davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-21

but believe their losses to be very heavy. The Reina CriStina alone had 150 killed. 1 am happy to report that the damage done to the squadron under my command was inconsiderable. There was none killed and only seven men in the squadron were slightly wounded. Several of the vessels damage was of the slightest. and the squadron is in as good condition now as before the battle.
 "I beg to state to the department that l doubt if any commander-in-chiefw was ever served by more loyal, efficient and gallant captains than those of the squadron under my command. Captain Frank Wildes, commanding the Boston, volunteered to remain in command of his vessel, al though his relief arrived before leaving Hongkong. Assistant Surgeon Kndel- berger of the Olympia and Gunner J. c. Evans of the Boston also volunteered to remain after orders detaching them had arrived
 The conduct of my personal staff was excellent Commander B. r. Lamberton, chief of staff, was volunteer for that position, and gave me most efficient aid Lieutenant Brumby, flag lieutenant, and Ensign E. F. Scott, aid, performed their duties as signal officers in highly cred itable manner. Caldwell. flag secretary, volunteered for and was assigned to a subdivision of the five-inch battery. MT. J. L. Stickney, formerly an officer in the United States navy, and now correspond ent of the New York Herald, volunteered for duty as my aid, and rendered valua- ble service. desire especially to mention the coolness of Lieutenant c. c. Calkins, the navigator of the Olympia, who came under my personal observation, being on the bridge with me throughout the entire action and giving the ranges of the guns with an accuracy that was proven by the excellence of the firing.
 ''On May 2, the day following the en- gagement the squadron again went to Cavite, where it remains. On the 3d the military forces evacuated the Cavite ar senal, which was taken possession of by a landing party. On the same day the Raleigh and Baltimore secured the sur render of the batteries on Corregidor Island, paroling the garrison and destroy ing the guns. On the morning of May f the transport Manila which had been aground in Bakor Bay. was lowed off and made prize"
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-21

''The squadron left Mfrs Bay on April 27 arrived off Bolinao on the morning of April 30, and. finding no vessels there, pro- ceeded down the coast and arrived off the entrance to Manila Bay on the same af- ternoon. The Boston and the Concord were sent to reconnoiter Port Subig. A thorough search of the port was made by the Boston and the Concord but the Spanish fleet was not found. Entered the south channel at half-past Ii p. m, steam ing in column at eight knots. After half the squadron had passed battery on the south side of the channel opened fire, none of the shots taking effect. The Boston and McCulloch returned the fire. The squadron proceeded across the bay at slow speed and, arrived off Manila at day. break, and was fired upon at quarter past , a. m. by three batteries at Manila and two near Cavite, and by the Spanish fleet anchored in an approximately east and west line across the mouth Of Bakor Bay, with their left in shoal water in Canacoa Bay.
 "The squadron then proceeded to the attack, the flagship Olympia, under my personal direction. leading, followed at a distance by the Baltimore, Raleigh, Pet rel, Concord and Boston, in the order named, which formation was maintained throughout the action. The squadron opened fire at 19 minutes to a. m. While advancing to the attack two mines were exploded ahead of the flagship. too far to be effective. The squadron maintained a continuous and precise fire at ranges varying from 5000 to 2000 yards, counter marching in a line approximately parallel to that of the Spanish fleet. The enemy's fire was vigorous but generally ineffective Early in the engagement two launches put out toward the Olympia. with the apparent intention of using torpedoes. One was sunk and the other disabled by our fire and beached before they were able to fire their torpedoes.
 At a. m. the Spanish flagship Reina Cristina made desperate attempt to leave the line and come out to engage at short range, but was received with such a galling fire, the entire battery of the Olympia being concentrated upon her, that she was barely able to return to the shelter of the point. The fires started in her by our shell at the time were not extinguished until she sank. The three batteries at Manila had kept up con- tinuous fire from the beginning of the en- gagement, which fire was not returned by my squadron The first of these bat teries was situated on the south mole head at the entrance of the Pasig River, the second on the south position of the walled city of Manila and the third at Malate, about one-half mile farther south. At this point 1 sent message to the Governor General to the effect that if the batteries did not cease firing the city would be shelled. This had the effect of silencing them.
 At 25 minutes to a. m. I ceased firing
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-21
ON TO CUBA.

