The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-05-14

ST. FRANCSYLLE WEST FEIIIAN PARISH La SATURDAY, MAY A. $685.

fuse shells, fragments Of which would
lash the water like shrapnel, or cut
hull or rigging.
The 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. An
other struck the bridge grating in line
with it. A third passed just under
Commodore Dewey and gouged a hole
in the deck. Incidents like these were
| plentiful.
Still the flaghship steered for the
center Of the Spanish line, and as our
other ships were astern, the Olympia
received most Of the Spaniards' atten-
tention.
"Open with all guns" he said, and
the ship brought her port broadside
bearing.
The roar of oil the fagship's 5-inch
rapid tirers was followed by a deep
diapason of her turret 8:inchers.
Soon our other vessels were equally
hard at work, and we could see that
our shells were 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 the Spaniards were
in a strong position.
The Spanish ships were sailing back
and forth behind the Castillo, and
their fire, too, was hot.
One shot struck the Baltimore and
passed clean through her, fortunatel!
hitting no one. Another ripped VI
her main deck. disabled 6-inch gut
and exploded box of 3-pounder am
munition, wounding eight men.
) After having made.fou runs along
: the ships line, finding the chart in
correct, Lieutenant Clakins, the Olym-
pia's navigator, told the commodore
he believed he could take the ship
) nearer the enemy, with lead going to-
| watch the depth of water. The flag
ship started over the course for the
fifth time, running within 1000 yards
3 of the Spanish vessels. At this range
even 6-pounde were effective, and
! the storm of shells poured upon the
= unfortunate Spanish began to show
r marked results. Three of the enemy'e
a vessels were seen burning and theil
fire slackened.
On finishing this run Commodore
Dewey decided to give the mon break
fast, as they had been at the guns two
hours, with only one cup of coffee t.
sustain them. Action ceased temper
arily at 7:35 o'clock, the other ships
y passed the flagship, cheering Justify
d Our ships remained beyond range o
8 the enemy's guns until 1880 o'clock
u when the signal for close action agail
IS went up. The Baltimore had tn
E place of honor in the end, with tn
Il flagship following and the other ship
as before.
J. The Baltimore began firing at tn
J. Spanish ships and batteries at sixtee1
e minutes past II o'clock, making
t. series of hits, as if at target practice
g. The Spaniards replied very slowly
and the commodore signaled tn
Raleigh, the Boston and Concord an
the Petrol to go into the inner harbo
y. and destroy all the enemy's ships.
ID By her light draught the little Pe
!, trel was enabled to move within 100
yards. Here, firing swiftly but accu
s. rately, she commanded everything sti
O. flying the Spanish flag.
j, The other ships were also doing the
a. whole duty, and soon not one SPANS
ensign remained aloft, except on ba
~ terry up the coast. The Spanish fa|
dt ship and the Castillo had long bee
burning fercely, and the last vessel
%. be abandoned was the Don Antonio
10 Ulloa, which lurched over and san
in Then the Spanish flag on the arsen
81 staff was hauled down, and at half-pa
ke - o'clsck a white flag was hoistt
tb there.
Ia Signal was made to the Petrol to d
cd stroy all the vessels in tie inner la
rs bar, and Lieutenant Hughes, with
AS armed boats crew, set fire to the Dt
ad Juan de Austria, Marquis Duero, Il
Of Isle de Cuba and the Correo. The lar
es. transport Manila and many tugboe,
"a and small craft fell into our hand
he Capture or destroy the Spanish squa
~: ron," were Dewey's orders. New
y were Instructions more effectually CT
at ried out. Within seven hours aft
bic arriving on the scene Of action nothl
ats remained to be DONE Extracts ire
or communication Of J. L. Stlckney to
New York Herald.
T+o| Cruiser Fired Upon.