The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-18

L ME L 4 t. SLN
most Immediately, l rushed across the
street and up the tower of a large fac
tory, from whence | could, with
glasses, see the whole bay and Cayite
in the distance. Later in the day L
learned that Deweys fleet had slipped
in during the night and anchored Oft
Manila with only the exchange of u
few shots at Corregidor.
On reaching the tower I saw the
American fleet. with the Olympia in
the lead moving towards Cavite,
where the SpaniardS We're at anchor. In
a few minutes the heavy guns COM
menced to speak. the United States
ships closing in on the doomed Span
iards, who were replying to their fire.
Soon they We're near enough to put
their secondary batteries into action,
then the engagement became general.
and at times il was hard to tell one
ship from another, although l could
see the American ships describing a
figure in front of the Spanish line of
battle. This continued until about
$50 a. m, when the American fleet
drew off for the purpose, as l after
wards learned, of allowing the men
time to get up a further supply of am
munition, also something to eat, they
having been without food since the
night before.
About II O'Clock the American fleet
commenced moving on Cavite again,
and when within four or five thousand
yards opened fire, the Spaniards
answering, but with fewer guns than
before.
Dewey's fleet continued advancing
and firing until every Spanish ship was
sunk and shore batteries were silenced.
| They then drew off to position oppo-
site and quite close in to the City of
| Manila.
The same evening l visited the Lu-
meta from where | could see the burn
| ing Spanish ships. They presented a
grand spectacular effect, lighting up
the sky, and sending great columns of
smoke and fire into the heavens when
their magazines exploded one after the
lother.
| Crowds of Spaniards lined the beach
watching the burning of their much
vaunted navy, with which they had ex-
pected SO easily TO destroy the fleet of
| the Yankee Pigs.
Saturday evening before the naval
| battle at Cavite, the managers of the
circus in Manila had pig wrapped
around with the Stars and Stripes, and
placed in the ring during intermiosion.
| The audience was vastly. amused and
greeted the pig with roars of laughter
and showers of stones. This made the
poor animal run about the ring, which
was an illustration of what the Span
iards intended for the Americans. But
within twelve hours of that time the
Yankee Pig was chasing them, and
judging by the looks of Cavite and
vicinity he caught them too.
tJy a<yi, tI,
May 1st Manila was not the most COM
| Portable place in the world for an Am
| erican. Our house was constantly
watched but We were not openly mo-
| Tested.
May goth, the English Consul Mr..
Ransom Walker, arranged to take us
on board of the Immortalite We
packed few things in hand bag and
taking a closed carriage were soon
safely on board the English launch. A
half hours run brought us TO the I'm
mortalite, and we were kindly received
by Capt Chicester, who offered his
launch 10 take us to the Baltimore.
where the United States Consul, Will
Jams, received us. and then passed us
on to the transport Zafiro. We were
there made comfortable in her fine sa-
loon. A little later Admiral Dewey sent
a launch with message that he would
be pleased to see me on board the flag
ship Olympia. / Immediately complied
with his request. He rendered me a
very cordial reception and wished tD
know the state of affairs in Manila. L
gave him all the information / could,
for which he thanked me, and also Of
fered me quarters on the Zafiro or a
passage by her to Hongkong, if I
wished to go.
Next morning / called on Gen. Agui-
naldo and rendered my services. He
accepted and offered me the position of
chief of ordnance, with rank of Col
onel ] then sailed for HongkOng. On
arrival | put Mrs. Johnson and baby
on board of the English mail for
Shanghai. where they now are. [ left
the same evening for Cavite by the
Zafro.
Immediately after arriving at Cavite
| reported to Gen. Aguinaldo, and was
ordered to take command of San Roche
Battery. with instructions to she'll the
church and convent at CaVite Viejo, a
small town three miles across Bakoi
Bay, and which is the birth place of
Gen. AguinaIdo, where 253 Spaniards
were making a stand.
Gen. Aguinaldo was 10th TO destroy
the church as it was the place of his
baptism, but as the walls were six feet
thick and had been loopholed for
rifles, it was impossible to dislodge the
Spaniards with small arms, SO he gave
the order to use the big guns.
Continued on Third Page)