The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-05
CAVITE. p. l.,
u. s, OF AMERICA,
49, an sBR6


on April goth we were ordered by the
British government to leave Hong Kong.
This act was in accordance with the
British Neutrality proclamation. On
Sunday, April "a, ut 2 in the afternoon,
the Boston, Concord, Petrol, MeCo!ioch
and transports NanShaw and Iatiro
steamed slowly out OF Hong Kong har-
Dor Our destination was Mrs Bay, an
uninhablted harbor thirty miles north
Of Hong Kong. The next day the olym-
pia, Baltimore and Raleigh steamed on.
OF Hong hong and Joined the fleet in
Mrs Bay. We remained at Mrs Bay
until the 2Sth, as We expected news and
orders.
On the 2Sth, at in the afternoon. the
entire fleet got under way and steamed
for the Philippines, our rendezvous on
the Philippine coast being Cape Bollnao.
We steamed In column at speed OF
eight knots. We reached Bolinao at
daylight on the Both. The Boston and
Concord were ordered to go ahead and
reconnotre Liblc Bay, large harbor
about thirty miles north Of Manila. We
went into the harbor and examined It
Thoroughly, but saw no signs Of the
enemy. We rejolned the fleet at p.
m. and reported the result Of our In
spectIon. The ships were then stopped
and the commanding officers went
aboard the flagship for final consulta-
ton. About o'clock our captain re-
turned to the ship and sent for all the
officers He then Informed them Of the
plan OF the attack We were TO run the
forts and batteries at the entrance OF
Manila Bay at midnight and attack the
enemy at daylight. We were ordered to
hold our fire until the forts fired on US.
At the entrance to Manila Bay Is Cor
regidor Island. which Is we'll fortified.
This island divides the entrance Into
two channels called the Boca GTandc
(Big MOUTH and the Boca Chlca (Iittie
Mouth. The Boca Grande is five miles
wide, and this Is the channel we used.
At 10 o'clock the crews went to quar-
tiers. No lights were showing. We saw
stgnaf lights on Correglder Island but
were not fired on. The fleet had almost
succeeded in passing In without being
opposed when THE FIRST GUN OF
THE WAR WAS FIRED BY THE
SPANIARDS, FROM a FORT1EIED
ISLAND, Ell FREILE, ON OUR STAR
BOARD HAND. The shot flew high.
We replied at once with our eight-inch
gun. We learned afterwards that the
shot dtsmounted a gun in the fort.
The Concord, which was ahead OF us,
fired three six-inch shells and the Nc
Colloch fired four times. BY this time
we were out Of range and the firing
ceased, We steamed very slowly UP the
harhor and at dawn We were of Manila.
AS soon as 1t became light enough to
see, we discovered the Spanish fleet on
Cavite, the navy yard and arsenal,
about SIX miles to the south Of Manila.
We left the McColloch in the middle
OF the bay out OF range to guard the
transports. We were steaming in col
umn, the Olympia leading and the Bos-
ton bringing up the rear. The Span
Iards opened fire from the Manila bat
teries but did no harm. We returned
few shots and then the fleet turned to-
wards Cavite. The Spanish feet and
forts at Cavite opened fire and soon the
Olympia replied with her elght-Inch
guns, In a few minutes our entire
squadron was engaged. THE STARS
AND STRIPES WE'RE FLYING
PROUDLY FROM EVERY MAST
HEAD. We were using our port bat
ter'Ies and Spanish feet and forts were
replying with great vlgor. Shells were
dropping around US a.: a merry rate.
Five times did we steam along the firing
line, using our port battery three times
and our starboard battery twice. At
1856 we drew out Of action for breakfast.
II was seen that several OF the Spanish
ships were on fire.
The captains went aboard the flagship
for consultation. 1t was decided to
make a final attack on the forts and
reduce them to silence. The Baltimore
led and steamed boldly towards the
forts. When at about 1900 yards range
she turned and delivered broadside at
ter broudside. The olympia followed
and then we came. The fire from tho
fort was weakening and ceased alto
gether after about an hours bombard'
ment.
The white flag was run M on shore.
The Pctrel steamed in close and ex-
changed signals with the enemy. In a
few minutes the Petrol hoIsted signal
to the flagship. THE ENEMY HAVE
SURRENDERED" Then cheer after
cheer went up from our fleet. We
steamed slowly toward Manila and
anchored of the city. Negotiations
were entered into arranging the details
OF the surrender. It soon became known
that the Spanish feet had surrendered
completely.
The army asked for twenty-four