ment would change the range at which the Spaniards must aim. Having no steering-gear to control her the Winslow gradually turned to one side, seeing which Bernadou stationed his assistant, Ensign Worth Bagley, at the hatch above the engines and began working the vessel forward and back. While Bagley stood there passing orders some of the coal-passers from the disabled boiler and other noncombatants gathered about him to gaze in idle curiosity at the Spanish batteries on shore-batteries that were by this time catching steel hail from the four-inch rifles of the Wilmington, not to mention smaller projectiles. The thought that they were in serious danger never entered the head of one of that group.

But though the Spaniards were at last under a deadly fire they were still working their guns, and the Winslow had not yet run clear of the red buoys. A Spanish shell came on board the Winslow right in the midst of the idle group, and striking a hose-reel, exploded. Bagley staggered forward to the signal mast, clutched at it vainly and sank down, dead,

with his arms around it. Another man, crying, "Save me! Save me!" tumbled overboard, but was caught and hauled back. A half-dozen more were knocked about the narrow deck.

And then came the Hudson to the rescue. She was a mere tug in size and model, and the fire of the Spaniards became, for the moment, more furious as they saw that they had made another accurate shot, but Captain Newcomb brought his vessel within reach, and Lieutenant H. Scott threw a tow-line to the Winslow. When it was fast the Hudson started away as deliberately as if she had hold of a lighter in New York Bay. The line parted, cut by a shot, it is supposed, but Newcomb made fast again, this time alongside the disabled craft, and towed her clear, while the Wilmington shot the Spanish gun-boats and battery to pieces, and fired the town with her shells.

What losses were sustained ashore have never been definitely reported. Our own included Ensign Worth Bagley, John Barberes, oiler, G. Deneefe and George B. Meek, firemen, and E. B. Tunnell, cook, killed. The wounded were Lieutenant J. B. Bernadou, and William Patterson and Daniel McKeoun, seamen. The Winslow went to Key West under her own steam, and was repaired in a few weeks.

Bernadou was back in command after a brief sojourn in the hospital. It is a remarkable fact that nearly one-third the lives lost afloat in the war with Spain were destroyed by that one shell at Cardenas, while the lives lost in the two fights on that "bloody 11th"-six-exceeded all other naval losses afloat or ashore throughout the war, excepting those of the marines at Guantanamo, who also lost six.

Stirring as were the incidents of that fight at Cardenas one very significant fact-perhaps the most significant of the story-remains to be told. Bernadou, who was so cool and resourceful, has been conspicuous in the service as a student. As a linguist, he has translated a number of foreign naval papers for the use of our service. He has been an original contributor also to our naval literature, and at the same time has held a leading place as an expert in the manufacture of smokeless powder. It may surprise some to find what rule-o'-thumb sailors call "scientists" making such a record in battle, but the whole story of this war is full of such records. In fact, culture has made our officers at once physically braver and mentally more resourceful instead of enervating them.

CHAPTER X

DEWEY AT MANILA

GOOD WORK OF THE BALTIMORE'S MEN AIDED BY THE BRITISH IN HONG KONG PRECAUTIONS ON THE WAY TO MANILA-A NIGHT ATTACK ON OUR SQUADRON-THE SCENE AT DAWN-WHEN MONTOJO BECAME DESPERATE-WRETCHED USE OF MINES AND TORPEDO-BOATS-A STRIKING EXHIBIT OF THE REPOSE OF CONSCIOUS POWER-CHRISTENING OF THE BABY BATTLE-SHIP -SPANISH VIEWS OF THE CONFLICT.

WE began our preparations for war in the hope that no more than a demonstration on the coast of Cuba would be needed to secure peace for that unfortunate island, but we were quickly driven by Spanish resistance into a conflict that flamed on opposite sides of the earth. Looking ahead to the growing warcloud, the Navy Department had ordered the Baltimore, near the middle of April, to leave Yokohama and join Commodore George Dewey at Hong Kong, with a view of sending the entire Asiatic squadron (except the antiquated Monocacy) thence to Manila. The Baltimore was commanded by Captain Nehemiah M. Dyer and Lieutenant-Commander

Gottfried Blocklinger was his executive officer. The ship reached Hong Kong on that Friday morning (April 22d) when Sampson led his squadron from Key West, and the echo of the Nashville's gun in capturing the Buenaventura was heard in Commodore Dewey's cabin on the Olympia in Hong Kong harbor. The capture of the merchant ship was an act of war that would travel like a tidal wave to break in blood on the beach at far Manila. There was need of the Baltimore for instant. service, and here she was in Hong Kong, but unfortunately foul-bottomed and short of coal and other supplies.

To the dry-dock, therefore, Dewey sent her, and her captain and executive officer were the men for the hour; moreover, she was in a British port. Rarely in the history of navies has such swift work been done. At the end of forty-eight hours she had been docked, cleaned, painted, and floated again, and every needed article taken on board. That was accomplished by Sunday, April 24th, and it was remarkably lucky so, for on that day the Spanish Government issued its formal decree, declaring that war existed with the United States, and in consequence of the notice thereof which was telegraphed to neutral governments, the Governor of Hong Kong, as the representative of Her Majesty's Government, was obliged