JUNE 1.-The Senate passed the war revenue bill by a. vote of 4S to 25. On the following day Captain Charles V. Gridley of the Olympia, who was on his way home from Manila, died at Kobe, Japan. He had been i'll since the battle of May l. suf- fering from the effects of a rupture.
 JUNE 6-Admiral Sampson silenced the Santiago Notifications without injury to the American ships.
 At Baiquiri marines were landed and formed a junction with the insurgents after repulsing the Spanish forces.
 The rebels in the Philippines were re- ported as closing in on Manila and AguinaIdo announced himself as dictator
 The monitor Monterey and the collier Brutus left San Francisco for Manila.
 JUNE Major General Shafter and ar army of 28,000 men sailed from Port Tampa for Cuba. The expedition com. prised the Fifth Army Corps, battalion ot engineers, detachment of the Sigma
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-21
} R >>l7

to Key West, having successfully landed 3s0 Cuban volunteers, with supplies, arms and ammunition for GarciaS insurgents. The Iowa New Orleans and Massachu- setts engaged in a duel with the spanish shore batteries at the mouth of Santiago harbor for the purpose of ascertaining their exact location and testing their strength None of the American vessels was touched.
 JUNE Admiral Sampson returned from Porto Rico, and, relieving Conmo- dore Schley, assumed command or tne united squadrons, comprising sixteen war ships. passed an urgent deficiency bill, carrying nearly SIS 900 900 for war expenses.
 JUNE 3-This day marked one or tne most daring and sensational achievements of the war, the attempt of Naval Con- structor Richmond Pearson HoDson to close the mouth of the harbor so that the Spanish vessels could not get out. That the attempt was not wholly successIui did not materially alter the subsequent events nor does 1t detract from the glory of the brave men who went to almost certain death. Admiral Simpsons or ficial report tells the story briefly:
 United States Flagship New York
 "Of Santiago, June g. lsyS.
 Permit me to call your special atten- ton to Assistant Naval Constructor Hob- son. As stated in a special telegram, De- fore coming here I decided to make the harbor entrance secure against the possi- bility of egress by Spanish ships by ob- structing the narrow part of the entrance by sinking a collier at that point. Upon calling on Mir Hobson for his professional opinion as to a sure method of sinking the ship he manifested the most lively inter- est in the problem. After several days consideration he presented a solution which he considered would insure the i'm
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-21

mediate sinking of the ship when she reached the desired point in the channel. This plan we prepared for execution when we reached Santiago. The plan contem- plated crew of only seven men and MT. Hobson, who begged that it might be in trusted to him. The anchor chains were arranged on deck for both the anchors, forward and aft, the plan including the anchoring of the ship almost automau- cally.
 "As soon as I reached Santiago and had the collier to work upon, the details were completed and diligently prosecuted, hop ing to complete them in one day, as the moon and tide served best the first night after our arrival. Notwithstanding every ing arrived and the preparation was scarcely completed. After a careful in- spection of the final preparation I was forced to relinquish the plan for that morning. as dawn was breaking. MT. Hobson begged to try it at all hazards.
 This morning proved more propitious, as prompt start could be made. Noth- ing could have been more gallantly exc cuted. We waited impatiently after the firing by the Spaniards had ceased. When they did not reappear from the harbor at o'clock I feared that they had all per- fshed: A steam launch which had been sent in charge of Naval Cadet Powell to rescue the men appeared at this time, coming out under a persistent fire of the A careful inspection Of the harbor from this ship showed that the Merrimac had been sunk in the channel.
 'rThis afternoon the chief of staff of Ad- miral Cervera came out under a flag of truce with letter from the admiral, ex- tolling the bravery of the crew in an un- usual manner. I cannot myself too earn estly express my appreciation of the con- duct of MT. Hobson and his gallant crew. 1 venture to say that more brave and daring thing has not been done since Cushing blew up the Albemarle.
 There were hundreds of volunteers who were anxious to participate. There were 150 from the Iowa, nearly as many from this ship and large numbers from all the
 ''W. T. SAMPSON"
 The men who accompanied Hobson on this dangerous mission deserve to have their names preserved in history, despite the fact that Admiral Sampson did not mention them by name in his report The six who were chosen were: Osborn Deig- nan, George F. Phillips, Francis Kelly, George Charette, Daniel Montague and J. C. Murphy. There was another, Ran dolph Clausen, who was at work on the Merrimac, and who slowed himself away in his eagerness to be one of the party.
 It is here necessary to go into the future. Hobson and his men were taken aboard the Reina Mercedes, and from there were confined in Morro Castle, and later in the city of Santiago. They were treated with the respect which their hero ism deserved, and on July were released in exchange for Spanish prisoners cap- tured by our forces.
 MT. Hobson subsequently, explained that the reason the Merrimac was not sunk directly across the channel, as had been intended was because a shot from one of the Spanish batteries had carried away her rudder making her unmanageable.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-21
GENERA IN A TRAP.

