The National tribune., 1903-06-04
THE AMERICAN.
SPANISH WAR.
Continued from first paGe.)

Continued from first paGe.)
were turned to the anchorage off the
breakwater The binoculars showed u
cluster of black hulls and lofty spars; IL
sailing ships were counted. There were
no men-of-war, no steamers of any sort,
and another scrap of misinformation was
cast away. Our transports and dispatch
boat were warned off and the battle flags
were broken at every masthead. The
Olympia S mainmast bore broad pennant
of blue with a single star of n Commo-
dore. 1t was about o'clock and the
from the forward bridge of the Olympia,
and all that is told hereafter is the report
of one pair of eyes from that post Of OBJ
servation. That it was u good lookout
station has been proven by two excellent
narratives, the official report of Admiral
Dewey and the account written by Mr.. j.
l.. Stickney for the New York Herald.
Each ship had one or two posts of equal
advantage, but there were none such out
side the six fighting cruisers. This is
proved by numerous eXtraneOus publica-
tons. American and Spanish. There was
not a single foreign vessel in port-iot
even Il German cruiser.
The Olympia carries her standard COM
pass on grating supported by brass rods
some - feet above the coming tower over
hanging the forward turret. This crows
nest seemed to the Commodore n conven-
lent station for handling his squadron in
action, and there he spent several hours
on that eventful Sunday mornings There
was barely room for the compass and the
navigator on this perch, but it escaped the
jar and the smoke which annoyed those
standing on the bridge. Capt. Gridley was
directed to stay in the conning-tower,
where he had clear outlook and a set of
voice tubes for passing orders. Ensign
Butler stood outside the tower, acting as
Aid to the Captain. The ship was steered
from wooden pilot-house, on the roof of
which Capt. Lamberton took his stand.
The Executive Officer, Lieut.. Rees, stood
on the bridge to direct the working of the
guns. There were half-a- dozen petty of
ficers and marine orderlies on the bridge,
and Quartermaster who took 12-hour' s
trick at the wheel. The signals were
worked from the after bridge by Lieut..
Brumby and Ensign Scott, of the staff.
Every officer had his "understudy" indi-
Gated by order of rank Or special detail
Ensign Kavanagh assisted the Navigator
with that change in view. The marine
guard was stationed on the upper deck to
pass orders or to use their rifles when re-
Quired.
THE sPANIARDs OPEN FIRE.
1t was after when we sighted the
enemy. Then we saw a line of gray and
white vessels stretching to the eastward
from the bay sheltered by Sangley Point.
To the right lay a sweep of green grass
and yellow sand; the white buildings Of
the Arsenal were behind. Topmasts were
housed and flame-colored flags were aiioat.
As the Olympia turned 10 face them, a
f.ln hon rf ttrn fr,
Sanglcy Point and a shell scared toward
our line. The plunge of the projectie was
by the roar of the gun. There
has been a two-gun battery on that point
since the year 1900. but this was the
crack of modern rife. One shell was
seen dropped beyond us describing fra
jectory of more than six miles. They
were ready for us, then, and meant to
fight. But moment later two harmless
fountains sprans up miles ahead of our
and it was plain that the defense
was Hurried. Another proof of wildness
came from the batteries along the water
front of Manila. The two small breech-
leaders on the south mole and the four
big ones along the promenade rashly
opened fire as cur line extended. A few
brOadsdes in return would have laid
waste the helpless mass of buildings in
the background. But the heaviest battery
was the only one noticed. The Boston
and Concord sent some warning shells
close to the guns, but their wanton fire
was kept up for many hours.
The column swept past the city sin
perfect and majestic order" wrote an un-
willing admirer in the city: '.rather con
fused" said the Spanish Admiral, who
saw the line slantwisc and made out eight
ships instead of six. We did not count
his force until later, but his flagship. the
Reina Cristina, was readily made out, as
well as the white Castillo, which was
noored and protected by lighters filled
with sand While the head of our column
was still three miles away, the two largest
ships went off like punches of fire-crac ckers
md the waters ahead of the Olympia were
troubled by plunging showers of shells.
The other cruisers joined the fray, and for
half an hour their fire was brisk though
Ineffective. We were patient for 20-Odd
but when the distance was csti-
mated at 5.4O0 yards, the historic order.
You may fire when you are ready, Grid
ey." was uttered, and the roar and jar
If an eight-inch gun pointed on the star
BOARD bow announced that We had begun
o fight. The firing was deliberate at first,
)ut when we turned to the southwest and
lad our port broadside opposed to the
enemy all the guns opened, and mighty
ii""Si VI piOJSNliSo W do pouicu upOl Tie
Spanish line.
Yet the enemy's fire was not smothered.
wen when all our line lay parallel to his
md every ship was engaged Shells
scared and whistled overhead Others fell
hort and plunged and sank, or else leapcd
wildly up to dive again. Ricochet effects
we're worthless and incalculable. Perhaps
Zach vessel could have counted hun
lred shells that struck within her own
ength, yet did no harm. When a shell
,urst at the surface, the splash and smoke
If the explosion would be followed by
piteful whistlings and sullen plunges rs
he lazy fragments made their scattering |
light. Decks were scored, wire rigging
stranded and signalhalyards cut by sharp
.dged bits of steel. But no shell burst
lmong our guns crews, or scattered splin-
ers among the firemen and others who
oiled below. The Olympia had a dozen
,oats on cradles or davits, but not one of
hem was injured by the Spanish fire.
other ships had their boats blown to
pieces by the blasts Of their guns, but none
we're touched by the enemy. The Balti- |
more was penetrated by an armor-pierc-
ng shell from Sangley Point. but the pro- |
ectile did not explode and it failed to
trike anybody i'll its wandering course. |
six-pounder shell burst in the ward room
II the Boston, doing uncOmpensated injury |
o an officers wardrobe.
The course was set to pass the Spanish |
inc at mean distance of 5000 yards. |
nd steady fire was maintained from our