The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-05-31
A SAILOR BOYS
INTERESTING NARRATIVE,


Gun Captain Clasr TSlls OF the Battle
ot Manna--lmpudenc of the
Germans,
Chas A Chase who ip home enjoying
a merNed rvs, after four years con-
,inuoas seryice IN the United States navy,
givcs the AstOrIan brlr account ct his
exNrlcncc In the famous naval battle
IN the harhor ot Manila, whore Admiral
Dewey sunk the Spanish reet and dc.
s,royc1 tho forts supporting the enemy's
ships lie is u very retlrlng young man
and not inclined to exploit his part IN
the great agh, giving TO his admiral
the credit for tho Victory thar will b.
known as lonE as history lasts
Mr. Ciasc loft Astoria IN July, 1876, and
on the Soth OF that month shipped from
San Francisco On the cruiser olympia,
He remained with that vessel In her
lrrulscs 20 all parts ot the world and 80
Salthfuly dld he discharge his duties
that he was promoted to the position ot
irst gun captain OF No, 4. 8 Inch star.
lloapA gun. and duriag all the norce
nght on that memorable May day. he
trained aIsi nrrd hN sun with that
cOolness and precision that has made
tho American gunner the wonder aud ad-
lmiratt0n OF the world.
Mr Clasr SAYS that at the time
the American isct steamed lneo Manila
harbor to make the attack on the spanish
harbor TO make the attack ON the span
lsA fcct. n visitor aboard Ihet warshlps
would have supposed that they Nerc pr,-
quiet and calm wero the othscrs ana men,
There Was no excitement or uHdue haste
every nian going abolu his duty with
that earncs,ncss and determination that
has been the characteristic ~ the Amer
loan salisr and soldier since tho founding
OF Ihls government When the action
came ON. he state~ that every man o.
the orsws lad an American hag about
him, most uf thsm having IL tied about
the walsL a. DO had his. u they were %
IN Ter the hag they waR,od the folds OF
Old GlUy 70 ~ their ruaeral shrcud
During the battle he says there WAS not
/ the least heE,an1 On the part VI y
single man, DOR the men had confidence ?
an their ships, In each other IN their
officers and especially lp ,hc.r admiral.
, Tor they all felt that under his uAstgr. ,
t'd guidance tina, victory was surely
theirs. The Spaniards. he states. cou,s
shoot and could hit too, had their Hkfl
not been SET AZ naugh, by the strategy
u Lieutenant Corcans navigating officer
of tho Olympia and who thus directed
the movements ot the fleet The dee,
formed IN single column Oud moved In
= circle IN trSnt OF the spanish ticct avd
torts. \, each time when coming down
on the inside ,lck. the navigating otliccg
s,tVe the lie OF battle a hncrcnl arg.c
SO as 10 dlss5ncsrt he aim Of the span.
ssh gunners who would jus, begin 10 sc,
the range when the American ships
would pass TO the outside tact. 10 return
In dn~cnt position The spanlards
had No regular order ot formation and
were unable 20 escape the angc finders
OF the Americans and were soon shot 10
pieces.
The nigh, following the engagement. he
says. was one OF the most awful ever
witnessed In modern warfare. There was
not breath OF wind and heavy clouds
put an inky darkness over everything
Against this dark sky was cast the lurid
light OF the burning Spanish ships and
forts. From time to time a Spanish ship
wosld blow up, scattering the wreckagc
al over the bay. As the are spread on
shore among the buildings OF the arsenal
AT Cavite, whole magazine would be
blown high in the air when the shells
and other eSploslyeo would burst with
a deafen!ng report. making a pyrotechnlc =
display both grand and weird. Mr. Class
says that the frlghtful sights % that I
awful night made a deeper impression
upon him than did the shock OF the bat
tie.
OF the impudence and Interference Of
the German ships with the American
fleet, Mr.. Clase says Is not fully known
to the American people and had II not
been for the coolness and determined 1
forbearance Of Admiral Dewey conflict
would have surely been perclpltated be-
tween the Vwo fleets. for the men Of the
American ships we're wild with rage az
the conduct OF the Germans and II was
all they could do to control themselves. A
OI the many Incidents In which the Ger.
man ships showed their contempt and
disregard OF Admiral Dewey's blockade
regulations. he tells Of one In which n
German ship narrowly escaped getting
blown out % the water. II was on
very dark night, about the time when
ADMIRAL Camaras fleet was expected
whe6 suddenly there loomed up In the
darkness the well known outlines 0f
nan-of-war. Instantly all hands were
beat 70 quarters and the guns loaded
and trained ready to fire on the instant
The search lights were turned on the
intruder, when II ran up the German
lag and slowly steamed away. II was
MY under tn" strictest orders from the
ficers that the men were prevented
rom giving the treaeherous friend a
roadside. az a reminder that Americans .
ould not be run over as though they
we're some weak European nation at
ne mercy Of German tyranny. For some
ime after the appearance OF the Ger.
nan fleet signals would he flashed out
/ night by both the German ships and
he Spanards in Manila. until a auietus
vas put upon the Germans by the Wig Mt
rous protests of Admiral Dewey. ri
Mr.. Clase paid a glowing tribute 10 w
-dmlral Dewey, saying he was the idol III
his men. He said that while the nd. FF
liral was a strict dlsclplinarlan and al. "a
WED no negligence OF duty yet in mis- lsA
ltercourse wit hthe men OF his fleet he
as more free than most naval conn.
anders and always treated his men q y
ith the utmost consideration. and their
salth and comfort was ever uppermost
his miHd The admiral took the hon.
rs that have lately been conferred upon n
IN like true American sailor and did II
't let It turn his head. but was as free
ith both Officers and men as he was -=-
fore Fame had written his name upon
.r scroll.
As to the retention Of the islands by
e United States the men Of the feet
Ere In favor to a man.
Mr. Claep'a enite4roapN