Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-23

'ie h"SSachuSettS?' ON the BROOKLYN
ndd heard that they We're going in
To lombard and that the flag would be
transferred to the Massachusetts |
q hed PERMISSION to 60 aboard the Mas
Sachnsetts with the commodore He
had Just given permission to Mr.. Nc
Cauiey 10 go and turning II me he
said: Il do not think YOU better 90
think YOU can see il better from the
Brooklyn. She was then coaling. He
further said that they did not intend
To do anything except find out what
the batteries consisted of. kept urc-
ing him to let me so and he finally con-
sented.'
Now. tell me regarding the CONVEX
sation between Commodore Schley ana
capt Higginson- There was some
di: Cussion about what the Spanish
fleet had brought with them. = report
was current that they had brought
arms and ammunition for the defence
.ot Havana. ana there also was a dis
CuSSi0n as to whether they had had
time to mount them or whether from
any ships in the harbur prior tn the
arrival If the fleet they had taken
alrge guns and mounted them The
TWO officers smoked their cigars ana
chatted over il. Commodore Schley
said his idea was To 80 in about 1000
on 11u0 yards and fire. simply to draw
their fire. So far rs remember. Cap
tain HiGcinsOn acquiesced in that
Later NJ. Potts came in"
Were You in the presence Of Com
mCd0rc Schley during the whole. Of this
reconnaissance on the Massachusetts?
only part of the time. At times
was behind the coming tower and he
was on The other side Of it,
did you see Lieut.. Potts on board
tnn MAsSac husetts?"
He came into the pilot house during
the conversation and took some par,
in it."
Al this point MIR. Rayncr read 10 tho
Win s. a portion Of the Il Stimony given
by Nr Potts wherein h. rad referred
to the conversation between Commo-
dore SchltY and Captain Iiigginson "a
to going in for the hombariment. and
asked:
Were YOU present At that CONVERSE
tom"
No" answered the witness. THAT
conversation must have been when
they stepped outside of the pilot
house"
did You hear any conversation"
"pnlv that the range was then he
tween 1000 ana 100 yards
That was the only remark yuu
heard made by the commodore when
Potts was present."
II don't think the commodore made
the remark. My impression is that
4 .r th.a a.
to Potts
You do not know anything about
the conversation about which Pott'
has testified that the commodore said.
Gentlemen. we are very conspicuous
objects here. lets set out Of it2'
The witness said he was With tnN
commodore during the whole OF the
reconnaissance and did not hear cithe"
of the alleged conversations. Mr.. era
ham also said that he had not heard
Commodore Schley say anything about
''nottine the Colon" when the comm"-
dore went aboard the Massachusetts
May Il. and that he was with the COM
mudorc at the time.
Then YOU heard none of this RE-
ported conversation? asked Mr. Ray
ner.
None, was the reply.
And you were with him all tn
time?"
II was with him all the time, tn"
witnl SIS replied, except when he was
taken in hand by Captain Higgins"n
and taken to his cabin"
After continuing his narrative of this
incident. the witness was asked about
suspicious incidents in the harbor al
Santiago on the evening of July :, ana
he said he recalled that the commn-
dore mad sent the Vixen TO investigate.
Describing the battle of july J. MI
Graham said that Commodore SchieE
had gotten to a position in front Of
the coming tower as soon as the nose
Of the first OF the Spanish SHIPS an
reared. The Brooklyn was at that time
he said. pointing almost north. Lieut.
Simpson had fired the first gun from
the s-inch turret and calling to Com
modore Schley, said: How IS thal
/ ITO this the commodore replied: 4
didn't see it. Simpson. but keep AT IT,
Continuing. the witness said that by
the time the Brooklyn had complet'd
her turn (and he thought the turn had
been continuously to the right, me
three leading Spanish ships NAG
emerged from the harbor. Inc WitiitS"
thought they had come out IN IAN
shape order.
."rha commodore" he said at TINS
point stood all the time on the Sloe
of the fire. so that he could see WhAt
vas doing. He was absolutely cooi
ana sent continuous messages TO tle
men ID cheer them up. Nheh Ellis
head was shot off, he Wlpeo Aoiil' vi
the blood from his own person ana as
the men picked the body up to throw
il overheard. while the rest OF US st""h
Mortified. he calmly said: Don throw
shat body over. take it below ana we
Give il Christian burial
When the Niscaya went ashore the
commodore went into the c"hhihS
tower and himself called oo"h VI |
tube to the men below: They are all
.,rpo INIT one. if all depends on you.