Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-05-17
STORY OF THE VICTORY.
Detailed Account of Dewey's Bold
Dash ana Its Results.

Detu11eu ACCOUNT OIL Dc"cy'1 oOlO
Dash ana Its Results.
The following dispatch, containing de-
tailed account of the battle, was brought
here by the McCulloch:
Manila Bay, May 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 fleet to follow him, and with
all lights out the squadron of sea fight
ers steamed into the bay with the crews
at their guns. AS they passed the fortifica-
tons at Corregidor the order Of the YES
sells was as follows: Olympia, Baltimore.
Raleigh, Petrol, Concord. Boston.
Flight 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 fleet
was well up the harbor before the Span
tards 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 spanfards.
lone heavy pro1ectile screamed over the
fnfloating ships and plunged into the water
far away. This was followed by a second,
which dropped astern. Instantly the
Raleigh, the Concord and the Boston &C.
cepted the challenge. A she'll from the
Concord described long curve and ap-
parently landed exactly inside the shore
battery, which fired no more Slowly the
| squadron edged its way toward Manila
and the men. worn with long watching,
| were allowed to drop beside their guns for
! nap on deck. So closely had the arrival
| of the fleet 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 futtering
from the cruiser Reina Christina. Just
ahead of it was moored the Castillo, a pro-
tected cruiser of 1900 tons. Astern and to
seaward in line of battle were arranged
the cruisers Don Juan de Austria, Don An
tonic de ulla, !sla de Cuba. 1sla 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 of
five miles. Suddenly the Concord's guns
doomed out reply For q moment there
was silence and expectation. Commodore
Dewey signaled not to attack these bat
teries, 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 as he stood inpassively on the
bridge and called the attention of one of his
officers to the fact that it was exactly six
| minutes past five o'clock. AS the mines let
| go smile fitted over his face, because of
the fact that the Spaniards In exploding
the mines had misjudged the position OF
| the flagship. AS it was, tremendous VOL
umes of water were hurled into the air.
But there was no hesitation. Dewey evil
IDENTIFY 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
niSh ho1 mt ho npl
the shells began bursting close aboard.
Flagship the Target.
1.-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.
! to open up. All was silent aboard the
! Olympia except the whirr Of the blowers
| and the steady throb Of the engines. All at
| once a shell screamed through the air and
! ship. Then came the signal from the boat
! SWANS mate.
"Remember the NIaine"
Remember the Maine!' was the defiant
! cry that, rang out in the American ships.
On the forward edge of the flagship stood
Admiral Dewey, with his chief ofstafr, Ex-
ecutive officer Rees, and Navigator Lieut..
! Calkins. Capt. Gridley, commander Of the
! ship. from the coming tower awaited the
| order to begin the engagement. Dewey
looked at the batteries. from which puffs
! Of smoke we're rising, and said, grimly:
| Shoot whenever you get ready, Gridley.'
AT 10 minutes Of six the starboard eight
| inch gun in the forward turret of the Olym-
| pia belched forth a welcome to the dons at
distance Of $500 yards. The firing was
turn. and shen after shell from their great
guns was sent hurting toward the Cas-.