The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-24
THE TAKING OF MANILA.
DIARY OF a NATAL APPRENTICE BoY
ON THE RALEIGH.

"
Story Of Dswey's Victory Over the Spanish
Fleet and of the Capture OF the city
Related in Log Form by n wideawake
Young Notwithstanding Incidents.
April IS. 1s98-About 10 A. NJ the Olympia.
Raleigh. and Baltimore steamed out OF the
harbor OF Hong Kong. when one OF the
Raleigh's circulating pumps blew up. and we
had to put back in the harbor. stop aud send 1t
ashore. The crew on the Raleigh are wild
with rage.
APRIL 2e-At II A. NJ. a signal came from
the flagship to get under way at once. and not
70 wait for the pump. All this was done with
great gse. The flagship got under way. the
baltimore after her and the Raleigh last. We
made nne picture going out with war paint
on all the ships. And all the Engllshmen gave
rs o cheer. At 2 p. N. the flagship. Raleigh
and Baltimore arrived in Mrs Bay, and
anchored In line with the rest OF the feet. the
flagship taking the lead. The fleet now COM
prises the flagship. Olympia. Baltimore. Raj
eigh. Boston. Concord. Petrol and McCuoch
and two steamers loaded with COAL tug was
seen coming In the harbor at about IL P. NJ. We
atonce put our search lights on her. and all our
rapid fire guns were trained on the poor little
thing. Everything was done as quick as a
hash. She then came on our port side. and
asked us for the flagship. We told her to have
light shown coming in at night, and away she
Sped saying she had a telegram for the flag
ship. We waited to catch signal that war was
declared. but none came. The boys were on
deck oil night talking over the matter.
April 27-Early In the morning targets were
put out, and we have had target practice all
day. telegram was received on board the
nagship saying that several OF the gunboats at
homo had captured a good many prizes
About 9 p. NJ. q signal came to the feet from
the flagship and every body was trying to read
II. We made out that we were not to have any
anchor lights or any lights after P. NJ. In the
middle OF the night who should come but our
friend the tug. with our pump and telegram.
We put our pump in place and we're ready to do
most anything.
April 29-We all know that war Is declared.
A signal has told us 1t was declared April 81
A signal to the fleet ordered us to up anchor
and get underway at once. We are all ready
to move. This looks nice. In half an hour the
feet steamed out OF the harbor. and We all
started to clear ship for action and soon every
thing was az clear as glass. Last night at
about II P. NJ. general quarters were sounded
all over the ship with drums. bells and bugle
and great noise. hallooinR "All ready" such
gun Everybody at their station" DC. When q
man shouted two points on the port bow. all
our gums were put there. though We could not
see any one or anything
April 29-Welll Everybody seems to think
that tho hot time will begin on Saturday or
Gunday. The Baltimore has been giving US all
The news. for she had the newspaper reporters
IN board. also tho American Consul. The Cap
lain gave an order that every body who belongs
to the first and fourth divisions. with guns on
poop or forecastle. must paint his suit with war
paint so as not to be seen.
April 30-Land was sighted at 1925 A. NJ
and We put in for IT, At 4:30 A. N. the flag
ship signalled to the Boston and Concord to go
ahead with full speed and try to find out IL the
Spanish feet was in Subig Bay: then fire a
shot to let Us know what you have met" We
all felt very bad to the Boston 60 in our
place. for We were to 20 and do that sort OF
work. being next to the fastest ship there. and.
besides. the Raleigh would fight u ship twice
her size. But Dewey said we would burn too
much coal running at a fast speed. We ex-
pected to meet tho Spanish fleet along the
coast and to 60 into action good and early. but
We did not The boys were singing and dane
ing all night Steaming along Subg Bay we
saw a little boat flying Spanish flag. We low
cred our boat and sang out to her. You are
prisoner OF war" but they did not know that
war was declared; so We hau led down her flag
and let her 60.
April 31-About $50 n. m. signal went up
on the flagship for Captains to call on the flag
ship so all the Captains went on board. When
our Captain returned he called all hands to
muster. pulled out roll Of paper from his
pocket and said. This is what the Governor
General and the people OF Manila think Of you
and OF US ALL" Then he read to us what the
Governor General thought OF us. We'll. all
can say 10. that it will be lucky for the
Governor General II the Raleighs crew do not
catch him." When the Captain got through
talking to us the cheers that went up were
tremendous and everybody in their fighting
clothes started to sing Ready for the Ball"
The last thing to be done was to throw over
board all the ward room and cabin woodwork
May I've ran by the forts Mt 1910 A. NJ.
The Olympia. Raleigh and Baltimore were
about to pass the island Ell Fraile on the star
board side. whom flash went up from the left.
signaling to a fort on the right to fire on our
dset. They must have seen us when the moon
came out for a little while. Well they fred the
nrst shot OF war. and the Raleigh was the
first ship to FIRE back: then the Concord and
then the Boston. The first shot was fired by
the Spaniards at 1911 A. H.. the second at
1915 M. They didn't hit and no harm was
done. 30 we passed by all as safe as II We were
in q house hundred miles away. After half
hour tho firing ceased and We all turned In
with the exception OF the quarter deck
on the soft side OF the deck. for We
knew the hot time" was coming early in the
morning. At daylight the flagship made close
orders to stand by and engage. AS we moved
toward the forts and ships their battery opened
on us. Dut the range was 100 snort. Inc Cdb-
tilla, o cruiser. moved ahead. She had line
Of floats around TO protect her water line.
Thon came the Reina Crlstina. the Don Anto-
mia de Ulloa and nine other cruissrs-twelve in
all. big aud small. Four OF the biggest cruis-
ers formed tho left OF the line. and all the 9TH
ers on the right They also had modern fort
running around in = circle on a point Of land
near Cavlt6. We did not fire a shot until they
got within range. for we had no shells to throw
away like them. About 4:30 A. NJ. We were
getting very close to them, when a 10-inch
shell fell on our port bow 1t was so very close
to US that 1t made everything very nice. SO
we opened in on them with broad
aide, which mad them shake when they
received it. For the Spaniards are very good
oatchers but very poor pitchers. Well. one fol-
lowed the other in the same old hole that takes
them all. fine graveyard. shell struck the
AnI.