The sun., 1901-10-18
I|RESS OF inquiry
DIS Watch officers Testify
For Schley.
(E ADMIRALS GOODNESS
fo35H&dcs of Cienfuegos and Santi-
6 Cruise of the Flying
Il Il M Eauadron and the Battle
Subjects of Questions.

WHbHlHptOn, OcC. It-lHe HfSC new
witness called before the Schley court
Of inquiry was Lieutenant Commander
II. ID. Griffin, who as lieutenant was
the sanior watch officer on the Brook
lyn during the war with Spain. After
hirn enme number Of the Junior Off.
eef$ who served on the Brooklyn dur
m8 that campaign. As usual, before
HpX of the new witnesses were sum-
1i10xad a number of former witnesses
were CALLED for the purpose of correct
frE their former testimony.
I1eutenant Commander Griffin gave
def&fls of the Cienfuegos campaign,
SAFfy3g that the distance of the blockad.
luz Iine there varied from three to sew
uf1liiles, being farther out at night.
9peaking of the voyage from Cien-
xt&Eos to Santiago, the witness said
fA&SNeather was "heayyo and that there
As short, clloppy sea-" He also
&4d that the heavy sea had impeded
S ticet by delaying the smaller YES
Xais, Especially the Eagle:
ASKED by Mr.. Rayner concerning a
sG6nverSation between Commodore
&ehley and the commander of the
#agle. the witness said: Il was present
When the conversation took place, al
though | cannot give the exact words.
When the Eagle came up astern of the
Bruoklyn the commodore hailed the
cornmanding officer of that vessel and
told him in substance that he could not
delay the squadron any longer on his
account and that he wanted him to
pr0cecd to jamaica for coal. The com
Ilanding officer of the Eagle seemed
very desirous of remaining with the
s4l1Qdron and expressed sincere regrets
atFbeing obliged to part company with
thHsfiying squadron"
"Nhat kind of weather was the Fa-
glesmaking on May 90, when that CON
vaisation took place!'
As | expressed it, heavy weather, q
aflElt, choppy sea, and the Eagle and
V3en were both pitching considera-
bly,"
Did you hear the commanding Off.
GER Of the Eagle talk to the commo-
dore about coal on that occasion?
~ do not remember"
HYou heard the whole conversational
*I did, but do not remember that
esaslicd permission to coal. II would
moi have been possible; at least il
wonld not have been safe"
blockade Of Santiago.
At Santiago the witness said that the
bbckading line was mile or two clos
ef in at night than during the day.
I'D on May % the fleet stood out three
OK four miles. There We're picket boats
Mide the line, but he did not see them.
@'Did you ever have any conversation
Mth Commodore Schley before July 8
ptive to the Brooklyn going to Gu
anamo for coal?"
I'm substance | mentioned the fact
@t other ships of the squadron were
nthe habit of going to Guantanamo
I'M coal. We had had some difficulty
ncoaling in the open off Santiago The
commodore replied that he had been
Mked ON several occasions if he would
Ike to GO to Guantanamo, where he
Fuld coal quietly and give the officers
And men rest from the strain OF
Blockade.
lie said that his answer was in each
&,se that he preferred to remain on
Pc station until the Spanish ships
Hme ont of the harbor."
8Referrng to the battle of July 3, the
Witness said that he had been in
eharge Of the powder division and that
also was his duty to look after the
1ower decks Consequently lie had moi
6een great deal Of the fight.
He said that he had seen the vizcaya
~ ashore and that, looking abaft the
Brooklynss beam along the coast, he
hfd seen two other Spanish ships on
NC, with the Colon some distance
Ahead on the starbaard side and firing
occasionally. Then he went into the
Tqfecastle, where Commodore Schley,
9ptain Cook and Commander Mason
were standing, remaining there until
the Colon surrendered The Oregon
was then following very close to the
Brooklyn.
Schley's Cheering Messages.
E Were any cheering or encouraging
messagcs sent among the men that you
kmw Of? by whom and what were
they?"
llad q messenger, who made FIRE.
q4eht trips to the gundeck and who
fted TO me what was happening
cQNeyed this information to the men
oA#N division in the different handling
rQ6hls"
Were any of these messages Of suffi.
eent Importance that you would like
foSpeak Of themg"
phe message which seemed to cheer
kA& men below very much was that
fhsfe were three Spanish ships on our
sfafh BOARD beam all firing at us"
4on don't know who sent these mes.
sAFes, who gave them. do you?"
took II for granted"
judge Advocate Lemly here inter-
rupted the witness by stating that ii
gig npt appear that Commodore Schley
senhEhese messages, which brought n
seneeAeht from Mr.. Rayner that he
wouid prove when Admiral Scbloy
went on the stand that the admira,
sent these messages of announcement,
to the men.
QQmmander Griffin said that whom
$oion gave up the conflict the Or.
esoAMwas close OH the Brooklyn's star.
uoA# quarter and that the Texas and
Nxm We're within sight astern.
You speak of the conduct. bear.
&Rnd manner of Commodore Schlay
lhe engagement III which Won
SUM him?" 'o'
.sxH impressed mo &c I,o;,,. ...,