The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1901-10-19
NE COURT OF INQUIRY.
Admiral Schley's Witnesses Will b
Only Officers of the Brook
Ign and Oregon.
elpr. COOK COHRECTs HIS TESTIMONY.

-, Engines Were UncOupled
- n Circular Order Issued by
49,. commander-in-Chi While
on Blockade.
Washington, Oct. 1.-THE Schley
.ourt of inquiry began proceedings as
nal with the correction of testi-
wonv given on the previous day, the
s,,nesses summoned for this purpose
Soino Cant. Cook and Com
monder Sears, who testified Tuesday.
When they had left the stand, Com
mander Newton +. Mason, who was
avecutiye officer on the Brooklyn dur
,ro the war with Spain, was called to
~olate his observation of the conduct
~ the Santiago campaign. 1t Is the
rurpose of Mr.. Rayner to first ex-
anime officers of the Brooklyn, and
20 follow these with number OF
those who were on the Oregon during
tbe battle off Santiago. 1t Is under
.tood that his entire list of witnesses
q practically confined to persons who
were on board those two vessels.
While Capt. Cook occupied the wit
ness stand for the purpose OF correct
inc his testimony, Mr. Hanna asked
him: referring to your statement
IN regard to the steam required to be
tent M in connection with the UNI
coupling of the Brooklyn's engines
that II was the order of the comman-
der.in-chief while lying off Santiago
on the blockade. Was that a written
order?'
"My recollection is that it was n
bulletin. The exact words / do not re-
member"
The particular point was with re-
spect to the uncoupling OF the en-
zines. Was there anything in that
order on this subject, and in pursu-
snce Of which that was doneP
M is my impression that there was
They all, as | understand it, had their
engines uncoupled."
at Is a general recollection OF 1t
only?'
ayes, that we should have our for
ward engines uncoupled all the time"
"Can you aid us IN any way to
Identifying the bulletins from your
Impression"
"No. We could not have moved the
four engines with the steam we car
rled. | know that we had an order
about the speed, and it was circular
bulletin, ! think"
Commander Mason was called as
Che first new witness of the day.
Commander Mason detailed the
siege OF Cienfuegos and also referred
10 the blockade OF Santiago.
Mr.. Rayner then asked the witness
how many times he had seen Com
modore Schley under fire, to which
he replied During all the engage
ments."
"What was his general conduct,
manner and bearing on these occa-
slons?" Mr. Rayncr asked
Excellent, in every particular. He
was calm, collected and brave"
Asked to give brief account OF the
battle Of July 3, Commander Mason,
after giving the prcllminnries, said;
"As soon as | reported the battery
TO Capt, Cook, In the coming tour, !
asked him II we should commence fir
Ing. lie replied; Fire as soon as you
are ready | immediately gave the
order to Lieut.. Simpson TO fire as
soon as he could, giving him n range
OF $500 yards. | think the first gun
was fired within five minutes, or very
close to five minutes, after the first
alarm. The rest Of the battery took
up the fire at once and continued to
IRE on the port bow until the "angcs
commenced TO get down TO l,ScO and
'ooo yards, ! asked Capt. Cook os to
which way he was going round, II be-
ing necessary for mo TO know on ac'
count OF changing the battery below,
shifting from one side TO the other
lie answered that he was going with
port helm. give the necessary or
ders on deck and went below
AS arrived In the nfter cabin the
after iiyc-inch gun was fred for the
los' time on the port side and the
s,orboard gun took up the fire imme'
o'otcly The stnrboard battery then
was engaged for the rest Of the ne
uon' The range at the time we
turned, as far ~ remember, was
about l,t00 yards, although ! have
recollection OF LOO yards being sent
70 me once. AS 10 the position Of the
enemy they were on the port bow
outside of the harbor when we nude
she turn with the port helm. AT the
ehd OF the turn they were on our
.,arboord beam and quarter with one
Of Them n little ahead"
Mr. Rayner-Whnt time was 10
when the Colon ran nshore?"
i took no time, only know ty the
eport NJ tho time that IL was about
l'lb p, M"
After the surrender wns accom-
pushed, whore did the Brooklyn goV
when Capt, Cook returned on
BOARD we were sent TO the eastward
~ once by the commodore to inter-
yep Spanish man-of-war That was
reported first by the liesolute and
Then by the Vixen"
nd you intercept any Spanish
man.of.wnr?"
a About dusk we met the Austrian
Wuiser Mnrla Teresa"
flal---
(iOOd pemOh Year,