The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-05-17

reply to the murder of the Names
crew every man shouted what W rs in
his heart.
The Olympia was now ready to be-
gin the fight. Commodore Dewey, his
chief of staff Commander Lamberton.
an aid and myself, with Executive Of
fcer Lieutenant Reese and Navigator
Lieutenant Calkins, who conned the
ship most admirably. were on the for
ward bridge Captain Gridley was in
the coming tower, as it was thought
unsafe to risk losing all the senior of
ticers by one shell.
THE OLYMPIA OPENS.
You may fire when ready, Grid
ley" said the commodore. and 1T II
minutes past o'clock, at dista ace
of 5000 yards. the starboard eight
inch gun in the forward turret roar
ed forth its compliments to the SpT l.
ish fortifications.
Presently similar guns from the
Baltimore and the Boston sent $50
pound shells hurtling toward the Cas-
tilla and the Reina Cristina. the accu-
racy of the aim being marvellous.
The Spaniards seemed encouraged
by this fire to fight faster. knowing
exactly our distance, while we had to
guess theirs Their ship and shore
guns were making things hot for us.
The piercing scream of shot was va
ried often by the bursting of time
fuse shells. fragments of which would
lash the water like shrapnel, or cut
our hull and rigging.
One large shell that was coming
straight at the Olympia's forward
bridge fortunately fell within less
than 100 feet away One fragment
cut the rigging exactly over the heads
of Lamberton. Reese and myself.
FIGHT GETTING HOT.
Another struck the bridge gratings
in line with it. A third passed Just
under Commodore Dewey and gouged
a hole in the deck. Incidents like
these were plentiful.
Our men actually chafed at being
exposed without returning the fire
from all our guns, but laughed at
the danger and chatted good humor-
edly. s-s.---
A few nervous fellows could not
help dodging mechanically, when the
shells would burst right over them.
or close aboard, or would strike the
water and pass overhead, with the pc
culiar spluttering roar made by big
tumbling rifed proiectle.
Still the flagship steered for the CEN
ter of the Spanish line, and as our
other ships were astern, the Olympia
received most of the Spanish atten-
ton. Owing to our deep draught the
commodore felt constrained to change
his course at distance of 1000 yards
and run parallel to the Spanish col
umn.
open WITH ALL THE GUNS"
"Open with all the guns" he said
and the ship brought her port broad
side bearing. The roar of all the
| flagship's five inch rapid firers was
followed by the deep diapason of her
turret eight inchers.
Soon our other vessels were equally
| hard at work, and we could see that
our shells We're making Cavite harbor
hotter for the Spaniards than they
had made the approach for us.
Protected by their shore batteries,
and made safe from close attack by
| shallow water, the Spaniards were in
a strong position. They put up gal
| liant fight. The Spanish ships were
sailing back and forth behind Castil-
la and their fire was hot. One shot
| struck the Baltimore and passed
clean through her, fortunately hitting
no one.
Another ripped up her main deck,
disabled the six in6 gun and eXplo-
ded box of three FOUNDER ammuni-
ton, wounding eight men.
The Olympia was struck abreast the
| gun in the wardroom by shell which
burst outside, doing little damage.
The signal halyards were cut from
! Lieutenant Brumby's hand at the af-
ter bridge.
A shell entered the Boston's port
| quarter and burst in Ensign Dodridg-
er's stateroom, starting a hot fire and
fire was also caused by shell which
burst in the port hammock netting.
Both these fires were quickly put out
Another shell passed through the
Boston's foremast just in front of
Captain Wildes, on the bridge.
SAIL CLOSER.
After having made four runs along
the Spanish line, and finding the chart
| incorrect, Lieutenant Calkins, the
Olympia's navigator, told the COM
modore he believed he could take the
ship nearer the enemy with the lead
going TO watch the depth of the wa
ter. The flagship then started over
the course for the fifth time, running
within 1000 yards of the Spanish YES.
sells. At this range even the six
Founders were effective. and the bic
storm of shells poured upon the unfor-
tunate Spanish began to show mark
ed results. Three of the epemy's YES
sells We're seen burning and their fire
slackened.
On finishing this run Commodore
Dewey decided to give the men break
fast, as they had been at the guns
two hours with only one cup of coffee
to sustain them.
The action ceased temporarily at
7:35 o'clock, the other ships passing
the Olympia and cheering Justify.
Our ships remained beyond range
Continued on Page Five.)