Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-12-21

| Early on the morning of May % the
| Cristobal Colon and other vessels OF the
| Spanish squadron were discovered at an
! Choir in the harbor OF Santiago about 1900
| yards from the entrances.
\ No attempt was made by Commodore
! Schley on May 20 or May 80 to capture or
destroy these Spanish vessels.
| At l.30 p. m May 30 the cruiser New
Orleans and the collier Sterling Joined the
1 flying squadron.
! At 1855 a. m. May 81 Commodore Schiey
shifted his flag to the Massachusetts
| At IL 10 a. m. the flagship Massachu-
| sets signaied: THE Massachusetts, New
Orleans and Iowa win go in after dinner
| to distance of 1000 yards and fire al
| Cristobai Colon with eight, twelve and
| thirteen inch guns. Speed about ten
knots
| AT 1880 p. IN. the three vessels designated
/ steamed in column toward the entrance to
| the harbor of Santiago heading TO the
| eastward, at about ten knots speed. TsNe
! ships passed the harbor entrance about
! 1000 yards distant from the MORO. firing
/ at the Colon and the shore batteries
with ranges varying from 1000 yards to
5000 yards. All projectiles fec short.
When the ships had passed to the east
ward Of the entrance, the flagship turned
| offshore, followed in succession by the
1 other ships, repassed the entrance and
/ fred as before, but with ranges varying
from 5000 yards to 900 yards Some OF
these projectiles fell near the Colon.
| The fire was returned by the ships in
| the harbor and by the land batteries. but
no large guns were used by the batteries.
! Several projecties passed over our ves-
| sels but no injuries were sustained.
The flying squadron did not withdraw
| at night from the entrance to Santiago
! harbor to a distance at sea. The blockade
| was maintained at an average distance OF
| - rail fp,xs fln t<y. 49,
/ entrance during the day and probably
| somewhat nearer during the night. Tive
| vessels performed picket duty at night
! two miles inside of the linet OF vessels.
1 The Spanish squadron was discovered to
be in the entrance to Santiago harbor
1 steaming out about $500, m. July g. 1888.
| The Brooklyn at that time was heading
! to the westward of north. about $500
! Yards southwest three-quarters southwest
| from the Moro. which was practically
her blockading position.
/ Large vessels coming out Of the harbor
Of Santiago were obliged to head ab0u
southwest by south, and the Spanish veo
sells therefore in coming out until clear d
! the shoal to the westward were obliged Il
| head directly for the position OF thu
| Brooklyn. When clear of this shoaa. thu
Spanish vessels turned in succession 4
the westward and took course nearly
/ parallel to the land.
vessels with varying helm. fired one shoi
| from her forward turret at $500 yard
| range, which proved short, and then en-
1 gagged with her port battery. When about
4 1400 yards distant from the leading Span
ish ship, the Teresa, the Brooklyn turnet
to starboard, with her helm hard aport
and continued so TO turn until she headed
to the westward. parallel to the course o.
! the Spanish ships. The commanding OFF,
Ger of the Brooklyn put the helm hard
| aport and at almost the same instant
Commodore Schley gave the order Hard
! aport"
When the Brooklyn's helm was put hard
! aport the Teresa was about 1,400 yards &c
! the eastward of north from the Brook
lyn, the Viscaya was to the eastward OF
the Teresa, and the Colon was to the
! eastward of the Viscaya. When the
Brooklyn completed the turn and was
| heading to the westward parallel to the
course of the Viscaya, the Viscaya and
4 the Colon were about 2i00 yards to the
1 northward and westward of the Brook
/ Ign.
The turn OF the Brooklyn was toward
the Texas The Texas stopped and backed
| her engines.
On July 3, 1898. abouts the time the
Brooklyn began her turn to starboard. a
\ conversation regarding the proximity of
| the Texas took place between Commodore
! Schley and Lieutenant A. C. Hodgson.
Admiral Schley caused TO be published
! in a daily newspaper a letter addressed to
him by Lieutenant Commander A. G.
Hodgson. dated June II. 1899 in which
! Lieutenant Commander Hodgson said,
THE colloquy published in the New York
! Sun and alleged to have taken place be-
/ tween you and me on the day of the bat
! tie off Santiago. July 8. 1898. never occur
red" Admiral Schley did not have pub
| lished the other letters of Lieutenant
| Commander Hodgson IN regard TO this
! matter
Then follows the opinion of the court
as announced above.
THE RESULT A SURPRISE.
The result was complete surprise,
and it is probable that no prophecy
has approached the truth. Instead Of
one report there are two. Both are
signed by George Dewey, president,
and by Samuel c. Lemly as judge adj
vocate. This is form said to be rec
| ognized In all courts of inquiry. the
! signatures of the other members not
being necessary. But it is explained
that Admiral Dewey signed the cond
report, a minority report, to express
his qualification of or dissent from tie
views expressed by the court com
prising besides himself Admirals Ben
ham and Ramsay, in the first report.
When the first information of the
findings of the court We're conveyed to
Admiral Schley, he was seated in the
reception room of hotel chatting with
friends and several newspaper men
and evinced no signs of nervousness
over the outcome.
When the conclusions of Admiral
Dewey We're read to him, Admiral
Schley showed his pleasure, and it was
evident from his manner that he re-
garded the statement from Admiral
Dewey as vindication of his cause.