The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-08-03
HOW DEWEY
I,E|rL'q MANILA.
THE STIRRING SCENES OF De
PARTuRE,
A Tar Heel Boy Got Homesick.

- 800 ssSs ~ WV sAS.AAsS"SsA'
Correspondence to The Commonwealth.
MANILA. q. S. S. Ben, May IS, 1899
Dear Commonwealth
Everything is quiet around Manila
The Americans and IFlliplnos have a
little skirmishing every day around
the small towns near Manila, but It
does not amount to much. Trade is III
creasiag rapidly.
The Olympia (Davey's Flagship left
this afternoon and Admiral Dewey
sails for home. The man who lutrc-
dueed the Philippines to America,
amid the booming OF guns and widest
cheers, bound for New York, VIA Suez.
All cay the Olympia was surrounded
by fleet of launches and cutters
bearing Officers and friends who hal
come to bid bon voyoge to the gallant
Admiral. In the afternoon the com
manders OF the various vessels OF til -
fleet made their final reports and re-
turned to their ships to fire a parting
salute.
Calls were exchanged between Gener-
al Otis and the Admiral and later the
missioners visited TIE Olympia
About ten minutes to four the Chief
Enquirer gave the order to turn over
the engines and couple Of minutes
later the anchor chain was slowly TAX
en- in, until exactly as eight bell was
striking the anchor itself came into
view, and the Olympia was under way ;
while the band struck up lively
march. The big ensign slowly rose
and took its place On the gaffs, while
the red white and blue and then solid
blue signal flags were holsted sending
the message "Good-hye-" This was
answered by every vessel in the feet
and by The Powerful and Peacock, two
English men-of-war, the only forel gn-
ers in the bay.
The Olympia passed slowly through
the feet, passing between the battle
ship Oregon with ali her deck manned
on the left and the Concord on the
right. The Oregon began the salut-
ing, quickly followed by the Concord
and Baltimore. The Olympia taTs
were perched on every possible point
OF the ship and though she did not
salute, the cheers that rang out made
ones blood tingle with Joy, while the
air was filled with hundreds OF white
hats which gally bobbed away In the
wake of the vessel. The Baltlmore's
band played Home, Sweet, Home D
After passing the Baltimore number
Of merchant vessels dipped their colors
and gave three cheers for the Olympia
and her crue. Tae Powerful was lying
we'll out and as the Olympia drew near
playing "God save the Queen" the
English cruisers men lined the entire
ship in a double row, and the air was
rent with hearty British cheers, the
volume OF which has not been ap-
preached since May /, 1898.
The haiiing OF the tars must have
baen heard in Cav.te (Cayite is tie
Navy yard seven miles from Manlla).
The Powerful band played The Star
Spanglea Banner but tina music was
drowned by the cheers from both saiI S.
That was the first time I have been
real home-sick since I lett Scotland
Neck seven years ago.
Last OF all as the Olympia was halt
way to Corrigldor, that is an Island
five miles from Manila, white puffs OF
smoke broke out from the walled city
indicating the farewell Of the land bat
terry.
A year ago the designs Of Admin al
Dewey were a mystery to the lnhao-
itants of Manila. Little by little they
recovered from the stupor which the
naval disaster of the 1st Of May had
thrown them into but the continued
presence of the American squadron
around Cavite preoccupled their mind
IN no small degree. They scarcely
thought OF the bombardment Of the
town. The probable destruction OF Ma
Mia by Dewey's fleet, which had ex-
ercised them during the first week Of
the month, no longer had any terrors
for them. But if the American fleet
neitehr proposed to destroy or occupy
Manila, why did they remain anchored
at Cavite as if they were jealeusly
watching the City, the seat Of the
Spanish Government in the Philip
pines? The American feet was a
continual source OF preoccupation TO
the inhabitants. They woke up ask
Ing themselves what Dewey would do,
what Dewey would think and they
went to sleep putting the same ques-
ton to themselves over again.
One year ago we we're not aware Of
Dewey's dealings with AgElnaldo, OF
the conferences that TOOK place be-