The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-18
heavy sea had impeded the fleet by de- laying the smaller vessels. especially the uu1a

Asheu Dv NIT. Raynor concerning con- versation between Commodore schley and the commander of the Eagle, the witness | said: T was present when the conver- sation took place, although cannot give the exact words. When the Eagle came up astern of the Brooklyn the Comm0dor hailed the commanding officer of that vessel and told him, in subste nee. that he could not delay the squadron any longer on his account and that he wanted him to proceed to Jamaica for coal The commanding officer of the Eagle seemed squadron and expressed sincere regret at being obliged to part company with the flying squadron" C
 what kind of weather was the Ear making on May 20 when that conversatSeS took placer"
 "As l expressed 1t, heavy weatb a short choppy sea, and the Eagl Q nd Vixen were both pitching consider
 Did you hear the commandiD ficer of the Eagle talk to the Commoo V about coal on that occasion?"
 T do not remember"
 You heard the whole conversation! v
 1T did, but I do not remember that he asked permission to coal. It would not have been possible. at least it would not have been safe"
 At Santiago. the witness said that the DlOCkdUlnR line was d IIllc UT lWO SAOSeh in at night than during the day, and on May 2s the fleet stood out three or four miles. There were picket boats inside the line, but he did not see them.
 Did you ever have any conversation with Commodore Schley before July : relative to the Brooklyn going to Guanta- namo for coal?"
 "In substance mentioned the fact that other ships of the squadron were in the tD .fn n,1an fn- AAaI We had some difficulty in coaling in the open off Santiago. The Commodore re- piled that he had been asked on several occasions if he would like to go to Guam tanamo, where he could coal quietly and give the officers and men a rest from the strain of the blockade.
 He said that his answer was in each case that he preferred to remain on the station until the Spanish ships came out of the harbor."
 Referring to the battle of July 3, the witness said that it was his duty to look after the lower decks, consequently he had not seen a great deal of the fight.
 Were any cheering or encouraging messages sent among the men that you know of?''
 "one message that seemed to cheer the men below very much was that there were three Spanish ships on our star board beam, all firing at us."
 Commander Griffin said that, when the Colon gave up the conflict. the Oregon was close on the Brooklyn's star board quarter, and that the Texas and Vixen were within sight astern.
 Schley Remarkably Cool.
 "Can you speak of the conduct, bear ing and manner of Commodore Schley, during the engagement in which you saw him?"
 He impressed me as being remarkably cool considering what had just occurred. He was perfectly natural in manner and bearing"
 On cross-examination, MT. Hanna ask ed:
 Did you hear anything about coaling difficulties?"
 "I do not remember. I know he was | always extremely anxious and seemed to | want to coal whenever there was an op- portunity do. not remember the par l ticular conversation. The conversation | about going to Guantanamo impressed me particularly for afterwards I thought 1t | was such a wlse decision" MT. Hanna asked the witness whether the flying squadron had proceeded with | dispatch" on the voyage from Cienfuegos 1 to Santiago. and the witness replied: "Yes, a unit until we made the turn to the westward on May 18th. The slowest Snlp nXeO the speed anu lHdL was V OA knots an hour"
 Then in your answer you except the retrograde?"
 T do."
 Having said that when the fleet left Cienfuegos 1t was the general under standing that 1t was bound for Santiago, the witness said the fleet was headed east when 1t stopped of Santiago May 26. He said further that If the squadron had would have landed anywhere to the eastward.
 By the court: What difficulties did the Brooklyn have in aoaling off Santiago prior to June 1?'
 "The derrick beams on the collier were too short and coaling brooches were rig ged on the Brooklyn in order to coal
 Ensign c. A. Abell, who as a naval cadet, served as junior watch off1cer on the Brooklyn in Santiago campaign, was then called. He said when the start was made from Cienfuegos to Santiago the weather was rough and unsettled. The blockade at Santiago was maintained at a distance of five or six miles. Al nlght he could see what he supposed was the Colon signalling to the fort.
 The witness was still on the stand %hen the court adjourned for luncheon.
 Ensign Holigan
 Ensign John Haligan, who served on the Brooklyn during the war, was the first witness at the afternoon session.
 Coming to the blockade of Santiago, he said the Marblehead and the Vixen hSd been inside the blockade line there. Asked as to Commodore Schley's bearing in the battle of July 3. he said it was "such as to inspire enthusiasm"
 Do you know what vessels were Tn sight at the beginning of the battleF asked MT. Raynor.
 Captain Lemly objected to the question with some vigor, and after consulta- ton with Admiral Schley, Mir. Raynor announced that he would withdraw the question for the time being.
 In reply to questions by the court, MT. Halligan said that when the Viscaya turned toward the Brooklyn. "the Span ish ship bore on our starboard beam, a little forward, and was headed toward us. distant from 1000 to 5000 yards"
 He also said that there were three or four guns heard at Cienfuegos and that those shots were regular.
 Mir Halligan was succeeded by Ensign r. & Macy who was a naval cadet on the Brooklyn during the Spanish war.
 He said that en route to Santiago the fleet had been compelled to slow up be- cause the sea was too heavy for the Vixen and the Eagle,
 Mir Raynor asked the witness If he had had any conversation with Commodore Schley during the night before the en- pagement of May 31. He replied that he had had such a conversation. and that Il ring the course of the conversation, inc Commodore stated to him, "Tomor- row we are going in with the ship, not coaling. but to lombard at long range to develop the exact location of the bat