MAY 26-The battle-ship Oregon arrived in Key West in good condition after a voyage from Puget Sound of eighty-one days, during the course of which she had made r ,499 miles. The achievement was a notable one, and Captain Clark was the recipient of much praise and honor. After taking on coal the captain announced that he was ready to go to sea again and fight
 Commodore Schley reported by cable that he was off Santiago and that he be- lieved the Spanish fleet which had so long been playing a game of hide-and-seek was In the inner harbor. For several days there were conflicting rrmors. Many be- lieved Cervera to be too old a warrior to be caught in such trap. There was only one entrance to the harbor, through a narrow defle in the hills.
 MAY 29-All doubts were set at rest when Commodore Schley approached the harbor entrance close enough to verify his suspicious He, had Cerveras fleet bottled up. His comment "They will be a long time getting home" is one of the classics of the war.
 The Fifth Army Corps, commanded by General Shafter received orders to em- bark for Cuban soil Two weeks passed however, before the transports finally started for Port Tampa.
 MAY S1-The steamer Florida returned
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-21

General Lees presence In Havana and sought to have him recalled. In the meantime even the most conservative had become convinced that the Maine had been destroyed through some external agency.
 MARCH S-Congress by unanimous vote passed a bill appropriating s50,OOo 900 for national defense. The next day, March g. the Senate passed the same measure with out debate. The bill received the Presi- dents immediate signature. War was thought to be in sight, and both spain and the United States started on a still hunt for available vessels of war.
 MARCH I2-The new Spanish Minister, Senor Polo V Bernabe, presented his ere dentials to President Mckinley.
 MARCH 1.-The remonstrance Of the Spanish Government against our meas ures of defense and the presence Of our fleet at Key West was received.
 MARCH 2S-President Mckinley sent to Congress the report of the United States Board of Inquiry. This document was dated March q, and contained the infor- nation that the Maine had been destroyed through the agency of suomarlne mine It did not fix the blame.
 APRIL 7-Diplomatic representatives Of Germany. Austria Hungary, France. Great Britain. Italy and Russia presented a joint communication 10 President Me Kinley, on behalf of the European powers. in which was expressed a hope that af fairs between the United States and Spain would be amicably adjusted. President McKinley's reply. couched In conciliatory language, was rather negative in Its im- port
 APRIL 9-Lieutenant A. s. Rowan. Nineteenth United States Infantry, left Washington on a secret mission to Gen. eral Garcia commander of the Cuban forces in the eastern half of the island.
 APRIL 1S-Spain appealed to the pow
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-21

