Elsie's Young Folks in Peace and War
Page 8
CHAPTER VIII.
Max had done bravely and well, and no one rejoiced more keenly in thevictory than he, though his heart bled for the wounded and slain. Heas well as others listened eagerly for the accounts of the captains ofthe other vessels of the fleet as they came on board to report to thecommodore.
"How many killed?" was demanded of each one, as he stepped on the deck,and great was the surprise and satisfaction on learning that none hadbeen killed.
"Only eight wounded, none seriously," was the reply of Captain Dyerof the _Baltimore_. "But six shells struck us, and two burst inboardwithout hurting any one."
"Not a dashed one," was the next captain's answer. "None killed andnone wounded," said the third, "but I don't yet know how it happened.I suppose you fellows were all cut up."
"My ship wasn't hit at all," was the next report.
It was known that the _Boston_ had been on fire, therefore it wasexpected that her captain would have to report a serious list ofcasualties, and when he announced that no one had been killed orwounded on his vessel the news spread quickly through the flagship,and the men cheered vociferously. The _Baltimore_ had been struck by asixty-pound projectile, fired from a land battery. It struck the shipabout two feet above the upper deck, between two guns which were beingserved; pierced two plates of steel each one-quarter of an inch thick;then ploughed through the wooden deck, striking and breaking a heavybeam, by which it was turned upward; then it passed through a steelhatch-combing; disabled a six-inch gun; hurtled around the semicircularshield which surrounded the gun, missing the men at it; reversed itscourse and travelled back to a point almost opposite that at which ithad entered the ship, and thus passed out. It had passed between mencrowded at their quarters and had touched none, but it exploded someloose ammunition, by which eight were wounded.
Max listened to the accounts of the almost bloodless victory witha heart swelling with gratitude to God, and full of hope for thesuccess of America's effort to free the victims of Spanish cruelty andoppression. What glad tidings his next letter would carry to the dearones at home. They would rejoice over the victory, and his safety too,though that might be again imperilled at any time.
This naval battle had been fought on Sunday. On Monday morning CaptainLamberton went on shore to receive the formal surrender of the fort atCavite. They had hauled down their flag the day before, but now triedto prove that they had never done so. Perceiving that, the captain drewout his watch. Before leaving his ship he had directed that unless hereturned in an hour those works should be bombarded. Forty-five minutesof that hour were now gone, and he said to the Spaniards: "Unless yousurrender unconditionally so soon that I can get back to my ship infifteen minutes, the _Petrel_ will open fire on your works."
That had the desired effect; they surrendered at once, and priests andnuns came humbly to beg him to restrain his men from murdering allthe wounded in the hospitals. They had been told that that was theinvariable practice of the barbarous "Yanquis."
The next day the _Raleigh_ and _Baltimore_ went down to the mouth ofthe bay and, after a brief attack, captured the forts on Corregidorand Sangley Point. The guns in these works were destroyed by wrappingthem with gun cotton and exploding it with electricity. The officer incommand at Corregidor went aboard the _Raleigh_ to surrender himself,and while there seemed greatly alarmed to find the ship drifting inthe main channel, or Boca Grand, and demanded that he be at once putashore. Asked the reason of his alarm and haste to get away, he saidthe channel was full of contact mines, and though the Americans mightbe satisfied to brave death by them he was not, and it was not fairto expose a prisoner to almost certain destruction. And that was thechannel through which the American fleet had entered the harbor.
Four days after his victory Dewey, having all the harbor defences athis command, sent off the _McCulloch_ to Hong-Kong with his firstdespatches to Washington. So a week had passed after the rumors fromMadrid before the American people received definite informationin regard to Dewey's successes in the Philippines. These are thedespatches:
MANILA, May 1.--Squadron arrived at Manila at daybreak this morning. Immediately engaged the enemy and destroyed following Spanish vessels: _Reina Cristina_, _Castilla_, _Don Antonio de Ulloa_, _Isla de Luzon_, _Isla de Cuba_, _General Lezo_, _Marques del Duoro_, _El Correo_, _Velasco_, _Isla de Mindanao_, a transport, and water battery at Cavite. The squadron is uninjured, and only a few men are slightly wounded. Only means of telegraphing is to American consul at Hong-Kong. I shall communicate with him.
DEWEY.
MANILA, May 4.--I have taken possession of the naval station at Cavite, Philippine Islands, and destroyed the fortifications. Have destroyed fortifications at bay entrance, Corregidor Island, parolling the garrison. I control the bay completely, and can take the city at any time. The squadron is in excellent health and spirits. The Spanish loss not fully known, but is very heavy. One hundred and fifty killed, including captain, on _Reina Cristina_ alone. I am assisting in protecting Spanish sick and wounded. Two hundred and fifty sick and wounded in hospital within our lines. Much excitement in Manila. Will protect foreign residents.
DEWEY.
A message of congratulation from the President and people of the UnitedStates was the immediate response to Dewey's despatches, and withit the information that the President had appointed the victoriouscommander a rear-admiral. Doubtless a rumor concerning the nature ofthat despatch quickly reached all the vessels of the fleet, for thenext morning watchful eyes on many of them turned to the flagship tosee what flag would be run up to the mainmast, and when they saw thatit was a blue flag as of yore, but had two stars instead of one, theguns of the squadron roared out a salute to the new admiral. No onethere was more rejoiced than Max, who both respected and loved hisgallant commander; and no one in America felt happier over the goodnews in Dewey's despatches than those to whom Max was so dear. It wasa blessed relief to their anxiety to learn that no one in the squadronhad been killed, and none more than slightly wounded.