The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-17
CRUISER RALEIGH
ARRIVES AT NEW YORK
I'm Spite of the Heavy DOwnpOur a
Vast Throng Cheered the Fighter
From rlaniIa.

them what you are made Of and can do.
Pipe down"
Roar upon roar. cheer upon cheer OF
defiance went up from the crew. Prac-
tically the same scene was enacted on
each Of the other ships
At s d. m. all preparations had been
made. All lights save ore stern light 10
keep position by were eytinguished or
obscured The crew were silently sent
to quarters Corregidor island. which
rises In the mouth OF the bay. could be
Reen aheasi and on our port bow. The
bright moonlight made ii seem impos-
slble that the enemy should not discern
us. The guns were loaded. As we had
a long night before US, and the time when
the battery would be needed was uncer-
tain as the irtention was TO slip by the
tofts unooserved II possipie, the woro
was passed along that the crew need not
remain strictly at their stations, but be
Seady for an instant call. The officers
and gun captains were TO remain in the
immediate vicinity OF their guns.
The men were gathered I'm knots around
the deck. chatting and laughing in sub
Sued tone, and watching eagerly the dark
mass of Corregidor island and the steady
course the flagship light stood. The
powder division were all below at their
stations for passing ammunition from
the magazines In this division, IL may
be noted, were all the servants Of the Of
ficers. including Chinese and Japanese.
q mixed lot that could not be expected TO
burn with a great degree OF patriotic
fervor How they would act when the
shells began TO scream was doubtful
~ 10 q or
of comment and mild wonderment among
the officers at the cheerful and cool man.
ner I'm which these Celestials and Latins
performed their duties and entered into
the excitersent OF the battle. Not man
showed fear. bat on the contrary all ex-
pressed regret that there was mo more
fight"
At about midnight the feet was ex-
actly between the islands OF Corregidor
and FL Fraile and about three-quarters
OF a mile distant from the latter. Beyond
the flash OF a couple OF signal lights on
shore, the enemy gave no evidence or
having discovered US. The men below
decks not being able 10 watch passing
events had gotten out their banjos and
guitars and were singing softly the old
patriotic and familiar songs OF country,
home and mother. This form did not
have a cheering effect. Suddenly. by
stroke of inspiration. one who felt as
most of us did started up. "There'll BE
Hot Time I'm the Old Town Tonight
The strain was relieved and quiet but
mirthful laugh went around while each
Joined in the chorus.
We were still laughing at some i'm
provised and appropriate words when
flash came and the whistle and scream
of an S-inch shell caused everybody to
grow silent and duck" Each man
looked at his neighbor 10 see IL he had
done likewise and sighed with relief
when he saw that he had company. This
shell passed directly over the forecastle
OF the Raleigh and knocked up the water
In a white geyser a couple of hundred
yards ahead on our port bow. lmmedi-
ately the order was shouted from the
bridge Fire from the after five-inch
gun" This gun, in charge of Ensign
Babin, had been kept pointed at the rock.
and almost simultaneously with the or
der the electric firing key was pressed
and the first shot OF Dewey's fleet went
hustling on it's way. The first hostile
shots had been exchanged and the war
In the Philippines had practically begun.