The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-10-18
Squadron Had to Wait for Eagle Between
Cienfuegos and Santiago.
SEA WAS HEAVY FOR THE SMALLER VESSEL. S
AND PROGRESS WAS SLOW
Presentation of Schey's Case Is Proceeding With
Greater Rapidly Than Was the Case
With the Other Side.

examined. or these five were ensigns. aud
the entire eight had served on board the
Brooklyn with Admiral (thcn commodore
Schlcy.
Today's witnesses were Lieutenant
Charles Webster, Lieutenant Commander
T. d. Griffin, who had charge Of the power
division on the Brooklyn during the ight
OF Santiago, Ensigns c. A. Abele, John
llallgnn. Jr., Ulysses S. Mayer Jesse NJ.
Hand and Ralph y. Marble The last wit.
ness Of the day was Medical Director
PAU BitzsImmons. who was chief surgeon
Of the dying squadron.
While Ensign llaigan was on the stand
Mr. Raynor sought to bring ont the lnfor-
nation as to the American ships in sight
at the beginning of the batue Of July O..
but Judge Advocate Lcmly objected on
the ground that It. was intended TO show
the absence of D Now York and the In
terogatory was Withdrawn. Ensign Marble
stated that he had heard Captain Sigsbce
tell Commodore Schlcy when he came
aboard the Brooklyn Gu May 20 that the
Spanlards were not at Santiago.
There has been some inquiry as to Ad-
mlra Schleys Standing IN the navy since
he was placed on the retired list. because
Of age, but 1t appears that an questions
on this point have been settled hy he de-.
partment having assigned the admiral TO
active duty at the court of inquiry
while it is in progress This action was
taken to prevent any question as to the
effect the admlral's retirement Won d have
on the action of the court.
The hrst of Yesterdays witnesses called
for the correction Of testimony was Com
mandcr Mason, and after him came in
succession Lieutenant Commander Sears,
Lieutenant McAulcy and Lieutenant Web
ster quite a number of additional qucs-
tons were addressed to Lieutenant Web
ster by Mr. Hanna. Replying, the witness
said that he had seen signal lights at
night on the shore while of Santiago.
In connection with the question OF the
distance of shore at Santiago, MIR. lIunna
asked: while the vessels were on block
nde at Santiago, from May - to 81, IN.
elusive, were you able during the night
to distinguish points on shore readily wulle
you were on watchT'
The witness replied In tha negative.
bNnusf"
- was not familiar with the coast at that
tlmN and would not have known those
points under any circumstance, but 1t was
80 dark | think J could not have seen
What was the background"
THE high hills back of Santiago ala
give MS good points later when We were
familiar with. them We could see them
Could you discover the shore line at
mot the line of breakers II there were
any"
''Coud You SEQ the vessels on the inner
picket line nj nigbtY
Not without the aid Of searchlights"
on redirect examination MIR. Rnynor
o. ~ hA npit tf
the Iowa and the Texas on the morning
or July 3, the beginning of the battle The
witness said that they bore Abaft the star
board beam Of the Brooklyn, the Texas
hcng TO the right of the Iowa. The
brooklyn was hended, he said, north or
north northwest
In reply to another question by Mr.. Ray
nor, he stated that after the surrender
Of the Colon, July 3, he had gone to the
lorecastle 70 look for other ships. lie had
only seen the oregon ana the reNas The
smoke OF other vessels was visible, but not
the vessels themselves.
When Lieutenant Webster was excused,
Lieutenant Commander Griffin was called.
lie gave details OF the Cicufucgos cam.
paign. saying that the distance of the
blockading line there varied from three to
seven miles, being farther ont ut night.
Speaking Of the voyage from Cipnfucgos
to Santiago the witness said the weather
was "heayy," and that thcre was short
choppy sea" lie also said tE1t tho heavy
sea had impedcd the fleet " delaying the
smaller vessels, especially If Eagle
Asked by Mr. Rnvn1r~rencerning a con.
NerSation between CuSnmodOTC Schlcy and
the, commander OF the Eagle, the witness
said:
- was present when the conversation
took place although can not give the
exact words. When the Eagle came M
astcrn Of the Brooklyn. the commodor,
| hailed the commanding officer o. that YES
! sci and told him I'm substance that he could
not delay the squadron any LONGER ON his
| account and that he wanted him Ia pro.
/ coed 10 JamGica for coal. The commanding
officer Of the Eagle seemed very DESTROYS
! OF remaining With the squadron aud tx
/ pressed sincere regrets at being Obliged ia
part company with the dying squadron.
! Nhat KIND or the weather was the Eagle
mNklhg when that conversation took place.
las | expressed a. heavy. a short cbonny
sea, aud the Eagle and Vixen were hot
pitching considerably"
/ , Did You hear the commanding officer OF
/ the, Eagle talk TO the commodore about
coal on that ocCason?"
/ y do not remember"
| You heard the whole Conversations"
I H. ala, but | do not remember thar ID
! asked permission 90 coal IL would moi
/ nave been possible; at least It would moi
nave hcen safe"
/. Al santiago, the witness said that thf
| hlock3ding linc was a mile or two closer
l IN 40 night than during the day and on
| May % the fleet stood ont three or TOM
/ miles. There were picket boats inside the
| line. but he did not see them.
| did You ever have any conversation with
| Commodore Schlcy before July 2 rclgtIyr
! to the Brooklyn going 10 Guantanamo fol
coalT'
In substance, / mentioned the fact that
other ships Of the squadron were INA IN,
habit OF going 10 Guautanamo for coal W.
had had some difficulty In coalln. In mo
open on Santiago, The com,nodOre rcpli et
( thar he had been asked or several octgt
! slons N he would like to GO TO Guantanamo
/ whore he could coal quietly AMI glve III,
| officers and men rest from the strain of
/ blockade"
lie said that his answer was An each
J case that he preferred 20 remain on the sta
/ lion until the Spanish ships came out oi
/ the harbor.
| Referring TO the battle OF July g. IN,
] witness said that II was his duty to lool
! after the lower decks. consequently ne had
| not seen great deal Of the fight
'Were any cheering or encouraging mes
sages sent among the men that you know
| on 2"
! zone message which seemed 10 cheer IA,
| meu below very much was that there wer,
4 three Spanish ships on our starboard beam
| all hring NJ u.s.
| Commander Griffin said that when IN,
| Colon gave up the conflict the Oregon wa,
| close on the Brooklyn's starboard quarter
| and that the Texas and Vixen were within
| sight astern.