Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-10-15
court room before the beginning OF
the DAYS proceedings.

the days proceedings.
The first OF the witnesses recalled
for the correction of testimony was
Lieut. Commender Staunton. formerly
of New York, who made an addition
to his statement as to the first news
he received from Captain Allen, at
Key West, on May Goth. concerning
the presence of the Spanish fleet at
Santiago. The addition was as fol-
lows:
THE information obtained at that
time from Capt. Allen and reported to
the commander in chief some time near
noon, was not considered sufficient at
that time TO cause a change In the plan
that had already been adopted"
Capt F. E. Chadwick also returned
to the stand for the purpose of correct
ing his former evidence.
After previous witnesses had cor
rected their testimony, Capt. Cook was
called. He was questioned by Mr..
Hanna. and responded in clear and
distinct tones. He said he had been
at Key West on May 10
What information did you have at
that time concerning the whereabouts
of Cervera's feet" asked Mr.. Hanna.
my impressions now are simply
from rumor, that they had left the
Canary Islands and part of them had
been sighted at Martinique, and from
consular information, OF perhaps in
formation sent by the Harvard, that
they had gone to Curacao. That is all
from impression"
Giving the reasons for the departure
OF the flying squadron for Cienfuegos,
Capt. Cook said the squadron had
been sent to that port to intercept
and meet the Spanish squadron. it hav-
ing been determined, as We believed
at that time, by them to make Glen
fuegos as their objective point"
He had understood that the Spanish
| feet carried munitions of war for Ha
vana and it was believed that they
would go to Cienfuegos because Of its
accessibility to Havana
Capt. Cook detailed a conversation
between Commodore Schley and Capt.
Chester while the squadron was en-
route to Cienfuegos. He said there
had been talk between them about coal
ing on the southern coast of Cuba.
THE only thing l recollect, he
said, was that Commodore Schley
questioned Capt. Chester very closely
as to the facilities for coaling ships on
the south side of Cuba
do you know what information
was received"
Il think they consulted chart at
the time and something was said
about Cape Cruz. | recollect afterward
| looking at the chart there. and 1t did
not seem to be a favorable place. |
know that the subject of coaling was
early considered, even before leaving
Key West"
Admiral Dewey-"Was your answer
that Cape Cruz did or did not look like
favorable place? / did not quite I'M
derstand that"
Il said recollect very we'll my i'm
pressions at that time were that Cape
Cruz did not seem a favorable place
for coaling ships from Golfers"
Mr. Hanna-''Perhaps the court
would like to hear why you thought
so?"
IL could not well see how the larger
ships could get well enough in there
so that the Golfers would be smooth
enough to go alongside and coal ship"
Capt. Cook recalled the meeting of
! the Marblehead with the flying squad
ron en- route to Cienfuegos. but could
not recall only very indistinctly the
fact that the Scorpion had delivered to
| the Brooklyn the information from the
Eagle at that time. II did not re-
ceive any information" he said "and
did not consider the incident import
ant"
Capt. Cook said that upon arriving
off Cienfuegos on the morning of May
%. a blockade was Immediately estab
lished, as the firing of guns was
| heard, and it was believed that Ger
vera had arrived and fete in honor
OF his appearance was on.
Earthworks on the shore also were
seen, but they were not fired upon be-
cause it was considered desirable not
to unnecessarily expend ammunition.
81 think between that time and the
arrival of the Adula, it was presumed
that the whole beach was occupied
/ he said. I'VE saw cavalry and others
on the beach. The possibility OF a
boat landing was talked Of The idea
was that we would have to go in pref
ty well to the westward and at night.
| may nave had some conversation
with the commodore about 1t, but do
not recollect On the arrival of the
Adula. we fully expected to get all in
formation"