The Portland daily press., 1899-07-31
FOUGHT AGAIN.
rhs Basus of tmaalla won az Peaks
Island.

The longest crowd of the season was az
Peaks island Saturday afternoon TO Wit
ness the sham battle Of Manila, an event
that had for several days been looked for
ward to with the greatest pleasure. TX
tensive preparations had been made for
the oconsiou, the management OF the Cas-
co Bay Steamboat company dsins its ut
most to make the affair a complete sue
cess. All the railroads ran special excur-
sions at half fares so that early In the If
ternoon the island was black with people
Every steamer was loaded and 1t was
found necessary to postpone the event
for one hour after the time fixed In order
to accommodate the people who could not
reach the island ON time. The verandRhs
on the hotels and cottages along the shore
were ull occupied by sightseers and the
demand for seats anywhere In any place
where view was possible, was far more
than the SUPPLY. The afternoon was an
IDEAL summer one and tho Immense
crowd In attendance was a pretty sight.
There were at the least calculation 10, COO
people on the grounds.
The crowds arriving on the island saw
ranged q short distance from the wharf
the line Of Spanish gunboats. They were
In miniature, but for all Of that they
looked pretty formidable rs they firm ly
held their anchorage with their guns
levelled prepared to attack any hostile
crew.
For morelthan an hour the hset Of old
Spain THUS lay at anchor and the people.
wondering IL Dewey's fleet would ever
hail in sight, walked back and forth to
escape the suns rays and seek, II possible
sDme shady spot. At the proper time,
however. the Americans hove in sight.
Un3le Sans ships had been at anchor
ta0 Of eel xe.H l,xrf ha
thyongs of people ON the island. They
citcled about, being shown the course by
The tug Fannie u. This movement was
the signal tor the FIRST hearty applause Of
the afternoon, tho men and boys onsering
Justify and the ladies waving their hand
keruhiefs. 10 make tall the more lively.
Chambers hand which was stationed In
the balcony of the Gem theatre. played
some of the patriotic airs of the day.
Dewey and his squadron appeared In
the following order: Flagship q ympia,
Baltimore. Raleigh, Boston, Concord.
nearer to the unsuspecting Spaniards,
1t signalled Remember the Maine" AL
most instantaneonsly one of the two
mines which had been sunk few feet
from the shore, exploded, making a loud
report which could have been heard
quickly followed by the explosion OF the
other mine. which was nearby. BY this
time the Spaniards were aroused and
made haste to recover the lost ground.
Fort Malos opened fire and then the Span
ish flagship, the Reina Christina, fol-
lowed suit. At this point the Raleigh
fired the first gun for our country and
the light began In earnest. In continued
for some thine whenBEthe cool-headed
Dewey, in ais ever memorable little act,
retired for consultation and Incidentally
to enjoy his breakfast. This concluded
IL was discovered that one of the SpapiSh
boats had caught fire. Dewey-eame 10
the font and the Baltimofs ATTACKED
the forts. Luzon was battered good and
bard apd dsstr9yyssa. The fate OF the
Reina Christinn was settled.
Then came the first explosion In the
fort in which the Americans created
great havoc. After sacoud explosion
In the fort Spanish battleships were put
out of the light. The third explosion of
the fort occurred, the Spaniards surren-
der and hoisted the white flag. Then
the brave aud victorious Americans un-
furled the Stars and Stripes. saiuted and
all was over.
Surrounding the two sham fleets were
numerous sail and row boats that were
ut hand to prevent any possible danger
from the firing OF the dynamite cart
ridges. some of which were of pretty good
size. In one OF these boats was MIR. Harry
Browning, a stage hand at the Gem
theatre. In his great anxiety In watching
the battle he male a -nisstep and fell out
of the boat. His companions at once
reecued him.