Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-09-30
'WARSHiPS DESTROY
A FILIPINO BATTERY
Bombardment of 0langapo by the
Charleston, Monterey, Con-
cord and Zafro.
BIG KRUPP CANNON BLOWN UP
Party OF American Marines ana
Blue Jackets Land and Com.
plete the works of
the Cruisers.

MdniIa, sept. So'-li'"o o. n''
United States cruiser Charleston, the
monitor Monterey and the gunboats
Concord and Zafiro, with marines and
blueiackets from the cruiser Balti-
more left Cavite September II. and, as
already cabled, proceeded to Subig
bay to destroy an insurgent cannon
there.
Owing to bad weather the operation
was postponed until yesterday, when
the warships for three hours bombard-
ed the town of Olangapo and the en-
trenchments where the gun was STU
ated.
Men from the Charleston, Concord
and Zafiro were then landed under
heavy insurgent fire, proceeded TO the
cannon, which was entirely destroyed
by gun cotton, and then returned 10
the warships.
The Americans had one man wound
ed during the engagement.
While waiting in Subig bay for bet
ter weather the Americans descrleu
Filipino reinforcements moving
toward Olangapo. At GAO p. IN. yes
terday the Monterey began TO advance
upon the town, which was about
three miles east of the monitors an
chorage. The Charleston, Concord
and Zafiro fred. At 1925 the Monterey
opened fire with her secondary and
main batteries, the Charleston and
Concord joining Immediately. AT 1880
the insurgent cannon answered, the
first shot passing close TO the Mon
terey's smokestack. The gun was tred
twice only.
The : merican bombarding then be-
came general. At 9:30 the Monterey
advanced to a range Of 600 yards, using
her main battery. Two hundred and
fifty men were landed about 500 yards
east of the cannon at IL o'clock, under
a severe shore mauser fire. The men
from the Charleston were the first 10
reach the beach, but the Concord
men were the first at the gun, which
they reached at 11:10. The cannon was
found to be 16-centimeter krupp
gun, presumably obtained from the
Spaniards.
Meanwhile the warships continued
to shell the shelving beach on the east
and west side to silence the insurgent
fire upon the sailers from the trenches
skirting the beach.
Gunner Olson eXp!oded nlly
| pounds of gun cotton in three uis-
charges in the cannon, which hau sur
fered from the fire of the warships.
The Americans then returned TO the
boats, the firing inland being kept up
| TO protect the embarkation. The Con-
cords men were the last to reach the
| shore, and the warships were reached
at 1880. :.
Cadet BrinZer, with the Concord 5
launch, armed with gatling, did eN-
cellent work on the left of the landing
party, and the movement was splenuld-
| " executed and controlled.
The numbers of the Filipinos there
could not be ascertained, and no deaa
were seen.
The Monterey fred for four hours,
twenty-one shots from her lO-inch
guns and seventeen from her 12-inch
guns.
The town, which was riddled with
shells, took fire at several points.
Admiral Watson's Report.
Washington, Sept. 26.--Acting Secre.
|
ceiyed cable from Rear Admiral Wat
son yesterday giving brief account Oh
the engagement at Subig bay. lie
says:
"Mandora discovered heavy gun
mounted opposite Kalaklan point, SUI,
| big bay; exchanged six shots with
| Charleston. Sent Charleston, Monte
rev. Concord and Zafro with detach-
ment of marine sailors from Baltimore
to capture and destroy. Attacked in
surgent position 23d; after lombard
ment landing party carried entrench-
ments, dispossessed enemy and de-
stroyed one 16-centimeter Krupp gun
Casualties: William Sheppard, ap-
prentice second class, Charleston, Sc
riously wounded; Chas. IIatfke, coal
passer, Concord, heat prostration. IN
| surgent loss unknown. Full report
| mailed"
The important feature of the en-
papement is the fact that is disclosed
that the insurgents have been able tc
obtain Krupp guns. 1t was known al
the time of the outbreak of the insur
gents against the Americans that the
| artillery Of the insurgents consisted
or rev obsolete guns cdptuleu lloi
the Spaniards. Acting Secretary Aller
says that il is evident the navy at Ma
Mia does not intend TO allow any fort
to be erected by the insurgents which
can be reached by the ships, and he il
convinced that the squadron under
Rear Admiral Watson will be able to
keep the shores guarded and repeat the
lesson of Saturday if the insurgents
are found to be operating on the coast