Evening star., 1901-10-01
.StGSBEE TfSTIFlES
Continued from First Page)

ent. but took no part In the proceedings.
Capt Sigsbee was again placed on the
stand. When questioned by Mr.. Hanna In
regard to Admiral schley's reference to
what he had said In the admirars letter to
committee Of the Senate. Capt. Sigsbee
replied:
II did not say all these vessels had been
there for week They had been there
some time. but L did not know how long
some of them were there. / stated We had
seen nothing of the Spanish fleet L may
have stated that We knew nothing posi-
lively or absolutely about its movements,
but l recited certain events to show there
was possibility of the Spanish feet being
in at Santiago at that time
This case Is one involving reputation.
continued Captain Sigsbee. 1T has been
stated by Admiral Schiey in an official let
ter to the United States Senate that said
certain things. 1t has been made a public
matter. l think / should be allowed to
express. under oath, what I really said
Mr. Hanna said rat he would be permit
ted to answer the question.
Il did not say" he continued, Il believed
the Spanish fleet was not there. said 1
had not seen it."
Q. Did you give him any assurance point
int in that direction? A. My orders from
the Navy Department said the Spanish fleet
had arrived there. Then told Commodore
Schley had captured the British steamer
Restormel the day before my visit to him.
and the captain of that steamer had made
| statement 1 have already given. / desire
| further to say. in making THIS statement, 1
gave Admiral Schley certain documents.
ard these documents have since been found
in the files turned into the Navy Depart
ment by Admiral Schley.
The witness stated that he had received
| on board pilot who was to be turned over
TO the Minneapolis, but this order had been
countermanded.
Capture of the Restormel.
He said that he had written two letters
which had been found in the files turned
| over by Admiral Schley to the department
one to the judge of the prize court or the
commissioner of the prize court at Key
West, in which he reported the capture Of
the British steamer Restormel, which was
| going into Santiago with coal.
The letter to the department was to the
same effect He said when he ordered
| to report on the flagship he took copies of
| these letters with him and also a letter he
| had previously addressed to Capt. Jewell
| the address of which he changed to send to
| Commodore Schley.
| Mr.. Hanna then read copies of these let
| ters. The letter to the prize court reclted
| the circumstances under which the British
| coal ship had been found going into SaHti-
| ago. This letter showed that the steamer
had left Spanish port first on The day
| after war had been declared; that 1t had
| touched at Curacao, and that it had 2,400
| tons of coal aboard. 1t was captured by
him close to the Morro.
| The other letter contained this informa-
| licH. NO news mere. nave seen abSO-
| lutely nothing of the Spanish fleet" An
| other letter Captain Sigsbee had written to
Commodore Schley from Mole. st. Nicholas
| based on information Captain Sigsbee had
| secured by reading cablegrams passing be-
| tween Commodore Schley and the depart
| ment stated: MY Dear Commodore: Tele-
| gram here for you. Do as you are doing
and you will do right. The department ex-
poets you to exercise great effort to keep
| in coal Two Golfers have been ordered
| here for your vessels" etc.
Letter From Mole st. Nicholas.
Q. By Mr.. Hanna: The letter 1 have Just
read states "do as you are doing, and you
| will do right" What was the flying squad
| ron doing at the time you wrote that?
| A That based on the tenor of the
| cipher telegram that L found at the Mole
from the commander-in-chief of the flying
| squadron to the Navy Department.
The witness believed then that 1t was
the intention to coal his ships off Santiago.
| He had left Santiago on the morning of the
| day he wrote that letter, May 30
| The witness believed that Commodore
| Schley would coal his ships off Santiago or
| at Benias.
! Captain Sigsbee did not remember that
| Commodore Schley had asked him when he
went aboard the flagship May 26 whether
| the Spanish squadron was at Santiago.
Mr.. Rayner read letter from Admiral
| Sampson to the Navy Department in which
| it was stated that Captain Sigsbee had told
| him that the 29th of May Commodore
| Schley was blockading the harbor of San
| tiago twenty miles from shore.
| He was asked by Mr.. Rayner whether
| that was a correct statement and whether
| he had told Admiral Sampson that.
Mr.. Hanna objected to this question, and
| in its place Mr.. Rayner asked the witness
| whether he had ever told any one that the
| flying squadron was blockading the harbor
OF Santiago twenty miles from shore, and
he replied that he never had.