Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-06-16

under the guns OF the battery at Cavite.
Yes, it was rather risky business, but
you acc tho commodore had intimated
to the Spuniarda that IL they fired
single shot he would lay tho whole
city In ashes. This threat had tho
desired effect.
The first part Of the battle lasted
over two hours. The STEADY thunder
of tho cannon vas kept up. The roar
was sumething terrible. The terrific
fire was kept up from the forts ana
Spanish ships upon our fleot. |. looked
to ua for the MuCulluch al though our
vessels could not possibly SURVIVE tho
fuHillade. Heavy shells aud solid shot
fell around them like hail from the
clouds, und many exploded Immediately
over the ships. At one time ! really
after this fire had besn kept up for an
hour. 1t looked aa though syary gun
on the Spanish ships had turned loose
on us altogether and the shore line was
veritRble blaze Of fire from tho
batteries. The din was simply in
describahle. Tons upon tons Of ehot
fell over our ships. Yea, there was
steel enough TO sink four fleets. Our
the Spaniards They handled their
pieces like boys. Nearly all of their
shots went wide Of the mark. Most of
them were high, flying over the feet
add falling into the bay beyond. Some
OF the batteries, however, were better
trained. Several guns maintained
raking fire 90 tina fleet. Some of our
ships were struck by both large and
small shots, hut no damage of conse-
qucnce was done. This report that
solid shot entered the engine room of
the Baltimore ia erroneous This shot
crossed the deck from the port side,
struck an open trrret, was turned back
and passed out 90 the same side. No
damage was dnne 10 the vessel, md the
two or three men hurt were merely
scratched by flying splinters.
The only man really hurt in the
fight was seaman, who accidentally
sustained broken leg, This was par
italy caused by the Spanish fire, but
mostly hy his own caralessness. Lient
Kellogg was morely scratched. lie
never left his post and was all right
again in few minutes. OF the other
dix men reported injured only one re.
ceived more than fesh scratches. "
Surgeon Kindleberger adds few
facts to Col. LIQUIDS story. lie was on
the Olympia throughout the fight. lie
said:
10 the first aesaut the flagship took
the lend, the other vessels following IN
her wake at four ship lengths. The
Spanish fleet wac approached by lsps,
each turn bringing the conteatants
nearer together. By this plan the
American vessels frequently poured
broadsides into the enemy, but were
themselves more exposed to fire. At
one time the smoke became SO dense
that 1t was necessary to draw aside to
allow the cloud to lift The vessels
were examined and il was discovered
they had sustained no damage. The
men were badly tagged ny the two
hours' work at the guns in the great
heat and breakfast was served Then
they rs-entered the fight again with
the greatest enthusiasm.
The second tight was sven more fierce
than the first. IL was in that that the
Baltimore was struck. During The
first fight the Spanish Admiral's ship
steamed bravely out to the line TO meet
the Olympia. The entire American
fleet concentrated its fire on her, and
abe was so badly injured that she
turned around to put back At this
iuncturs the Olympia let fly an eight
inch shell, which struck her in the
stern and pierced through almost her
entire length, exploiting finally in the
engine room and wrelking her ma
chinery. This shell killed the captain
and 80 men anu set the vessel on fire.
THE Spanish Admiral Immediately
transferred bis flag to the ctuiaer lsla
de Cuba. Several smaller vessels of the
American feet and the Boston centred
their fire on this ship and literally tore
her to pieces. The admiral was slightly
wounded and escaped in a small boat
into Bacoor bay and finally to Manila. :"
Gunner Evans Of the boston directed
the fire of one of the big guns on tbs
cruiser. Evans says that throughout
the battle tho fighting forces OF the
Boston, and, in fact, OF all the ships,
were as cool as If engaged at target
practice.