Toward the close of the decisive engagement, and just after the Reina Christina had been sent back, hammered to pieces and set on fire, two small torpedo boats made a daring attempt to slip up on the Olympia.  A pall of smoke was hanging over the water.  Taking advantage of this, they darted out from the Spanish lines and headed straight for the American flagship.  They were fully 800 yards in advance of the Spanish line (or more than half of the way toward the Olympia) when they were discovered.  Admiral Dewey signaled his men to concentrate all batteries on them.  Every gun on the port side of the Olympia was leveled on the two little craft which came flying across the water.  A fierce fire was opened, but they escaped the first volley and came on at full speed.  The flagship stopped.  A second broadside was delivered.  The torpedo boats were either injured or else alarmed, for they turned hastily and started for the shore.  An eight-inch shell struck one.  It exploded and sunk immediately, with all on board.  The other, which had been hit, ran all the way to shore and was beached.  These were the only two attempts the Spanish made to offer offensive battle.

It would be difficult to describe in detail these first two hours of terrific fighting.  The sounds were deafening, and at times the smoke obscured almost the whole picture of battle.  The American commander himself could not estimate the injury to the enemy until after he had withdrawn from the first general engagement and allowed the smoke to clear away.  Unfortunately, our fleet had no supply of smokeless powder.  All during the fighting of Sunday morning, Admiral Dewey stood with Captain Lambertson on the forward bridge of the Olympia.  He was absolutely exposed to the heaviest firing, because the Spanish fleet and the land batteries as well continually made a target of our big flagship.  Captain Wildes, on the Boston, carried a fan as he stood on the bridge, and at one time drank a cup of coffee while continuing to give orders to his gunners.

It was 7:45 when the American fleet withdrew out of range, not because it had suffered any reverses, but merely to ascertain the damages and hold a consultation.

Not until the commanders had reported to Admiral Dewey did he learn of the insignificant loss which his fleet had sustained.  Not one man had been killed and not one vessel was so badly injured but that it was ready to put to sea at once.  Through the glasses it could be seen that the Keina Christina and the Castilla were burning.  The smaller vessels had taken refuge behind the arsenal at Cavite.  The Mindanao had been driven ashore.  Already the victory was almost complete.  The American sailors were wild with enthusiasm.  Although hardly one of them had slept the night before, and they had been fighting in a burning temperature, they were more than anxious to return to the engagement and finish the good work.  It was thought best, however, to take a rest for at least three hours.  The decks were cleaned and the guns readjusted, and after food had been served to the men, the fleet formed and headed straight for Cavite again.  The remnant of the Spanish squadron offered very little resistance, but the forts at Cavite continued their wild efforts to strike an American warship.