Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-30
HOW THE DEED WAS DONE.
Story of the WOnd Execution OF
the American Fleet.

the American Fleet.
AT 5:lO in the morning, Just as dawn was
breaking, the battle began. BY that time
the brightness of the approaching day re-
vealed to both sides the position of the
enemy. The Spanish Immediately began fir
ing, but at a distance of nearly four miles.
At the sound of the first shot the Olympia
wheeled and started straight for the enemy.
From every mast and every peak of the
American squadron floated a flag, and the
sight of all these luttering emblems
aroused an enthusiasm that never was eX-
perienced before. AS the Olympia steamed
over toward the Spanish the Baltimore,
Raleigh, Petrol, Concord and Boston fol-
lowed in line of battle. The McCulloch was
left to protect the transports.
Through the dimness of the early morn
ing eight of the Spanish vessels could
hardly be seen, but as minute after minute
passed the ships and Notifications became
more distinct. The Spanish were meeting
the advance of the squadron with con-
tinuous firing from the ships and the forts.
So far there had been no answering shots
from the American ships. They were steam
ing on, grim and determined, and making
directly for the Spanish position.
Admiral Montojo's flag was flying on the
3, 500-ton protected cruiser Reina Cristina.
The protected cruiser Castillo, OF 5000 tons,
was moored ahead, and astern to the port
battery and to seward were the cruisers
Don Juan de Austria, Don Antonio de
Ulloa, IsIa de Cuba, Isla de Luzon, Quiros,
MARQUIS del Duero and General Leo.
These ships and the flagship remained under
way during most of the action.
'As we neared Cavite," writes Joseph l..
Stickney, who was on the bridge of the
Olympia, 'tw very powerful submarine
mines were exploded ahead Of the flagship.
This was at six minutes past 5 o'clock.
1.-THE Spaniards evidently had misjudged
our position. Immense volumes of water
we're thrown high in the air by these de-
s~troyers, but no harm was done to our
ships.
Commodore Dewey had fought with Far
ragut at New Orleans and Mobile bay,
where he had his first experience with tor
pedoes. Not knowing how many more
mines there might be ahead. he still kept
on without faltering. No other mines ex-
ploded, however, and it is believed that
the Spaniards had only these two in place.
"Only a few minutes later the shore bat
terry at Cavlte point sent over me flagship
a shot that nearly hit the battery in Ma
Mia, but soon the guns got a better range
and the shells began to strike near us or
burst close aboard from both the batteries
and the Spanish vessels,
"The heat was intense, Men stripped off
all clothing except their trousers.
"As the Olympia Grew nearer all was as
silent on board as IL the chip had been
empty, except for the whir of the blowers
and the throb of the engines.
"Remember the Maine.
Suddenly u shell burst directly over us.
From the boatswain's mate at the after
| nua-tnrh onn oap,a a hoarua prv sRannan,-
Der the Maine!' arose from the Threats OF
500 men at the guns. This watchword was
caught up in turrets and fire rooms, where
ever seaman or fireman stood at his post,
Remember the Maine!' had rung out for
defiance and revenge. Its utterance seemed
unprecedented, but was evidently In every
mans mind, and now that the moment had
come to make adequate reply to the killing
OF the Names crew every man shouted
what was in his heart.
THE Olympia was now ready to begin thu
fight. Commodore Dewey, his chief Of staff
Commander Lamberton, an aid and myself
with Executive oficer Lieutenant Rees ant
Navigator Lieutenant Calkins, who connet
ship NEST admirably, were on the forward
bridge, Captain Gridley was in the %conninl
tower, as 1t was thought unsafe TO risk los
ing all the senior officers by one shell.
You NAV fire when ready, Gridley,' sale
the commodore, and at nineteen minutes o
8 o'clock, at a distance OF $500 yards, tn,
starboard eight-inch gun in the forwart
turret roared forth a compliment TO tn
Spanish forts. Presently similar guns iron
the Baltimore and the Boston sent $50
pound shells toward the Castillo and tn
Reina Cristina for accuracy.
Spanish Guns Hot Work.
THE Spaniards seemed encouraged to FIR
- ---tI 49, NJ a ~
we had to guess theirs. Their ship an
shore guns were making things hot for Vi