The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-28
AN AWFUL DAY FOR SPAIN
Battle of Manila Bay Told by an
Eye Witness.
HE WAS ON THE OLYMPIA
A Butte Man Who Participated in the
Great Naval Battle-How the
Entire Spanish Fleet
Was Sunk.

While New York is doing honor to
Dewey and to the officers and crew of
the Olympia, Butte is honored by hav-
ing as resident one of the Olympia's
men also-one who shared equally
with the rest in the hardships, the per-
lis and the glories of the famous bat
tie of Manila. 1t is ?. j. Healy, who
was resident of Butte prior to his
service in the navy, and since his hon
orable discharge at the expiration of
his term of enlistment has again be-
come a resident of this city.
Mr.. Healy first came TO Butte In the
year 1888 and was employed in his
trade as a steam gasfitter, serving for
several years with the firm of Van
Buskirk G. Eschle. He went to New
York in 1894 and enlisted as a marine
on the Machias. He joined the Pacific
squadron on that ship, and was trans
ferred to the Olympia on Sept. %, 1897,
at Che Foo, in China. He was ma
rine on the Olympia all through the
Manila campaign, receiving a discharge
on March "a last, his term of enlistment
having expired. He came back to New
York by way of the Suez canal on
board the Buffalo, formerly the Bra
lillian dynamite cruiser Nichtleroy.
cord between Manila and New York,
covering the distance in 4SiA days. Mr..
Healey returned to Butte last July,
and naturally received a very hearty
welcome at the hands of his old friends
and his new admireres. He is a young
man of about 80 years of age, unas-
Stunning and quiet in his ways, of fine
physique and manly appearance. He
is at present stopping at the Southern
hotel.
At the time when Deweys arrival in
New York revives interest in the Ma
Mia campaign, an account of this great
est of all naval battles by one who
was in the thick of the fight cannot
fail to be read with interest. Mr..
Healey has written for the Standard
the following plain, straightforward
and exceedingly interesting account of
the great naval battle, the narrative
continuing from the leaving of Mrs
bay, China, as related by Mr.. Healy
in last Sundays Standard:
1.-THE fleet got under way at p. m.
on Wednesday, April 81 and stood out
from Mrs Bay. The squadron forma-
tion was: The Olympia, guide ship;
the Baltimore, dressing a little astern
on the port beam, the Raleigh, Petrol,
Boston, Concord following in double
column astern, the reserve squadron
in single column off the starboard
beam. the distance being 1900 yards.
The fleet presented a splendid and very
formidable appearance. AS soon as
it grew dark all the lights that could
be seen were eXtinguished. The Olym-
pia then looked like black cloud, NOV
ing along at about six knots speed.
Lookouts were stationed all over the
ship to keep watch for lights or any
thing that might indicate the presence
of a boat. Every few minutes the
Olympia would turn on her powerful
searchlight, swinging it in all direc-
tons over the water. Nothing could
be seen. Our approach was apparently
unsupported and all was going lovely.
The boys played cards, chatted, told
yarns and enjoyed themselves in a
quiet way. 1t was as happy a crew
as ever sailed on old ocean. The nearer
the approach to the danger the more
happy and eager became all those on
board. At o'clock in the evening the
boatswain's mate piped all the watch,
so the boys that did not have watch
had to turn in. The night passed with
out incident and everything was sat
isfactory. The next morning, April %,
all were up bright and early to see if
there was anything that looked like an
enemy in sight, but nothing could be
seen except our own ships moving
along in regular order as if they were
on dress parade. All hands were busiy
engaged all day slowing everything
away that might be in any way dan
gerous to us or impede us in time of
battle. Canvas was wrapped about
the boats and around all the woodwork
that could not be moved: splinter nets
were put up upon the gun deck and
also on the superstructure deck.
"On the next day. April 90, we moved
all the clothes bags and hung them
close to the outward side of the ship