The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-15
FIRST or SCHLFy'S
WITNESSES SPEAK
Testimony For the Govern
ment Concluded.
CAPTAIN COOK CALLED
Commander Of the Brooklyn and
Chief of Staff.
ScHLEY ALWAYS READY FOR THE FOE
Cook Describes the Battle Off Santiago and
Tells Of the BrookIyn's Famous Loop.
No Fear Of Collision. Schley an
Ideal Commander,
Ideal Commander.
(By the Associated Press.)


Washington, Oct. 14.-Today in the
Schley Court of Inquiry Judge Advocate
Lemly concluded presentation of testi
mony for the Government and the first
Of Admiral Schley's witnesses was in
troduced Capt. Francis A. Cook, who
commanded the Brooklyn during the
Santiago campaign, and who acted,
though unofficially, in the capacity of
chief of staff for the commodore, was
on the witness stand the greater part of
the day He was followed by Lieuten-
ant Commander William F. Fullam,
who was senior watch officer on the
New Orleans during the Spanish war,
and former Lieut.. Joseph Beale, who as
an officer on the Harvard translated the
cipher dispatches between Commodore
Schley and the Navy Department car
ried by that vessel.
Lieut.. Beale was the last of the Gov
eTnment witnesses, although Capt.
Lemly explained that he would reserve
the right to call others if occasion
should demand it. He had no sooner
retired than the first witness for Ad
miral Schley was called. This proved to
be the Cuban pilot, Eduardo Nunez.
CAPT. COOK 3TESTIFIES.
Capt. Cook was questioned by Mr..
Hanna and responded in clear and dis
tinct tones. He said he had been at Key
West on May 19 giving the directions for
the departure of the Flying Squadron for
Cienfuegos. Capt Cook said the squad
la1 70 tLat
tercept and meet the Spanish squadron,
it having been determined as we be-
lieved at that time, by them to make
Cienfuegos their objective point" He
had understood that the Spanish fleet
carried munitions of war for Havana,
and it was believed that they would go
to Cienfucgos, because of it's accessibili-
ty to Havana. Capt. Cook detailed a
conversation between the commodore
and Capt. Chester while the squadron
was en- route to Cienfuegos. He said
there had been talk between them about
coaling on the southeren coast.
Capt. Cook said that upon arriving off
CienfuegOs on the morning of May %
blockade was Immediately established.
as the firing of guns was heard and it
was believed that Cervera had arrived
and fete in honor of his appearance
I was on.
Earthworks on the shore were seen,
but they were not fired upon because it
was considered desirable not to unneoes-
sarily expend ammunition.
II think said the witness. between
that time and the arrival of the Adula
1T was probable that the whole beach
No
others on the beach The possibility of
boat landing was talked of. On the
arrival of the Adula we fully expected
TO get all information
SIGNALS AT CIENFUEGOS.
Did you see any signal lights on
shore while you We're there
Yes, the first thing after we arrived
on May 22nd.''
Where We're those signal lights and
what were they !"
L Judged them to have been about
SIX or seven miles to the westward.
three lights, one ahead of the other. very
distinct and the discussion that took
place on the ship, in which think the
commodore took part, was pretty clear
evidence that it was signal of some
tainly had them in there
There could have been no doubt what
ever from the arrangements of those
lights, that they were intended as sig
nalS?"
DID NOT UNDERSTAND THEM.
Oh. no. Their appearing at the time
they did and remaining so long. but we
could not determine from whom or to
whom they were sent"
Mr.. Hanna questioned the witness con-
corning the arrival of the Iowa and the
Dupont off Cienfuegos Captain Cook said
they had brought dispatches and he had
gathered from conversation with Commo
dore Schley after their receipt that it
Was the idea both of Sampson and Schlev
that they should continue to hold Glen
fuegos. He did net. he said, recall the
receipt of the McCalla memorandum about
landing place near Cienfuegos.
Mr.. Hanna: Were you present at any
interview between Captain McCalla and
the Commodore
Il was in consultation"
Briefly and exactly as you can give
it, what occurred?"
We talked on various subjects at first.
think Captain McCalla informed him he
had mining materials for the insurgents
and that he was going to communicate
with the insurgent camp.
McCALLA EXPLAINS.
I'VE brought up the question about the