Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1899-04-21
THE RALEIGH AT MAEILA
Capt Coghlan's Story OF tlfe
c uiser's Part in the Victory
Achieved by Commodore
Dewey.


began his experiences OF naval
work during the war of the re-
beliion. 1t was not until Octo-
Der, 1903. tkat he became an
Acting Ensign, and Ill 1867 he
was a Lieutenant. pushing bis
way up the line along with a
host of men who had been tried
liz the arduous service Of the
four years. war. In 1895 lie
reached the rank of Captain, and
IN the Winters Of 1878 was
with the Raleigh ON the Medl
teranean station when she was
ordered to join the Aslatlc
Squadron under Dewey. She
"ioined station" at Alden Jauu
ary IS, two days after Conmo-
dore Dewey relieved Rear Ad
miral McNair of command OF
the station.
Captain Coghlan awaited at
Hong Kong, with the other COM
mander. under Dewey, the
orders that arrived toward the
ED of April last. Preliminary
orders to be in readin ess, to be
fully provided with coal, to keep
full supplies of provisions, to let
no men get away who could be
1e enlisted, and to be ready for
action had prepared Dewey and
his officers for the dispatch that
on April 27 found the squadron
in Mrs Bay aud eager to sail at
once tor the Philippines. or
wherever the Spanish feet was
to be found. The fine ship was
stripped of all her unnecessary
furniture, which. had been lett
with The similar impediments
of the other ships, at Hong Kong
under orders from Washington
SO that operations should not be
trampled by stuff merely decor
ative. In very hot weather, over
the sea deserted by Spanish war
ships, the fleet made its way te
Subig Bay tc seek the Spanish
vessels there. That stronghold
was not occupied by the fee
that was looked for.
/ Capt. Coghlan's story of VIII 1t
followed was told nodestlv il
the report he wrote On May 4
It was ten minutes after II OF
May I that the Raleigh, third IL
the line that was moving int
Manila Bay, came abreast 0
Fraile Island, at the enteranc
to the bay. Capt Coghlan say
a flash, as of a signal, on th
island, and at about 1915 sho
, was fired from FL Fraile, passin:
as he thought, diagonally be
tween the Petrol and tn
Raleigh. A shot was fired i'll re
: turr, but without effect, by til
5 starboard 5-inch after gun OF til
: Raleigh.
: After 5 O'Clock, when tn
squadron was nearly abreast {
Manila, and the flagship VIZ
= turning to pass down towa1
2 Cavite, the Luneta Battery.
Il apparently heavy guns,
: Manila opened fire and contil
: ued to FIRE as long as the squae
ron was in action The Ralele
shifted position from starboa1
!. to port quarter of the Baltimor
y and held that position until r
h tired at 7:35 o'clock. A fe
q minutes after 5 the Raleigh,
soon as the Spanish vessels
Cavite bore Oh the port bo
opened FIRE with the 5 inch gu
and then with the 5~inch gu
- in succession, as fast as tn
~ would bear. The secondary bs
terry guns did not seem to rea
I'd the enemy, and their dre W
is soon stopped, and not again us
ie ie until the distance was consid'
n ably lessened.
ht AtII2o, after the rest ord
W ed by Dewey when signal v
made to re-engage, the Ralei
started ahead full speed (usl
/, reserve speed) to keep up W
ne ne the flagship, but it was found
he be impossible, and as she '
falling behind all the time Ca