Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-30

often by the bursting Of time-fuse shells,
fragments OF which would lash the water
like shrapnel or cut our hull and rigging.
One large she'll that was coming straight
at the Olympia's forward bridge fortunately
fell within less than 100 feet away. Another
struck the bridge gratings in line with it.
A third passed just under Commodore
Dewey and gouged a hole in the deck. In
cldonts like these were plentiful. san
the flagship steered for the center Of the
Spanish line, and, as our other ships were
astern, the Olympia received most OF the
Spaniards' attention.
lowing to our deep draught Commodore
Dewey felt constrained to change his course
at a distance of 1000 yards and run parallel
to the Spanish column. open with all
guns he said, and the ship brought her port
brcadside bearing. The roar of the flag
ships hve-inch rapid-frers was followed by
a deep diapason of her after turret eight
inchers. Soon our other vessels were
equally hard at work, and We could see that
our shells were making Cavite harbor hotter
for the Spaniards than they had made the
approach for us.
Protected by their shore batteries and
made safe from close attack by shallow
water, the spaniards we're in a strong po-
sition. They put up a gallant fight. The
Spanish ships were sailing back and forth
behind the Castillo, and their fire, too, was
hot.
Explosion on the Baltimore.
zone shot struck the Baltimore and passed
clear through her, fortunately hitting no
one. Another ripped up her main deck,
disabled a six-inch gun and exploded a
box Of three-pounder ammunition, wound
ing eight men.
The Olympia was struck abreast the gun
in the ward room by a shell which burst
outside, doing little damage. The signal
| halyards were cut from Lieutenant Brumby's
hand on the after bridge. A shell entered
the Boston's port quarter and burst in
Ensign Dodridge's state room, starting a
hot fire, and fire was also caused by a shell
which burst in the port hammock netting.
Both these fires were quickly put out. An
other shell passed through the Boston's
foremast just in front of Captain Wildes, on
the bridge. After having made four runs
along the Spanish line, finding the chart in
correct, Lieutenant Calkins, the olympia's
navigator, told the commodore he believed
he could take the ship nearer the enemy,
with a lead going to watch the depth OF
water. The flagship started over the course
for the fifth time, running within 1000 yards
of the Spanish vessels. At this range even
six-pounders were effective and the storm
of shells poured upon the unfortunate Span
ish began to show marked results. Three
of the enemy's vessels were seen burning
and their fire slackened."
Taking n Rest.
Then came the famous stop for break
fast" as it was called in the dispatches.
The fact was that Commodore Dewey was
misinformed as to the quantity of ammuni-
ton in the magazines and hauled OFF to in
vestigate. There was an abundance OF am
munition left and Notwithstanding the
eagerness of the men to continue the fight
a rest was taken and breakfast served. At
11:16 the battle was renewed, with the
| Baltimore in the lead. The Spaniards re-
piled slowly and the commodore signaled
the Raleigh, the Boston, the Concord and
the Petrol to go into the inner harbor and
destroy all the enemy's ships. By its light
draught the little Petrol was enabled to
move within 1000 yards. Here, firing
swiftly, but accurately, 1t commanded every
thing still flying the Spanish flag,
Other ships were also doing their whole
duty and soon not one red and yellow en-
sign remained aloft, except on a battery up
the coast. The Spanish flagship and the
Castillo had long been burning fercely and
the last vessel to be abandoned was the
Don Antonio de Ulloa, which lurched over
and sank.
Then the Spanish flag on the arsenal staff
was hauled down and at 1890 o'clock a white
flag was hoisted there. Signal was made
I, the Petrol to destroy all the vessels in
the inner harbor and Lieutenant Hughes,
with an armed boats crew, set fire to the
Don Juan de Austria, Marquis Duero, the
Isla de Cuba and the Correo. The large
transport Manila and many t%ugboats and
small craft fell into our hands.
Orders Executed.
Capture or destroy Spanish squadron"
were Dewey's orders. Never were instruc-
lions more effectually carried out. Within
seven hours after arriving on the scene Of
action nothing remained to be done.
The picture of the burning Spanish ships
in Manila bay, the story of the wonderful
bravery and GOODNESS OF the American naval
heroes who fought and then ate breakfast
and fought again, the glorious rising Of the
Stars and Stripes at Cavite, and the marvel
Gus exemption from loss of life experienced
on the American ships, marked an era in
sea triumphs rivaling in its glory and COM
pleteness the brightest chapters of American
naval history.
Compare the trivial damage to the Ameri-
4 can fleet with the fearful damage done to the
Spanish. AS nearly as McCutcheon could
estimate after canvassing the opinions OF
naval officers, about 400 Spanish were killed
or went down in the ships, and perhaps 600
or more were wounded. Eleven of their
ships were totally demolished, and the Amer
leans captured one transport and several
smaller vessels. Their money loss by rea-
son of the battle YVES placed at 5 5000 900.
A Spanish Account.
A dispatch from Madrid, dated May l, s
p. M, gave this characteristic report of
the battle: Following is the text Of the
official dispatch from the captain general
Of the Philippines to the minister of war,
Lieutenant General Corea, as to the en-
gagement off Manila:
Last night, April 80, the batteries at
the entrance to the port announced the ar
rival of the enemy's squadron, forcing a
passage under the obscurity of the night. At
daybreak the enemy took up positions, open
ing with a strong fire against Fort Cavite
and the arsenal.
"Our fleet engaged the enemy in a brill
liant combat, protected by the Cavite and
Manila forts. They obliged the enemy, with
heavy loss, to maneuver repeatedly. At 0
o'clock the American squadron took refuge
behind the foreign merchant shipping, on
the east side of the bay.
lou fleet, considering the enemy's SUI
periority, naturally suffered a severe loss,
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