The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-29

pieces The Commodore himself was on the
bridge OF the Olympia Tho captain Of each
ship was on the bridge OF his ship With tho
nomentary expectation OF an explosion that
might perhaps blow some OF Thorn into pieces,
the ships went on slowly, steadily. noiselossly.
In forty minutes they abreast OF FL
Frae Island at the entrance to the Bay OF Mo
Mia At this moment there was a rift in the
clouds and moonbeam shono down for in
| slant only, but IL was long enough for the
| Spaniarda or u sudden there was
| fash on the island and rocket shot
up into the air There was answer
| ing fash on the shore on the other
side and then shot and shell went whstIing
| through tho air. Then another and another
| For a full minute there not sound on
board any ship in the entering fleet, and thcn
! the guns Of the Boston and the pop-gune OF the
| McCulloch began to roar and crack. The
Raleigh followed with shot Again the guns
on the island were Aired and the whistle OF their
shells could be heard, but that was all Tho
| feet passed on uninjured The firing ceased
and there age ain silence.
| On up into tho bay went the ships led by tho
| Olympia After the excitement occasioned by
| the exchange Of a few shots. the men had again
| lain down TO snatch forty winks Of sleep
| before the work that they knew was com
| ing in the morning. Daylight came, grim
show its upper edge above the horizon and
70 make tho water look like FURNISHED gold.
| whom the squadron steamed slowly and msies-
| Mcany ACROSS tho bay toward the enemy drawn
! up there in battle array. There were the pro-
| tected cruisers Isla de Cuba and Isla de Lunon,
the Ave unprotected ertisers Reina Cristina. Cas-
| ulla Don Antonio de Ulloa. Don Juan de Austria
| and Vclasco; the gun boats General LEO and
| Marquis del Duero. and a transport and other
| small craft
| II was quarter past Ave when the
hrst shot came opening the battle Three
batteries at Manila, two at Cavtte, and the
| Spanish feet all opened fire on the advanc-
| ing column Their shots fell short On
| came the American ships, their commanders
soorning the coming towers. their gun crews
stripped TO the waist: every man aboard in
| his place; every aboard on edge with
excitement and anxiety. On they came, silently.
| soorning 10 return the fire that was becoming
| hot but that was still harmless. for the ships
| uerp still out Of range. Now and then one OF the
land guns would be elevated sufficiently to throw
| she'll close enou Ri for it's shrek to be heard
| Twenty minutes passed The strain on the
| men at the guns who merely waited the word
| to let drive thousands Of pounds OF destruc-
| ton at the enemy. can be imagined Expect
ing every instant to hear the command, each
man anxious TO Are the first shot, each
anxious to do the greatest damage; they stood
on keen edge; straining their ears rather
than watching what possible effect the
shells Of the Spanish mig hit have On the ships
went The 1000 yard range was passed; the
5000 yard range was passed; the g, 600 yard
range was passed and now tho shells were
| whisting through the air splashing
in tho water Still the Commodore waited
Scarcely $500 yards away. at last he
turned and gave the order thus: You may
Are whom you are ready, Gndley' Gridley
was the CAPTAIN of the Olympia. The OF ler was
no sooner given than the big guns OF the Olym-
pia roared forth the beginning OF the American
attack, and almost at the same instant
oame tho guns of the other ships in line.
and from that moment 1t serve and
FIRE On came the column, wheeling and passing
tho Spanish battle line. pouring he'll OF fire
into Il at such close range that 10 miss was next
to impossible On. up the enure length, tho
shells shrieking over them and their own guns
roaring went tho American ships. closer and
closer to the battle line OF tho enemy Atthe end
of the line they wheeled and came az ain closer.
Suddenly in the thick OF the fight and half
hidden by Tho smoke, out sneaked a torpedo boat
from behind tho Spanish line Itwss heading
for the Olympia The eyes that were watching
In the fig htng tops and on the deck spied it. and
quicker than 1t takes TO tell II, there was hail
of shot poured into the frail craft and in smoke
and fame she sank moment later. another
hke her came. She, too. headed for the Oily rnpia
and again the small guns ratued and the big
ones roared and she wheeled. Keeling like a
| drunken man, and ran toward tho beach where
she grounded
| Up tho line went the American ships, every
gun tn at could be broug ht to bear being served
with the dispatch that months OF drilling had
taug hit the men. Now and then a shell would
| rilr aofth han ne Dierce the side and
go in, carrying wreck and ruin In its path. but
never once causing death Again at the other
end Of the line the boats wheeled, This time com
ing nearer still The naked men at tho guns,
black. srimy with smoke and SCOT but enthusi-
astic with the excitement Of the battle
worked away as II their lives depended upon it..
o. indeed they did The Roma Cristina, the flag
ship OF tho Spanish Admiral. now tried to come
, out OF tho line OF Spanish ships and engage the
| American boa Ia at short range. The Spanish
Admiral had not yet learned his lesson With
| one accord every & I'm OF the American squadron
that could be brought TO boar. was brought to
bear on his ship including the little ones in the
I fighting tops. and there was 40 CALLING fire
, that she quickly turned back again and bar ely
reached tho place OF safety. She was full OF
holes and was on fire
So the battle won't until rs minutes before
, eight Another round had been made
within 2, 900 yards of tho enemy raking their
ships fore and aft Ship after ship Of the
Spanish feet was fred. The position Of The
whole feet was pitiful The mon were
, driven from their guns in most in
stances and their hre was reduced &c
practically nothing. yet thero Twas no surrender
. They were beaten to death before rs minutes Il
Gig ht when the Admiral asked how many rounds
A of ammunition per gun had been used and go
. the reply from the man who mstook his question
! that there were only fifteen rounds left for tn
|. 5-inch rapid FIRE batteries The Admiral wa
l. certain that a mistake had been made. but he hat
tho battle so we'll in his hands at this time tina
/, he considered prudence the better part OF valo
and ordered up the signal. cease firing" an,
the squadron withdrew out OF range for a consul
i. taiop and a redistribution of ammunition
l. necessary.
= The men Of the guns took the opportunity I
breakfast, and the Admiral took the opportunity
l. among other things. to notify the Governo
" General OF Manila that II three land batterie
I. tip,. hIrin fhah .i