Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-08-31

cannonade went on until quarter to s.
At that moment the Don Juan de
Austria advanced against the Olympia,
intending to board her, and If a ire
mendous broadside had not stopped
her self-devoted charge both ships per-
haps would have sunk to the bottom.
The captain of the Reina Christina,
seeing that the resolute attempt of
consort had failed, advanced at full
speed until within 20 yards of the
Baltimore, aiming to attack her. Then
a shower of projectiles swept the
bridge and decks, filling the ship with
dead and wounded.
(Heroes and martyrs whom tho ma
ton will remember as long as it en-
dures)
A dense column of smoke from the
bow compartments showed that an in
cendiary projectile, such as the law of
God and man prohibits, had set fire to
the cruiser. The ship, still keeping up
! her fire on the enemy, withdrew to-
ward the arsenal, where she sunk to
keep her from falling into the hands of
the enemy.
The desperation of the men of the
Reina Christina was aggravated by
the sight of the Castillo, also in a
blaze from a use of similar incendiary
projectiles.
The principal ships of our squadron
having thus been put out of commits
son the Yankee ships, some of them
| badly crippled by the fire from our
ships, and the batteries at Sanghy
Fort, stood out toward Mairneles and
the entrance of the bay, ceasing their
| fire, occupying themselves in repair
ing injuries until 10 o'clock, when they
began a second attempt to complete
their work of destruction
In this second attack the fire at the
arsenal was eXtingushed, and they
continued to cannonade the gunboats.
Now that the ships were in flames,
the admiral, Senior Montejo, who had
shown his flag as long as there was a
vessel afoat, landed, and hostilities
ceased
BY naval authority the most care
full watch was kept in the river as we'll
from attack.
The gunners of the batteries defend
ing Manila and Cavite showed the
highest degree of energy and heroism.
Every one applauds the brave artil-
lerymen who by their calmness and
skill did all that was possible with
the guns assigned them.
The battery that did most harm was
the one on Point Sanghy, made up of
flCntoria guns. TO one of these guns
is attributed the harm which turned
the Baltimore from the fight. This
gun must have greatly annoyed the
Yankees, to Judge by the efforts they
made to silence its fires, following it
up until six gunners had been killed
and four wounded.
Guns were also mounted at the en-
trance of the bay on CorrigedCn and
Caballo islands, on Elfraile Rock, on
the south shore at Point Restinga, and
at Marineles Puneta Gorda, and Point
Lassi on the north shore. The guns
on Corrigedor island were of siX-inch
callber. Similar guns were mounted
ON the rock and on Point Restinga.
The other guns were of mixed batter
les of larger and smaller calibers.
Mr.. Marshall contributes the follow
ing regarding the men Jho worked
below deck during the great battle:
Underground savages, as the en-
gMeer's force of ship is commonly
called, went to their stations on the
night of April 80 in the engine and
Gre rooms at 1880 p. m, not leaving
them until 1880 next morning. What
thoughts rushed through the minds of
these men far below the scene of open
action, battened down in their respect
i've compartments in heat cool and
welcome al 100 degrees, and thankful
when the thermometer stopped at 140
degrees, they alone can tell. AS one
man very frankly remarked: "lf the
Spaniards send me to hell, I'm getting
good start here" Somewhat blunt,
but terribly true.
Working midst fires, whose glare
made the place seem like furnaces
manned by imps, the men, Clotheless
but for oyeralls, minus the legs, and
thick shoes, to protect their feet from
blistering, on the heated decks toiled
cn, joking, and silently encouraging
one another, almost in another world.
Water brought down from decks, as
cool as could be had, quickly turned
into steam, yet, on they kept, endur
ing in minutes trials and hardships
sufficient for many ripe old ages, not
knowing what moment a shell would
send them to eternity. These men
were heroes in the true sense of the
word.
The great Talmage once said: Il
finished a very perilous voyage. and
when the passengers were leaving the
ship, they all thanked the captain, but
later, remembered that no one
thought of the engineers and firemen
who, down in the bottom of the YES
sci, were toiling and faithfully doing
the work that brought the ship safely
| fl,r,tot tho ctn