crew of the Winslow were killed. Lieu tenant Bernadou and two sailors were severely wounded
 The first land skirmish in Cuba at tended the landing of supplies and am munition for the insurgents from the transport Gussie.
 Near Cienfuegos, on the south coast of Cuba the cruiser Marblehead and gun boat Nashville were engaged in cutting cables. Two men were killed and seven wounded from the fire of the Spanish in- fantry But the cables were cut. although fire.
 MAY PA portion of the Atlantic squadron, under the command of Admiral Sampson. bombarded San Juan, Porto Rico expecting to find a Spanish fleet un- der the guns of the batteries. The attack lasted for three hours. Of our forces two men were killed and seven were wounded.
 MAY 13-The mystery surrounding the movements of the Cape Verde squadron had caused considerable uneasiness. Sec retary Long of the navy received advices that it had been sighted off Martinique, flying squadron, under command of Com modore Schley, put to sea from Hampton Roads The cruiser Brooklyn, the battle ships Massachusetts and Texas. the dis patch-boat Scorpion and the collier Ster- ling got away in the afternoon, while the cruisers Minneapolis and St Paul received orders to follow immediately.
 MT. Joseph Chamberlain aroused en- thusiasm in England by declaring for an Anglo-American alliance.
 MAY 1.-The Spanish squadron. under command of Admiral Cervera, was re- ported at Curacao, off the Venezuelan coast. and Sampson was off Puerto Plata, Hayti.
 MAY 1.-The flying squadron was sight ed off Charleston s. c.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-21
WAR CLOUD GATHERS.

JANUARY 25-The battle-ship Maine was ordered to Havana. Consul General Lee had reported that the situation was criti- cal. The proffered relief offered to the suffering Cubans had aroused the spirit of resentment, eliminating in serious riots In Havana. It was thought best for the protection of American interests in Cuba to have the Atlantic squadron establish a rendezvous at the Dry Tor tugas.
 FEBRUARY 9-The publication of the famous letter of Senor Dupuy de Lome. Spanish Minister to the United States, led to his resignation the following day, Feb ruary 10. This epistle aroused widespread indignation. inasmuch as, although de- signed as private correspondence, it con- tained a direct insult 10 President Me Kinley.
 Mckinley is weak and caters to the rabble," wrote this Spanish diplomatist land is, moreover, low politician, who wishes to leave a door open for himself and to stand we'll with the jingoes of his party"
 FEBRUARY 15-The destruction of the Maine in the harbor of Havana was the first and greatest catastrophe experienced by the United States in all her dealings with Spain. At just 20 minutes before 10 o'clock in the evening an explosion oc- cured by which the entire forward part of the vessel was destroyed Two officers and 264 of the crew perished. those who were not killed outright by the explosion being pinned between decks by the tangle of wreckage and drowned like rats by the immediate sinking of the hull
 The days that followed were days of anxious suspense. A wave of indignation swept over the length and breadth of the land. Captain Sigsbee's message asking that judgment be suspended did not reas- sure the people. A great cry for venge- ance arose. The more impressionable openly criticized the Presidents calmness.
 FEBRUARY 1.-The following off, cers were appointed to investigate the cause of the Maine disaster: Cap tain W. T. Sampson of the Iowa, Captain F. E. Chadwick of the New York, Lieutenant Commander W. P. Potter of the New York and Lieuten- ant Commander Adolph Marix of the Yer mont Captain Sampson acted as presi- dent and Lieutenant Commander Mark as judge advocate.
 FEBRUARL | 1S-Considerable excitement was caused in New York by the arrival of the Spanish battle-ship Vizcaya, return ing by previous arrangement the Maine's visit of courtesy. The officers of the Spanish vessel did not know until they were informed after reaching the harbor that the Maine had been destroyed The Nizcaya remained at anchor off Staten Island for five days.
 FEBRUARY 19-The United States Gov ernment declined a request made by the Spanish officials at Havana for a joint Investigation of the wreck of the Maine then Followed numerous objections from Spain. She objected to the use of our cruisers in sending supplies to the starv- ing reconcentrados under the direction of the Red Cross Society. She objected to
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-21

and withdrew the squadron for breakfast. At 16 minutes after Il l returned to the attack. By this time the Spanish flagship and almost all the Spanish fleet were in flames. At half-past 12 the squadron ceased firing, the batteries being silenced and the ships sunk. burned and deserted
 At 20 minutes 10 l the squadron re- turned and anchored off Manila, the Petrel being left behind to complete the destruction of the smaller gunboats, which were behind the point of Cavite This duty was performed by Commander F. P Wood in the most expeditions and complete manner possible. The Spanish lost the following vessels: Sunk-Reina Cristina, Castilla, Don Antonio de Ulloa burned-Don Juan de Austria, Isla de Luzon Isla de Cuba, General Lezo, Mar ques del Duero, Fl Correo. Velasco and Isla de Mindauao (transporD; captured Rapido and Hercules (tugs) and several small launches.
 II am unable to obtain complete &C., counts of the enemy's killed and wounded,
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-21

