The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-10-11
COMMODORE GRANT CALLE

positions OF al the SHIPS on account oi
the smoke and the attention we were pay
ing 10 our own ship in the hght."
COMMODORE GRANT CALLED.
Commander Schuetz was then excused
and Lieutenant Commander Albert ".
Grant. who was senior watch officer on
the Massachusetts, during the war with
Spain was called.
Asked by Captain Lemley concerning
the blockade OF Cienfuegos. Commander
Grant said there were no directions Civ
ing an order of battle there. bat that
there was upon the arrival a signal from
the flagship that Cienfuegos was to be
blockaded- He had on the occasion az
the maneuvre OF Cicnfuegos seen the
Spanish earthworks there and the Inasts
Of one vessel living in the harbor. but
nothing TO his knowledge had been done
TO destroy those works
Commander Grant said that Re remem-
bered q signal from the Brooklyn before
starting from Cienfuegos saving that the
feet was bound for Santiago and would
rendezvous at Gondaes bay. Tho prog
gress on that cruise. De said. was slow.
because the lighter vessels were affected
by the weather.
BE said on the first night out from Ci-
cnfuegos a suspicious vessel which bad
erroneously been supposed to belong to
the enemy had been sighted. The Brook
lyn. which ad been steaming just in front
Of the Massachusetts,. changed SIS course
and turned to port. The witness said
that as soon as he observed this maneu-
vre he turned the Massachusetts, so as
10 protect the ship following.
Then" he said. ''as knew rs I was
going 70 clear the Brooklyn. went ahead
with port engine fun speed and shifted
the helm and gave the whistle signal
Were the ships in formation OF eoi-
umn?" Captain Lemley asked. The Wit
ness replied:
They We're not. Theer was mix up"
Commander Grant then told about the
retrograde movement Of the flying squad
ron toward Key West as well as the
blockade OF Santiago. He also descrio-
cd the bombardment Of the Colon on 1Iay
q and said that on that occasion he had
no conversation with Admiral Schiey.
Have YOU stated all or did you un-
derstand that 7 want an that Commodore
Schley may have said within your hear
ing in relation TO battle on thar day2
x was only in Commodore Schiey's
presence once ana that was when he went
over the side after the firing was over.
] heard these words. that the reconnois-
ance had developed the batteries and he
was satisfied or words 10 that effect
Mr. Rayner questioned the witness con-
cerning the signals Of Nav - with the
end in view of showing that Commodore
SchIey's signal az $50 p. IN. saying that
.the general meeting place VIII DE - miles
south OF Santiago" Was modified by the
preceding signal Of 1870 a. m., saying ga
case OF separation the feet VIII rende-
zous at place designated by signal
The witness declined 20 admit that this
was true. calling attention % the fact
that the 1.31 signal also specified the
latitude ard longitude OF Gonsives bay.
showing a he held. that that signal re-
ferred 70 a former signal and that the
$50 signal for a rendezvous 70 miles
south Of Santiago was independent ana
was not modified.
M Rayner questioned the witness con-
cerninc the encounter with a suspicious
vessel while enr0uts 70 Santiago.
You say there was melee or mix I'D
on tho night Of the 25th. That was The
time Won were on your way from Cienfu-
eeos TO Santiago. Is there anything IN
your log book about that2
i do not think 80. but next morning
I made a written statement % Captain
Hieginson. 7 am very sorry have not
a. copy OF the letter I wrote az that
time"
The court asked the following questions.
-Were any efforts made by The fyins
souadron to discover whether ~ not Ger
vera.s squadron was iu the haruqr ot
Cienfuegos2
None. O. ny knowledge
..Vve-e ans orders given from the f7E-
shin bv signal ~ othcrRise fnr the 9a.a-
arre of the shipa composing the aE
squadron in tie event ~ meet.1e carfe- /
ra.s SQUADRON in the passage fson tiea-
fuoeos o. santlaEof
.-Nore. to ny kaowie1re.