The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-05
Leads Carolina Daes i'm Newsamd Circulation
Or reconnaissance of the cfistobal Co

or reconnaissance of the Cristobal Co.
Ion.
Describing Commodore Schley's
blockade of the harbor at Santiago
Captain Rogers said that the fleet main
tanned a position of seven or eight miles
out with the Marblehead and the Vixen
inside the line.
SHELLS FROM THE BROOKLYN.
The afternoon session of the court
began with Captain Rogers still on the
stand. He stated in reply to questions
that he was the senior member of the
Naval Board of Survey appointed by
Admiral Sampson to examine the
wrecked Spanish vessels.
The purpose of this line of examina-
tion was to bring out the witness
knowledge concerning the effect of the
Brooklyn's gunery in the battle off San
tiago July g. Captain Rogers stated
that the Brooklyn was the only vessel
that fired five inch shells, and Mr.. Ray
ner said that careful computation bas-
ed upon the report of the Board of Sur
vey showed that IL five-inch shells had
been found on the four Spanish vessels.
Mr. Rayner presented a statement
showing the number of shells found on
the vessels of the Spanish fleet and the
witness was asked to state the percent
age of five inch shells, assuming the
statement to be correct. Capt Rogers
replied that the total number Of hits was
thirty-five and that therefore the five
inch shell hits constituted "a per cent
of all the hits. Mr.. Rayner said that
Nhe statement had been prepared by
Admiral Schley.
THE DEAR SCHLEY LETTER.
Mr.. Rayner read the Dear Schley"
letter including the following extract:
"If later it should develop that these
vessels are at Santiago, we could then
assemble off that port the ships best
suited for the purpose and completely
blockade it. Until we then, receive
more positive information we shall con-
tinue to hold Havana and Santiago"
Mr.. Rayner remarked that he sup
posed it would be conceded that the
word Santiago as given above was
mistake and that it Should be Glen
fuegos."
Captain Lemly replied that he would
make no such concession and tilt fol-
lowed between counsel concerning the
accuracy of Government publications.
1t closed with an understanding that
the original document should be sup
piled tomorrow.
RODGERS is QUESTIONED.
The court asked number4of questions
OF Commander Rodgers among others be-
ing one as to whether the Brooklyn and
the Texas had been in danger of colli-
sion on July 3.
The witness replied that if there had
been any such danger he had not seen
the two ships at the time. He had seen
the two vessels early in the engagement,
but they were then about half a mile
apart. Later he was called below, and
if there had been such danger it was
at that time.
At the conclusion of Commander Rod
gers testimony the question as to wheth-
er the word in the Dear Schley" letter
should be Santiago or Cienfuegos again
came up on a statement by Captain Lem
ly who said he would continue to hold
to the Santiago version. Then occurred
the colloquy narrated above. Mr.. Rayner
saying he would summon Sampson.
HODGSON'S STORY OF BATTLE.
Lieutenant Commander Aston C. Hodg-
son, navigator Of the Brooklyn, then told
the story of the battle of Santiago as
seen from the bridge of that vessel
Il heard the executive officer. Lieuten-
ant Commander Mason sing out Clear
ship for action and the crew Immediately
dispersed to quarters, l having sounded
ho al
modore shortly appeared on the bridge.
We were at that time headed to the
westward or northwest / told him that
there was nothing doing and he said Go
ahead. l rang six bells and asked if we
had not better hold her head steady to
see what course the Spaniards proposed
to pursue. l do not remember mis- reply
exactly to that, because Immediately
afterwards l told him they were evidently
making for us, and he said Go for them
and rang four bells and put helm aport
Captain Cook appeared upon the
bridge at this time, and | told him that
everything was connected up at the con-
ming tower and that we were already
going ahead and in fact we were going
ahead. The Commodore took his posi-
tion on a platform he had built around
the coming tower where he could be in
easy communication with the command
ing officer inside, and l remained on the
bridge.
"The executive officer had given previ-
ously the order to man the starboard
batteries. / sang out to him we were
going into action with port helm, and he
shifted over to the port battery. We
were then standing for the enemy, and
as soon as the guns were brought to bear
Lieutenant Simpson fired a little off the
port bow the first gun from the forward
eight inch turret From that time on we
went considerably in toward them.
AN EXCITING MOMENT.
81 then went down to where the Com
modore was standing to get into the con-
ming tower when l heard him sing out,
Lookout, Cook, they are going to ram
you.
Captain Cook said he would look
after that. and starboarded the helm
little to parallel the course OF the lead
ing vessel, the Maria Teresa, which had
made a broad sheer to port. He had
hardly made that sheer, however, to port
before he fell off again for the reason