc-
tion of the vessels in the inner harbor
The Don Juan de Austria, the Marquis
Duero, the Isla de Cuba and the Correo
were set on fire. The Manila, a large
transport, and a number of tugboats were
seized before they could be sunk and passed
into the hands of the Americans"
SharIey Defeated.
San Francisco. MAY flames J. JET