McCulloch's take on the Battle of Manilla Bay. 1St May 1898
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Midnight - 4am
At 1215 having passed El Fraile, a battery on the Southern shore at this time in range with the rock, fired 3 shots which were answered by the Boston with two shots and by this vessel with 3 rounds from stbd after 6pdr RF gun.
No further shots were exchanged, steaming up the bay abreast the flagship.
0100 recd signal Steam 4 knots". Chief Eng'r F.B. Randall, while on duty in engine room, was stricken with an attack of heat apoplexy brought on by high temperature of the place and became prostrated and unconscious.
0152 Surgeon Gum reported him to be very low and at latter’s request signaled flagship "Chief Eng'r dangerously low, doctor requests consultation", but received only "Impossible".
At 0208, the surgeon reported Chief Engineer Randell dead from an attack of Heat apoplexy.
Officers and crew slept at quarters, battery cast loose and loaded.
4-8am
At daylight squadron approached Kavito, flagship signaled "prepare for guns at action"
0515 shore battery at Kavito and Spanish war vessels at entrance to that bay opened fire which was returned by our squadron steaming at slow speed under port helm thus rounding about and returning fire from Stbd battery, afterwards performing same evolution a second time, a brisk and spirited action ensuing.
At 7:30 flagship signaled "Withdraw from action" followed by "let the men go for breakfast."
Hauled off into Bay out of range and stopped in response to signal at 0830am.
At 9:00 signal "Comd'g Officer repair on board".
8AM to Mer.
Vessel stopped until 10:00 awaiting return of Comd'g Officer from flagship. Muster omitted owing to existing circumstances.
10:30 underway and proceeded to intercept BrStr "Esmaralda" bound in, ordered her to anchor till action was over, and to have or allow us communication with him.
Fleet meantime proceeded to again engage force in Kavito, shortly silencing shore battery while no Spanish ship offered resistance, the flagship having been ? in AM engagement and thus ?.
1245 ememy surrendered Kavito. Leaving Concord and Petrel to enter the bay squadron steamed towards Manilla.
Mer – 4. At 1:53 Olympia anchored off Manilla, signaled this vessel to communicate and directed a boat to be sent to her for Amer Consul Williams. Complied and took Consul to Br. Ship Buc?l?ngh on official business.
4 to 6PM At 400 communicated with Olympia, requestion services of Chaplin Frasier to bury Chief Eng’r Randell. Having Chaplain on board steamed down bay and at 4:15 stopped. Chaplain Frazier read the service for the dead, officers and crew being mustered in stbd waist, body reposing at the Stbd gangway covered with union flag. At 420 committed the remains of Chief Eng’r F.B. Randall to the deep and fired 3 volleys from a party of 16mm, bugler then sounded “Taps”. This action was in accordance with advice from Comd in Chief, it being problematic when the opportunity would offer to inter the body on shore. At 5:00 anchored abreast Olympia.
6-8PM At 6:15 recd signal “F” “be ready to get underway”. At 7:40 underway and in compliance with instructions took position off mouth of the Pasig river, town of Manilla, to prevent and vessels, war or otherwise from leaving port, coming to at 8,
8-Midnt. At 9:00 shifted anchorage ½ mile off shore, came to 9:15.
Cast loose battery stationed two sentinels on poop and topgallant forecastle and kept vigilant watch on surroundings. No movements on shore or afloat observed during watch.
2nd May
Party from flagship blew up a large gun in Spanish shore battery.
3rd May
Burial party from Olympia, Baltimore and Boston went ashore to offer assistance to the Spanish.
