time fuses were accurately
set.

The crews of both ships were at their guns. Lieutenant Craig, who was in
charge of the bow 4-inch rapid-fire gun of the _Morrill_, asked for and
obtained permission to return the fire.

At the first shot the _Vicksburg_, which was in the wake of the _Morrill_,
slightly inshore, sheered off and passed to windward under the _Morrill's_
stern. In the meantime Captain Smith also put his helm to port, and was
none too soon, for as the _Morrill_ stood off a solid 8-inch shot grazed
her starboard quarter and kicked up tons of water as it struck a wave one
hundred yards beyond.

All the guns of the water-battery were now at work. One of them cut the
Jacob's-ladder of the _Vicksburg_ adrift, and another carried away a
portion of the rigging.

As the vessels steamed away their aft guns were used, but only a few shots
were fired.

The _Morrill's_ 6-inch gun was elevated for four thousand yards, and
struck the earthwork repeatedly. The _Vicksburg_ discharged only three
shots from her 6-pounder.

The Spaniards continued to fire shot and shell for twenty minutes, but
none of the latter shots came within one hundred yards.

Later in the day the _Morrill_ captured the Spanish schooner _Espana_,
bound for Havana, and towed the prize to Key West.

[Illustration: JOHN D. LONG, SECRETARY OF NAVY.]

The _Newport_ added to the list of captures by bringing in the Spanish
schooner _Padre de Dios_.

_May 7._ The United States despatch-boat _McCulloch_ arrived at Hongkong
from Manila, with details of Commodore Dewey's victory.

Secretary Long, after the cablegram forwarded from Hongkong had been
received, sent the following despatch:

"The President, in the name of the American people, thanks you and your
officers and men for your splendid achievement and overwhelming victory.
In recognition he has appointed you acting admiral, and will recommend a
vote of thanks to you by Congress as a foundation for further promotion."

_May 8._ A brilliant, although unimportant, affair was that in which the
torpedo-boat _Winslow_ engaged off Cardenas Bay.

The _Winslow_ and gunboat _Machias_ were on the blockade off Cardenas.

In the harbour, defended by thickly strewn mines and torpedoes, three
small gunboats had been bottled up since the beginning of the war.
Occasionally they stole out toward the sea, but never venturing beyond the
inner harbour, running like rabbits at sight of the American torpedo
boa