The Washington times., 1901-10-23

was brief and developed no material
change from the testimony.
George L. Graham, correspondent of the
Associated Press. who was aboard the
flagship throughout the campaign, was
next called. He proved a very interest
ing witness. and punctured the Grown
inshield case at dozen different points
vincing.
In an swer TO preliminary questions he
said he was now engaged as correspon-
dent of the Associated Press at Albany,
n. y. and that he was aboard the BROOK
lyn during the Spanish war. He board
ed her on March % at Hampton hoads,
and did not leave her until August ~
following
BY MI Rayner:
Odd you see Captain SlgSDee on
board the Brooklyn May rs?
Ayes. sir.
Odd you hear him in conversation
with Commodore Schiey?
Ayes SIT.
Can you give us what that conver-
sation Was?
A.-Aftcr he reached the quarterback
he stopped and Commodore Schley said:
Have We got em here. SigSbee?' To
thfa Captain Sigsbee replied: NO, they
are not here; | have been here for
week. and they are not here They then
went aft and the conversation was con-
tfnued. Commodore SChley asked again
u he was sure they were not there, ana
close to the harbor. and that Captain
Cotton had been in and cut a cable.
G.-Gou heard Captain Sigsbee say that?
A-Yes. sir.
Stssbcc and was there anybody else pres
ent2
A-There were several officers near the
ganSwdy where he stood. but when we
went aft there was only the Commodore,
Captain Sigsbee and myself
In answer to further questions upon
this subject the witness said that he re-
ported the conversation between Commo-
dorc SchlCv and Captain Sigsbee. acd that
Captain Sigsbee knew that he was
newspaper man, and that he was there
after news He said that Sigshee further
knew what his report was. lie said cap
tain Sissbee saw the despatch which he
wrote and that he Cthe witness) sent 1t
by Captain Sigsbee to be cablcd. The en-
velope in which he sent it was not sealed;
The despatch detailed the facts, as stated
by SigSbeC. that the Spanish fleet was
not at Santiago.
Q.-Do you remember the reconnois-
sance of May 81?
Ayes, sir; | was aboard the Massi-
object of the Attack.
Q.-Were you present at n conversation
which took place between Commodore
Schley and Captain Higginson in the pi-
dollhouse of the Massachusetts?
Al stood in the doorway and heard
a part of the conversation. / cannot give
1t verbatim however Before stating this
would like to go back little and say
that while we We're on the Brooklyn on
the morning of May % l heard that they
were going in to lombard. and / asked
the commodore for permission to go
aboard the Massachusetts with him. He
had just given Mr.. McCauley permission
to go when he turned to me and
said: Il do not think you had better go.
|
Brooklyn" The Brooklyn was then coal
ing He said they did not intend TO do
anything but find out what the batteries
consisted Of / urged him, however, to
let me go, and he finally consented.
Q--pid you hear him make that state
ment that they were only going to find
out what the batteries consisted off
A.-Why, he made il to me.
Q.-Now | Will ask you again, were you
present at a conversation between Com
modore Schley and Captain Higginson in
the pilothOuse of the Massachusetts?
Al was present when there was some
discussion as to what the Spanish feet had
brought with them. Ii was reported that
they had brought some guns and ammuni-
ton, and there was some discussion as to
whether they had had time TO mount
them. or whether they had taken any Of
the large guns which were there and
mounted them The officers sat in the
cabin, smoking and chatting over the
matter Commodore Schley said he would
go in to a range Of 1900 or 1900 yards and
fire simply TO draw their fire. SO far as
l remember. Captain HisI;inson acqui-
esced. Later Mr.. Potts came in.
Captain Lemly-I do not want the con-
clusions OF the witness
Witness-Captain Hieginson acquiesced.
Captain Lemly-That is what object to.
Witness-Captain Higgnson said. then,
that that was his idea of It (meaning to
go in and draw their fire).
Potts Statements Denied.
BY Mr.. Rayner:
Q.-Were you in the presence of Com
modore Schley during the whole Of this
reconnaissance?
A.-Only a part of the time. I was be-
hind the coming tower and he was on
the other side. ILaughter.l
Odd you see Lieutenant Potts on
board the Massachusetts on May 81?
Ale came into the pilothouse during
part Of the conversation.
Mr.. Rayner then read from Lieutenant
Potts testimony various statements he
had related in regard to conversations
which he had with Commodore Schiey,
and which Commodore Schley had with
others while Potts was present Mr. Gra-
ham said he was with Commodore Schley
all Of the time with the exception of the
period when he was in the cabin with
Captain Higginson, and he heard no such
conversations as were related by Potts
Potts was not in the cabin with Commo-
dore Schley and Captain Higginson.
Q.-Now l would like to have you state
the incidents of the battle of July as
you saw them.
Accommodate Schley and myself were
standing on the quarterback talking.
Captain Cook had just left US. Hodgson
called from the after bridge that the
enemy's ships were coming out We
started forward and got in front of the
tower just as the nose of the
second vessel
The first ship was by this time
clear out. Commodore Schley took his
position on the platform surrounding the
coming tower and few minutes aftS-
ward Captain Cook came up. IT that
time the ships nose was pointing toward
the shore and she began to move for
first and Lieutenant Simpson then put his
head out and said: How was that?''
Commodore Schley replied: I did not see
IT, Simpson, but keep at it." Then we
made our turn, and as / remember
Il the ships guns were firing all the time.
After We had turned the three leading |
ships OF the enemy were out-the
Maria Teresa the Oquendo. and the
Nizcaya They were coming out in |
sort of fan shape, not following in per- |
feet line. As the Colon turned out she |
turned toward the shore, after clearing |
the shoal at the entrance, and ran along |
the shore inside of the other three. The |
commodore was standing on the platform |
so that he could see all that was going |
on. / was Jy him all Of the time with the |
exception Of about ten minutes when 1 |
went on the upper deck &c get a picture |
Of the NiZcaya. lie was absolutely cool |
and collected. The first thing / heard !
him say. after we had turned and gotten |
parallel with the Spanish ships, was: |
Cook. keep the men below informed Of |
everything and cheer them up"
When Ellis was killed the commodore |
was standing nearby ana some blood was |
Spsttcr,d over him, as / remember. Some |
one picked up the body and started to
throw il overheard. ! heard the commo-