cans again demanded the
surrender of the city within an hour, which was refused, according
to Spanish custom. Without the slenderest hope of holding the city
against the invaders, the Spaniards preconcerted a human sacrifice,
[202] under the fallacious impression that the salvation of their
honour demanded it, and operations commenced at 9.45 a.m. The ships
present at the attack were the _Olympia_ (flagship), _Monterey,
Raleigh, McCulloch, Petrel, Charleston, Baltimore, Boston_, and
_Concord_, with the little gunboat _Rapido_, and the captured (Spanish)
gunboat _Callao_, and the armed steam-launch _Barcelo_. The _Concord_
watched the Fort Santiago at the Pasig River entrance. The American
commanders confined the bombardment to the forts and trenches situated
to the south of the city. The whole of the walled city and the trading
quarter of Binondo were undamaged. The fighting-line was led by the
_Olympia_, which sent 4-inch shells in the direction of the fort at
Malate (San Antonio de Abad). A heavy shower of rain made it difficult
to get the range, and every shell fell short. The _Petrel_ then took
up position and shelled the fort with varying result, followed by
the _Raleigh_. The _Rapido_ and the _Callao_, being of light draught,
were able to lie close in shore and pour in a raking fire from their
small-calibre guns with considerable effect. The distance between the
ships and the fort was about 3,500 yards, and, as soon as this was
correctly ascertained, the projectiles had a telling effect on the
enemy's battery and earthworks. The _Olympia_ hurled about 70 5-inch
shells and 16 8-inch shells, and the _Petrel_ and the _Raleigh_
about the same number each. There was rather a heavy wash in the
bay for the little _Callao_ and the _Barcelo_, but they were all the
time capering about, pouring a hail of small shell whenever they had
a chance. The Spaniards at Malate returned the fire and struck the
_Callao_ without doing any damage. The transport _Zafiro_ lay between
the fighting-line and the shore, having on board General Merritt, his
staff, and a volunteer regiment. The transport _Kwonghoi_ was also in
readiness with a landing-party of troops on board. In another steamer
were the correspondents of the London _Times_ and _New York Herald_,
and the special artists of the _Century Magazine_ and the _Herald_. The
field artillery took no part in the operations. The shelling of the
Fort San Antonio Abad from the ships lasted unt