Waterbury Democrat., 1901-09-21

asked to give detailed account of the operations of that vessel during the war and he did so. The Texas had been a part of the ''fiying squadron, and the witness said that when they steamed for Cienfuegos the flagship had signaled We go to Cientuegos 10 bag the Spaniards; wish 'you goou luck"
 In reply to questions said that when Cienfuegos was reached earthworks were discovered there, but no e1oft was made to destroy them.
 Captain Harber was questioned as to orders concerning plans of battle but he said that notwithstanding he would have taken command in case of the incapacity of Philip, he received no directions from the commander Ill chief. He had heard of no plans in case the enemy should be engaged. The witness said that while lying oil Cfenfuegos. he with others had seen lights from the shore which, from their nature, they took to be signals, but that no attention had been paid to them until the 24th. when the Marble head had arrived and he understood had responded to the signals and con- municated with those on shore.
 He also said that the Texas had been in no great need of coal while lying off Cienfuegos. but that it could have taken more and would have been glad to get it. The Iowa had coaled there, he said. Describing the sail to Santia- go. the witness said there had been rough weather, but that the Texas could have made better time than 1t did. He said that when the squadron arrived in sight of the Yale and other American vessels off Santiago on the evening of May 26. all the vessels cleared for action. thinking they were vessels of the enemy When they dis covered their mistake. Captain Philip had signaled Captain Wise of the Yale saying: Have you got them in there?" to which the reply was: ..I think we have.''
 Mir Hanna. who conducted the ex- animation of this witness, asked him particularly concerning the trip from Santiago to Key West when the squad ron started for the latter place in order to coal. He said that no effort had been made on the 26th. the day of the arrival off Santiago, to coal ship. The sea was somewhat rough, but the wit ness expressed the opinion that the coaling could have been accomplished. He had succeeded in that operation at Tortugas when the water was equally rough.
 ''If you had been instructed to coal ship on the 26th what would you have doneT' Mir Hanna asked.
 ''I would have done it." the witness responded. ''I don't think the sea was any heavier than when we had taken coal on other occasions
 Relating the particulars of the return to Santiago, after starting for Key West, the witness said that coal had been taken on the night of the 27th. When Captain Philip had been asked if the Texas could coal. he had replied: We can try'' The trial had been made and the effort had proved sue cessful, the witness said.
 Captain Harber also told of seeing the Colon inside the harbor at Santia- go on the morning of May 29, and said it had remained there until June l. The American fleet, he said, lay seven or eight miles from the mouth of the har- Dor at night and further than that in the day
 Asked concerning his knowledge of the BrOoklyn's loop during the battle off Santiago, the witness said he did not see the loop made. He said, in re- ply to questions, that the blockade was maintained by vessels steaming in column back and forth in front of the mouth of the harbor at a distance of from seven to ten miles out, the great CT distance being that maintained at night. Captain Harber volunteered the statement that on May 27. before the new supply of coal was taken on tine Texas, there were about 400 tons of that fuel on the vessel.
 Captain Harber was then asked con- corning the position of the Brooklyn relative to the Texas and to the other ships when he first saw her after the turn. The Brooklyn he replied, was on the port bow of the Texas. standing at an angle, l should say, approximate ing one-half point to the southward of the heading of the Texas. At that time the Oregon was just forging past Us on the starboard side. in shore. The Iowa was stil farther in shore and pointing up, so that her bow overlap ped our bow. At one time I know that We fired across the stern of the Iowa. .
 Where were the Spanish vessels with reference to the heading of the Texas?'
 ''The head of the line was then on our starboard bow, I should say ap- proximately four points on the bow"