The Washington times., 1901-09-28


Rayner that the first officer he met on
board the Brooklyn when he went to de-
liver the dispatches was the officer of
the deck. He also met Mr.. Wells. the
commodore's secretary, who went with
him to the commodore's cabin. Whether
he carried down the dispatches or
whether MIR. Wells carried them he could
not say, but he remembered that the COM
modore opened and read them in his
presence.
The witness said in answer to another
question that he did not know at that
time whether he had passed the Marble
head
Mr. Rayner-Did you gather from what
he (schley1 said that the memora ndum
and despatch were confusing-did he say
to you that there was a conflict between
the despatch and the memorandum?
Lieutenant Hood-He did not make such
a statement to me
Mr.. RayEer sought to show by an alb
stract from a magazine article signed by
Admiral Sampson that the steamer Aduia
had reported the information which Com
mouGfe Schley said he obtained from her
in regard to the whereabouts of the Span
ish fleet, but Mr.. Hanna objected and the
extract was not read.
just at this point Mr.. Stayton ap-
peared as the representative of Admiral
Sampson. but the incident of The Court s
refusal to permit him to remain inside the
bar was lost on the spectators.
Captain McCaTIa Called.
The next witness was Capt. Bowman II.
McCalla, now commanding the flagship
kearsarge. who, during the war with
Spain, was in command of the cruiser
Marblehead. He has been regarded all
along as one of the most interesting wit
nesses for the judge advocate. He gave
his testimony in Il low voice. and did not
hesitate in answering questions.
Captain McCalla told of falling in with
the Flying Squadron off the Florida
nat or 10
was on it's way to Cienfuegos. and direct
ing the Eagle to report to Commodore
Schley certain Information which the
witness had gathered regarding the situa-
ton on the south coast of Cuba. The
Eagle, however. was intercepted by the
ixen, which reported to the flagship
WAS any attempt made to obtain any
from you (by Schley) about
the state of affairs?"
None" answered Captain McCaIIa.
The. witness was then examined at
some length in regard to code of signals
" hich he had arranged with insurgents
near Cicnfuo gos b. which communication
could be established between the shore
and American ships
He had communicated this CODE he
said, only to Captain Chadwick, chief of
star to Admiral Sampson. enjoinng Sc
crecy on him. He had not made a writ
ten report on the subject and had not
to take any chances that might secure
the betrayal of the Cubans with whom
he mad arranged the code.
Mr.. Hanna-When you made communi-
cation of the secret code of signals to the
chief Of staff, did you make it a conf
Dental matter?
Al impressed upon him the necessity
o. Secrecy.
Q.-When did you arrive at Cienfuegos
the second time from Key West?
About O'Clock on the morning Of
the 9th of May.
Q.-When you arrived there. did you re-
port to the commanding officer?
Al went on board the flagship Brook |
yn and reported to Commodore Sehley.
Odd he give you any orders or in |
structions at that time?
Al handed him an envelope marked |
confidential, and in the conversation |
which followed | told him that the Span
ported authoritativelys as being at Sam |
tiaso: that they had been SO reported at |
Key West on the 18th of May, and that |
when left on the list they were still at |
Santiago.
o.-You communicated that verbally?
AYES. Commodore Schley told me |
that he thought the Spanish squadron |
was at Cienfuegos. He said that he had |
received newspaper from the Adula a |
few days previously, from which he gath |
cred that they must have sailed from |
fore the arrival Of the forces under his |
command. Before that asked him IL he |
had seen any lights on the beach. He |
said he had. asked him If he had seen |
three lights at night and he said he had. |
l said: Those. are the Cubans trying to |
l offered to go and see |
about it,
Q.-Before you made that suggestion |
mad Commodore Schley given you any in |
structions on the subject?
A--No.
Q.-What did you do after that inter
view?
Communicated With the Cubnns.
Al told Commodore Schley that I |
would take the Eagle with me because the
,aptain Of the Eagle knew exactly the
spot where the lights had appeared. We
arrived there about noon. and we found
cubans drawn up on the beach We at
'nce landed ammunition, dynamite, and
lies. and gave them clothing and food.
found that Cervera was not at Glen
uegos.
Odd you have any difficulty in COM
with the insurgents?
Al had no difficulty in communicating
With them because they had a perfect
larbor. with low bluff about fifteen
feet high.
Q.-How did you communicate with
hem?
A--with two boats from the Marble
lead and two boats from the Eagle.
Q.-Who went on shore?
A.-Lieutenant Noel of the Marblehead
Ind officer from the Eagle.
Q.-Haying obtained this information
what did you do?
A.-Signaled the captain Of the Eagle 20
-ejoin the Brooklyn and make full re-
port and to report that Cerveras squad
ron was not at Cienfuegos.
Q.-Why did you send the Eagle?
A--Because the Eagle was faster than
Odd you consider that information
IF Importance?
Al considered It OF great Importance.
Q.-Then what did you do2
Al followed in the Marblehead, reach
ng the Brooklyn between and o'clock
Odd you go on board the Brooklyn
Al steamed under the quarter of the
Brooklyn and had some conversation
With Commodore Schley- L asked him If
lie would like me to go on board. He
aid he would, and 1 went on board.
Q.-What occurred during that inter-
lew?
A-After going on board /. of course,
confirmed the fact that Admiral Cervera's
1eet was not at Cienfuegos. and L saw
hen, for the first time, a set OF instruc-
ions to Commodore Schley. During the
lie asked me to read the in
,tructions. and after l read them he
isked me what l thought he had better
10. Previously to that he had said that
10 could not go to Santiago; that his
;hips could not be coaled at sea; and also
hat If he returned to Key West he would
,e court -martialed. 1t was after this that
10 handed me the orders, and after read
ng them / said: Commodore, | thinl. |
you'd go TO Santiago, even If l did not
stay there" While l was there the flag
lieutenant of the Brooklyn came in with
wo separate signals; enc was to the
luantity of coal on each of the ships. and
he ether was a report that tine Merrimac
rad 1890 tons of coal.
Q.-Repcat whfit you said to Commodore
,chley as to going 10 Santiago.
Al said: Commodore, l think you
must 90 to Santiago. even If you do not
tay there" Shortly afterward commo-
lore schley said: This is a matter which
viii have to decide myself, and you may
etu,n to your ship