The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1901-10-17


s Rockading Work Described.
Describing the blockade of Cienfue-
Sgos, Commander Sears said that it had
been maintained from one to four
miles out and that the Dupont was sta
toned inside with instructions to keep
close into the mouth of the harbor and
maintain careful watch, reporting any
suspicious incidents. ..,,.
The witness, in giving the details
sOf the cruise from Cienfuegos to San
stiago, said the weather was boisterous,
with heavy sea- and that coaling at
sea would not have been safe before
My II, when It was Undertaken. He
also said that on this voyage the
squadron had been delayed by the
eagle and other small boats and that
the ships had also been slowed up on
one occasion when q merchant vessel
was sighted; also that the collier had
to stop several times to make repairs
to her machinery.
With reference to the blockade at
Santiago the witness said that it had
been maintained at varying distances
from three to six miles to suit the COM
mander-in-chief. In thick weather and
at night the distance was less than in
fair weather and in the daytime.
Witness also described the recon
noissance of May 81, when the Colon
was fired upon and giving his conclu-
sions with reference to that event he
said had developed the strength of
the land batteries and they had proved
to be stronger than he had supposed
they were. Commodore Schley, he
said, had told him that his purpose
was to ascertain what the batteries
were. He said he had been with Lieu
tenant Potts on the Massa chusetts on
that day and had not heard any con-
versation between that officer and
Commodore Schley.
Witness described the engagement
of July 3. After stating the prelim-
mary incidents he said: .~s. t Z+
The Battle Of Santiago.
"I was in my room when heard the
cry of the executive officer, Clear ship
for action knew what that meant
and ran to the quarter deck. looked
Vloft to see If the prescribed signal,
Enemy is escaping was up and saw
that it was. met the commodore on
the quarter deck. He directed the sig
nal, Clear ship for action followed
by the signal to close in, all of which
were made. From my position had
a good view Of the entrance. Our ship
was headed at the time, should say,
to the WESTWARD of north, not on her
regular heading, which was about
northeast by north. The engines had
been started by the time got on deck
and she was gaining way and swing
ing toward the enemy. The first yes
sci. which proved to be the flagship
Maria Teresa, came out. She was di-
rectly on our bearing from the en-.
france to the port.
"As the ship swung toward the Te-
resa she swung slowly around. To me
the Teresa appeared to not hold an
exactly steady course and the helm Of
Onr ship was eased one way or the
other to keep our ram pointing toward
the Teresa. The Teresa shortly turn
ed sqnarely toward the westward and
IS she did so ! got view of the next
snip following In her wake.
The second ship passed In the
wake Of the frst and i said to the
commodore that it looked as IL the sec
ond one was going. to try and ram us.
He, think, assented. At any rate the
Brooklyn was held toward her and she
appeared to me to be uncertain in her
course. The Brooklyn was handled by
the captain and quartermaster. She
turned after she had passed to the
southwark Of the Teresa's wake and
followed her and then 1t was generally
remarked they were all going to try
and escape to the westward.
Ine reason ror rne "a Loop.
0 = Just about the time the Viscaya
turned, Woman ellis, who was q train
ed observer with the stadimeter, came
to me on the platform and said that
his stadimeter showed 900 yards to the
- 4 -. sa4 aIsy tnnk an. es.