immense assistance of protecting forts manned with strong garrisons and mounting an unknown number of guns, of whose caliber and force we had been told most terrifying things.

5 As we passed on the eastward curve before actually beginning the engagement, our lookouts reported that Admiral Montojo's flag was flying on the cruiser "Reina Cristina." They reported also that the Spaniards appeared to be protected by a sort of roughly con10 structed boom of logs.

As we steamed slowly along then, after dropping the supply ships, there came a flash of flame and a boom from the bastions of Cavité, followed immediately by another flame and a sharper report from one of the 15 Spanish flagship's modern guns. Both shots dropped somewhere in the bay, and our only answer was in sending up a string of flags bearing the code watchword, "Remember the Maine'!"

On steamed the fleet, with every gun loaded and 20 every man at his post; but not a lanyard was pulled. Even the Spaniards at Cavité ceased firing as we moved down toward Manila. As we rounded past the city's water-front, with about four miles of blue water between us and it, we could with our glasses 25 make out the city walls, church towers, and other high places, crowded with sight-seers. As we turned from Manila, the Commodore said something about the picturesqueness of the city, adding that the blue hills. at the back of the town reminded him of those of Ver

mont. It was most unaffectedly said, and was no more tinged with bravado than was Captain Wildes's use of a palm-leaf fan during the engagement.

As we headed toward the Spanish fleet, their gunners and those of the forts began a right merry fusillade. 5 With all this thundering and snapping of the Spaniards, however, there was no answer from us. Up went the signal, "Hold your fire until close in," and on went the squadron. Suddenly something happened. Close off the bow of the "Baltimore" there came a 10 shaking of the bay and a geyser of mud and water. Then right ahead of the "Raleigh" came another ugly fountain of harbor soil and water.

We were among the mines at last.

But we did not strike any. These two upheavals 15 marked the extent of our experience with the "terrible mines" of Manila Bay. The Commodore, his chief of staff, Commander Lamberton, the executive officer, Lieutenant Reese, and the navigator were on the forward bridge. Captain Gridley was in the conning 20 tower. With a glance at the shore the Commodore turned to the officer next to him and said: "About five thousand yards I should say; eh, Reese?"

"Between that and six thousand, I should think, sir," Reese answered.

The Commodore then leaned over the railing and called out:

"When you are ready you may fire, Gridley."

Instantly the floor of the bridge sprang up beneath

25

our feet as the port eight-inch gun of our forward turret gave its introductory roar. Our first aim was at the center of the Spanish fleet, the "Olympia's' shot being particularly directed, as a sort of interna5 tional mark of courtesy, to the "Reina Cristina."

As our turret gun rang out, the "Baltimore" and "Boston" took up the chorus, their forward guns pitching in two-hundred-and-fifty-pound shells. The reply of the Spaniards was simply terrific. Their ship and 10 shore guns seemed to unite in one unending snap and

roar, while the scream of their shot, the bursting of shells, made up a din that was as savage as it was unceasing. It was, however, but as the scraping of fiddle strings to the blare and crash of a full orchestra 15 when compared with that which was to follow.

One wailing, shrieking shell was making straight for the "Olympia's" forward bridge when it exploded about a hundred feet in front of us, one fragment sawing the rigging just over our heads. Another fragment chis20 elled a long splinter from the deck just under where

the Commodore stood; a third smashed the bridge gratings, and all around and about and above us there was the sputter and shriek and roar of projectiles.

But the miracle was that none of us was hit. 25 Through this hail of miraculously impotent steel we steered until within a distance of four thousand yards of the Spanish column.

66

Open with all the guns," said the Commodore; and they were opened. That is, all on the port broadside.

By the time the last ship had passed the Spaniards, the "Olympia" had swung around on her return line of attack, and once more we were steaming past Montojo with our starboard guns flaming, roaring, spitting, and smoking as we went. As we passed, the batteries on 5 shore and the Spanish batteries afloat banged away at us, fighting gallantly and furiously. One shot went clean through the "Baltimore," but hit no one. Another cut the signal halyards from Lieutenant Brumby's hands on the after bridge. Another shell passed 10 through the "Boston's" foremast, not far from where Captain Wildes was, on the bridge.

END OF PART I.

5

BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC.

JULIA WARD HOWE.

MRS. JULIA WARD HOWE was born in New York City on the 27th of May, 1819. Her father, Mr. Samuel Ward, was a wellknown banker. Her mother was a cultured woman and was the author of several poems.

The young girl was carefully educated, and early showed a love for literature. She read a large share of the books in her father's library and wrote verses during her childhood.

She was married to Dr. Samuel Howe, who was the superintendent of the Blind Asylum, at Boston, and traveled with him 10 through Europe.

"Passion Flowers," Mrs. Howe's first volume of poems, was published in 1854, and another collection, "Words for the Hour," appeared two years later.

Her "Battle Hymn" was published with other poems in a 15 book entitled "Later Lyrics."

Mrs. Howe resides in Boston, and is actively engaged in writing and lecturing.

MINE eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword;

His truth is marching on.

I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred cir

cling camps;