The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-15
Captain Cook of Opinion that SchIcy
Conducted Himself Like "a Brave
and Patriotic officer.
TESTIMONY OF PILOT NUNEz
FIRST WITNESS ~ BEHALF OF REAR
ADMIRAL sCHLEY.
Says He Told That officer on Way
vera Was in Santiago Harbor.


WASHINGTON. oct. H-To=day in the
Schley court OF inquiry Judge Advocate
LenIy concluded presentation of testimony
for the government and the nrst OF AL
miral SchIey's witnesses was introduced
CAPTAIN Francis a. Cook who commanded
Admiral 0hen commOdOre) Schleys nag
ship. the Brooklyn. during the Santiago
campaign and who acted, though unohh-
ciaIIy. in the capacity OF chief of staff for
the commodore. was on the witness stand
the greater part of the day. He was fol-
lowed by Lieutenant Comma nder William
F. Fullam. who was senior watch officer on
the New Orleans during the Spanish war.
and former Lieutenant Joseph Beale, who
as an officer on the Harvard, translated
the cipher dispatches between Commodore
Schley and the Navy Department carried
by that vessel. Among these dispatches
was that sent by Commodore Schley May
IS expressing mis- regret at not having been
able TO obey the orders of the department
and explaining the reason why he could
not do so. There some verbal discrep-
ancies between the original draft of this
dispatch and the official print of il and
these Mr. Beale explained.
Lieutenant Beale was the last of the gov
ernInent witnesses, although Captain Lem
ly explained that he would reserve the
right to call others If occasion should de-
mand that he do lie had no sooner
retired than the first witness for Admiral
Schley was called. This proved TO be the
Cuban pilot Edwardo Nunez, who told
Schley on May p. 1885, that he did not be-
lieve the Spanish fleet under Cervera was
in the harbOr at Santiago.
Captain Cooks testiu ony was a review
of the entire campaign after Cervera's fleet.
beginning with the departure of the flying
squadron from Key West on May 10 and
concluding with the battle off Santiago
July B. He said that at first it had been
believed by both Sampson and Schley that
the Spanish fleet was in the harbor at
Cienfuegos and that information to
the contrary had been conveyed to Commo-
dore Schley until the arrival of Captain
McCalla on May a: that it was Commodore
Schley's expectation to meet the Spaniards
in the open sea and his constant care was
TO have coal enough for such emergency.
He gave particulars concerning the retro
grade movement aud explained the Brock
lyn's loop in connection with a graphic
account of the engagement of July g.
Asked for an opinion as 10 Admiral Scnley' 5
bearing as commanding officer. he sail.
Il always regarded him as an enthusiastic
cally brave and patriotic officer.
CAPTAIN COOKS TESTIMONY.
When Captain Cook took the stand this
morning, in reply to Mr.. Hanna inquiry,
he said he had been at Key West on
May 10.
What information did you have at that
time concerning the whereabouts of Ger
vera's fieet?" asked Mr. Hanna.
My impressions now are simply from
rumor that they had left the Canary islands
and part of them had been sighted at
Martinique and from consular information
or perhaps information sent by the Harvard
That they had gone to Curacao. That is all
from impression
Giving the reasons for the departure of
the flying squadron for Cienfuegos Captain
Cook said the squadron had been sent to
that port TO intercept and meet the Span
ish squadron, IL having been determined. as
we believed at that time, TO make Glen
fuegOs their objective point" He had un-
derstood that the Spanish fleet carried mu-
nltlons OF war for Havana. and it was be-
heved they would go TO CienfuegOs because
OF its accessibility to Havana.
captain COOK recalled the meeting of the
Maroiehead WITH the flying squadron
route 10 Clenfuegos, but could recall only
very indistinctly the fact that the Scorpion
had delivered To the BROOKLYN auv informa-
tiOn from the Eagle at that time Il did
not receive any information" ne said. "and
did not consider the incident Important We
brought up the question about the camn
and where II was and then the comnodore
said 10 him. We have seen three pecuIiar
lights, one ahead of the other here bTt
we cannot make out what they are and |
believe IL is something in connection win
the Spanish fleet Captain McCaIla gave a
start. threw up his hands and said: That
Is the signal from the insurgents camp
They want To communicate with YOU and
added; wei, l can go there and find out
at once.
: md
can send boat across and let me know,
soon as possible Then the subject of
Coaling came up again, about the great dir
Hculty We We're going TO have I'm cOalinq
from GOLFERS and Captain McCaIIa said.
You need not be at all concerned about me
i Will get coal II there's any coal To be OH
tanned lie always cheerful abort
everything He started from the shin al
most Immediately and said: must get
of
\ SUSPICIOUS STEAMER
In the meantime. closely connected with
that. was the arrival OF the AduIa This
steamer came in from Jamaica and reported
that the Spanish feet had gone into santi-
ago and had left on the 18th. | reconect
that particularly. because that seemed 10
confirm the commodore's idea that they had
reached Cienfuegos. IL was a suspicious
craft. They did not give any reasons for
going in except they wanted 10 connmunI-
cate with their subjects. and in my couver-
satiOn with the commodore my Impressions
were that he looked on that as entirely
suspicious. Not understanding the matters
ard not knowing exactly his wishes. I said
something 20 him about letting that
steamer go in He said: 4 don't care any
thing about that steamer. but / am bound
10 get Information from her. II the cantain
does not give H. { will certainly get il out
or some OF the passengers IL was arranged
that when she came oAt the offcers should
60 aboard and question the passengers and
g. Information from them. She did moi