The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-18

the first of Admiral SchleyS witnesses
was introduced.
Captain Francis \. Cook who COM
manded n Brooklyn during the San
tiago campaign and who acted, though
unoffcialIy, 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 LOuetenant
William F. Fullam, who was senior
watch officer on the New Orleans dur
ing the Spanish war. and former Lieu
tenant Joseph Beale. who as an officer
on the Harvard, translated the cipher
dispatches between Commodore Schley
and the navy department carried by
tina vessel. Lieutenant BeaIe was the
last of the government witnesses. al
though Camptain Lemly explained hat
he would reserve the right to call 9th
ers if occasion should demand that he
do so. He had no sooner retired than
the first witness for Admiral Sch!ey
was called. h proved to be the Gu
ban pilot Eduardo Nunez.
CAPTAIN COOK OF THE BROOK
LYN.
Captain Cook was questioned by Mr..
Hanna, and responded in clear and
distinct tones. He said he had been at
Key West on May 18th. Giving the
reasons for the departure of the flying
squadron for C~ienfuegos, Captain Cook
said the squadron had been sent to that
port Ito intercept and meet the Span
ish squadron, it having been determin-
ed. as we believed at that time, by
them to max CienfuegOs their Objec-
tive point" He had understood that
the Spanish fleet carried munitions of
war for Havana, n it was believed
hat they YOU go to Cienfuegos, be-
cause of it's accessibility to Havana.
Captain Cook detailed a conversation
etwee Commodore Schley and Cap
tain Chester while the squadron was
en- routes to CienfuegOs. He said there
haid been talk between them about
cOaling on the southern coast of Cuba.
Captain Cook said that upon arriving
off CienfuegOs on h morning of May
22nd a blockade was Immediately es-
tablished as the firing of gun was
heard. and il was believed that CerVe-
ra had arrived and a fete in honor OF
his appearance was on.
Earthworks on the shore were seen.
but they were not fired upon because
it was considered desirable not to I'M
necessarily eXpend ammunition.
Il think between that time and the
arrival of the Adula. it was presumed
thai the whole beach was occupied"
he said. we saw cavalry and others
on the beach. The possibility of a boat
landing was talked of. On the arrival
of the Adula. we fully expected to get
all information.
Did you see any signal lights on
shore while you were there?'
Yes. the first thing after we arrived,
on Nav 22nd."
Where were those signal lights and
what were they?'
Il judge them to have been six or
seven miles to the westward, three
lights one ahead of the other, very
distinctly. and the discussion that took
place on the ship in which. 1 think the
commodore took part, was pretty clear
evidence that it was n signal of some
kind to assist that fleet and that he
certainly had them in there"
There could nave been on doubt
whatever from the arrangements of
those lights. that they were intended
as signals?"
"Oh 10: 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
concerning the arrival of the Iowa and
the Dupont off C~ienfuegos.
Captain Cook said they had brought
dispatches and he had gathered from
conversation with Commodore Schley
after their receipt that it was h .dea
both of Sampson and Schley that they
should continue to hold Cienfuegos. lie
did not. he said, recall the receipt of
the McCalla memorandum about a
landing place near Cienfuegos-
THOSE CUBAN SIGNALS.
Mr.. Hanna asked: Were you pres
AnN 0r INV infnrx-Sau n+--aA ~ ~+oTo
McCalla and the commodore"
Il was in consultations"
Briefly and exactly as you can give
it. what occurred?'
I'VE talked on various subjects at
first. l think Captain McCalla inform
ed him he had mining materials fer
the insurgents and that he was going
to communicate with the insurgent
camp We brought up the question
about the camp and where it was, and
then the commodore said to him: We
W seer three peculiar lights, one
ahead of the other here, but we cannot
make out what they are, and I believe
it is something in connection with the
Spanish fleet"
Captain McCalla gave a start,
threw up his hands and said: That is
the signal from the inSurgent camp.
They van to communicate with you
and added: Well 1 can go there and
find out at once The commodore told
hin to go, TO get off as Don as posso-
BILE n added: You a send a boat
across n let me know as oon as pos
sible.' hen the subject of coaling
came up again about the great Difficult
ty we were going to have in coaling
from GOLFERS, and Captain McCalla said;
You need not be at all concerned about
me. l will get coal if there is any coal
TO be obtained He was always cheer
full about everything. He started from
the ship almost Immediately: I must
get Off
I'm the meantime, closely connected
with that was the arrival of the Adula.
This steamer came in from Jamaica
n reported that the Spanish fleet had
gone into Santiago and a left on the
18th. That seemed to confirm the COM
modore's idea that they had reached
Cienfuegos. 1t was a suspicious craft
/ said something to the commodore
about letting hat steamer go in. He
said I don't care anything about that
steamer. but / am bound to get infor-
nation from her. If the captain does