Advices were received from Admiral Dewey that he was maintaining strict blockade at Manila. that the rebels were hemmed in the city by land and that he could take the city at any moment.
 MAY 16-The Spanish Cabinet resigned and Prime Minister Sagasta was charged with the formation of a new one.
 MAY 17-A new Spanish Ministry was formed, with Senor Sagasta as President of the Council of Ministers.
 MAY 1S-The total number of volunteers as announced by Adjutant General Cor bin amounted to 925S0, and the following States had completed their muster of troops apportioned by the War Depart ment: California, Georgia, Idaho. Indi- ana. Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Mime sota, Massa chusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio. Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont. Wyoming and the District of Columbia.
 The cruiser Charleston, bound for the Philippines. sailed from San Francisco. She had no troops on board. her mission being to carry ammunition and supplies.
 MAY 19-The mysterious Cape Verde fleet was reported to have reached Santi- ago de Cuba.
 General Aguinaldo. the leader of the and announced that he would lead his followers against the Spaniards.
 MAY 21-Major General Merritt started for San Francisco en route to the Philip pines, and it was announced that the Monterey had been ordered to reinforce Admiral Dewey.
 MAY 24-Ihe talk or an AnSlO-Amerlcdn alliance received fresh impetus on this day, the seventy-ninth anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria. In New York and Tampa there was noticeable enthus- iasm.
 MAY 25-The President issued a procla- mation calling for 75,000 more volunteers, increasing the strength of the army to PTS 800 men, including both regulars and volunteers.
 The transports City of Picking. City of Sydney and Australia sailed for the Phil ippines carrying 2500 men, with supplies to last year and cargo of ammunition and naval stores.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-21
A PERIOD OF UNREST.

MAY 3-The Spanish Cortes assembled in Madrid. False reports had caused the people to imagine that a Spanish victory had been achieved in the Philippines. When the truth became known there was wild excitement throughout Spain, at- tended by riots.
 MAY 1.-The fighting ships of Admiral Sampson's squadron, the New York Iowa, Indiana, Puritan, Mayf1ower, Cincinnati and Marblehead, sailed for Key West, prepared for a long cruise.
 May 5-Arms for the CubanS were land ed by the tug Leyden, the gunboat Will mington assisting in repelling the Span ish
 MAY 9-President Mckinley recom- mended that the thanks of Congress be given Acting Rear Admiral George Dewey of the United States navy.
 MAY 11-Major General Wesley Merritt commanding the Department of the East was ordered to the Philippines as Mill tary Governor.
 An engagement occurred at Cardenas Cuba, Spanish gunboats and shore bat teries opening fire on the blockading ves- sels Wilmington, Hudson and Winslow. Ensign Worth Bagley and four of the
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-21
GA |l,> ,'>S

The President announced that the United States would adhere to the anti privateertng agreement of the Declaration of Paris.
 New Yorks militia was called out.
 APRIL 27-The first real act of warfare was the bombardment of Matanzas by the New York, Cincinnati and Puritan. Two Spanish Notifications were silenced.
 The steamer Guido was taken as prize by the monitor Terror.
 Commodore Dewey's squadron sailed from Mfrs Bay. bound for Manila.
 APRIL 2S-Congress agreed to naval appropriation bill for nearly S4700O.OOO.
 Tampa was chosen as the point for massing troops for the invasion of Cuba.
 APRII. 29-Congress passed bill for a popular bond issue of $500 900 ,00O, and the naval appropriation bill passed the Sen ate
 The Spanish fleet left the Cape. Verde Islands making Spain's first real move against the United States.
 The cruiser New York silenced the forts at Port Cabanas, and made a target of a company of Spanish cavalry.