Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-15
CAPTAIN COOK
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said. We saw cavalry and others on
the beach. The possibility OF a boat
landing was talked of. The idea was
that we would have to go in pretty wen
10 the westward and at night. may
have had some conversation with the
commodore about it, bat do not recci-
lect. On the arrival ofFthe fAdula we
fully expected to get all information.
Did YOU see any signal lights on
shore while you We're there? Yes, the
first thing after We arrived, on May
cd.
Where were those signal lights and
what were they?" Il judged them to
have been about 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 | think the commodore took
mart. was pretty clear evidence that II
was signal of some kind to assist that
fleet and that he certainly had them in
there. | know he felt doublSssure at
thar time that he had them there.
Their. WAS some discussion whether
these were signals that they We're go
p.rhere or whether they were already
there But of on thing | am very posi-
hive. that the commodore was satisfied
H. had them i'll there at that time.
There could have been no doubt
whatever from the arrangements of
those, lights that they We're intended as
sign,lso" "Oh. no. their appearance
AZ the time they did and remaining so
long. but We could not determine from
whom to or wrom they We're sent.
rho witness
concerning the arrival of the Iowa and
Dupont off Cienfuegos. Captain Cook
said they had brought dispatches and
he had gathered from conversation
with Commodore Schley after their re
.ceipt that it was the idea of both Samp-
son and Schley that they should con
tinue TO hold CienfueSos. He dld not.
he said. recall the receipt OF the Nc
Gala memorandum conveying Il land
ing place near Cienfuegos. After read
ing the dispatch, he said:
Il never saw or heard of il. 1t may
have been received, but if | had seen
il. certainly would remember ii.
In this connection he said that while
he was not formally appointed as chief
Of staff to Commodore Schley. he had
often acted in that capacity and the
commodore had he said. always COM
municated very freely with hiGn.
Mr.. Hanna asked: Were you present
at any interview between Capt. Nc
Gala and the commodore? Il was in
consulate ton
Briefly and exactly as you can give
il, what occurred" We talked Oh
various subjects at first l think Capt.
H. IN III, b.ah aI ma
terial for the insurgents and added that
he was going to communicate with the
insurgent camp. We brought up the
question about the camp and where ii
was and then the commodore said TO
him: We have seen three peculiar
lights. one ahead of the other here. but
we cannot make out what they are ami
l believe it is something in connection
with the Spanish fleet.
Capt. McCalla gave a start. thre"
up his hands and said: That is the
signal from the insurgent camp. They
want to communicate with YOU and
added Well. can go there and find
out at once
THE commodore told him to go. To
get off as soon as possible, and added:
You can send a boat across and let me
know as soon a possible. The subject
of coaling came up again about the
great difficulty We We're going to have
in coaling from Golfers. and Captain
McCalla said: You need not be at all
concerned about me. | will get coal if
there is any coal to be obtained. He
was always cheerful about everything.
He started from the ship almost in
nadia tply. and said Il off
the meantime. closely connected with
that, was the arrival of the Adula.
This steamer came in from Jamaica
and reported that the Spanish fleet
had gone into Santiago and had left
on the 18th. | recOllect that particu-
larly, because that seemed to confirm
the commodores idea that they had
reached Cienfuegos. 1t was a suspiCi-
Gus craft. They did not give any clear
reason for going in except they wanted
to communicate with their subjects,
and in my conversation with the COM
modore my impressions were that he
looked upon that as entirely suspicious.
Not understanding the matters aid
not knowing exactly his object. | said
something to him about letting that
steamer go in. He said: L don't care
anything about that steamer, but
am bound to get Information from her.
If the captain does not give it. | viii
certainty get it out of some of the pas
sengers.'
1t was arranged that when she cam
out the officers should go aboard and
question the passengers and get in
formation from them. She did not
come out. That confirmed him still
more that they Were there. Then the
Eagle came down in the evening and
reported that they had communicates
WIN the insurgent camp and that the
spanish squadron was not in Cienfue-
gos'
That information was given in po5-
1--we form. was it," Positive"
Speaking of the coal supply of the
vessels of the flying squadron while
at Clenfuegos. Capt. Cook said that his
ohiy anxiety was concerning the Texas.
whose supply was light. 1t had been
iouhd dlfi1cult to coal that ship on ac-
count OF its sponsors. He said in this
connection that Commodore Schley had
Always been persistent in keeping TIE
shlps as full of coal as possible avail
ing himself of every opportunity tol