The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22

mines ahead of the Olympia. The place
where these mines were located ana the
time of their explosion led us to give some
credence TO the story We heard after the
battle. according TO which the mines were
prematurely discharged owing to the de-
mand OF the commanding officers of the
| Spanish ships who were unwilling to ma
! neuver as long as submarine mines we're
| In a condition to blow them out Of the wa
| ter if they should happen TO pass over
| them.
There" exclaimed the commodore, as
the great columns of water and smoke rose
| above the surface, they have some mines,
| after all. They're in a hurry TO begin,
aren't they" Then turning TO Lieuten-
| ant Caikins. who was directing the course
of the ship from his station at the stand
ard compass, just forward of and above
| the bridge, the commodore added;
Hold her as close in as the water will
| let you Mr. Calkins but be careful not TO
touch bottom
For thirty minutes the Spaniards filled
the air with shrieking shot and bursting
shell, and the strain on the nerves of the
| crew during this time was intense; at any
moment a dozen or more men might be
scattered about the decks, dead or dying.
While no one doubts that in such case
| the others would have continued to do
their whole duty, the commodore finally
decided to reply to the Spanish fire little
sooner than he had intended, for the sake
of the morale The roar of the S-inch
guns In the forward turret relieved the
tension on the mems nerves, and in few
minutes the ship sheered to starboard, and
all the fve-inch guns in the port broadside
joined in the chorus.
When called the commodore's attention
10 the torpedo boat which came creeping
cut from Sangley Point. he was intently
watching the effect of our shells upon the
Spanish ships.
We'll, you look after her" he replied;
Il can't be bothered with torpedo boats.
Let me know when you've sunk her, and
so saying, he turned his back upon the
lilliputian craft ahead of us and leveled his
glasses on the Reina Cristina again.
| After the battle two alleged Englishmen.
managers OF the ship railway on Sangley
Point tried to make us believe that this
steam launch which was driven ashore in
| a sinking condition by our slX-pOunder and
three FOUNDER gun fire, was not a torpedo
boat at all. but an innocent market boat
from their shpyard on its way to Manila
for provisions. InasmUch as II came out
flying the Spanish colors in the face of our
fleet and continued its course long after
| the shells were spattering fountains of
! water all over it at long range, and as 1t
did not make for the shore to escape until
it had been shot through and through sew
eral times, no one in our squadron wasted
any regrets on its fate
In spite of the great responsibility rest
ing on him Commodore Dewey had keen
eye for even the minor incidents of the
, hour On Saturday afternoon when the
, transport Zafiro bad returned from over
!; hauling a small schooner she was Or
dered TO come within hail. Her captain,
&c
close to the bows of the Olympia that it
seemed as though the latters stem must
carry away the Laflro = stern. The commo-
dore was way aft on the quarter deck, but
2 he watched the unexpected and dangerous
2 maneuver OF the transport with lively in
terest. until il was seen that the collision
E had been avoided by the GOODNESS and skill
4 of the officer of the watch on board the
e | Olympia.
g Who has the deck. Captain Gridley?''
A ne asked.
Lieutenant Strife. was Gridley's re-
4 ply.
4 Give him my compliments" said the
: commodore. and tell him that ! wish him
/ to know that ! noticed and appreciated the
Z clever manner in which he handled the
/, ship Just now"
Not the least interesting OF the incidents
e | of the day was the manner in which the
$ commanding officers reported the lack OF
> serious casualties when they came aboard
e the flagship after the first battle. Having
I passed through such hail Of proiectiles
e made escape from long list of killed
@ and wounded appear almost miraculous
J. and believing 1t TO be impossible that all
> the other vessels had been similarly for
e tunate every captain seemed to feel that
d the failure Of his ship to catch any of the
e enemy's shells in a way to harm his crew
e might lead the commodore to think that
y his command had not been the target foi
the Spaniards' fire to the same extent as
: the vessels which had suffered loss of life
e Consequently, as each captain came over
e the Olympia's side, he replied to the eager
II query, How many killed. in a manner
d that indicated n very much mixed state OF
l. mind. Mingled with satisfaction at having
n lost no man was an evident desire to hay,
= It understood that the lack Of less was nj
is proof of an absence OF danger.
1t only eight wounded. replied Captain
e. Dyer of the Baltimore-"ncne seriously
& But six shells struck us and two hurs
I. aboard without hurting anyone"
y Not dashed one the rollickini
l. way the next captain reported.
S None killed and none wounded" wa
lie the apologize reply of the next one; but
lie don't yet know how it happened. suppos
= you fellows We're all cut up?'
/ My ship wasn't hit at all" was tn
)f next report male with sort Of dafant air
is as If the speaker would like to hear /
in insinuated that he had had any part 1,
* keeping his men in 4 safe place.
When the Boston's captain came along
lie side II was feared that he for certain woul
v have serious list OF casualties, for
70 was known that his ship had been on fire