Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-15


building caught fire and the entire
plant was destroyed. The loss is
y $4,000. The burglars, who escaP-
ed, secured nothing, as the safe
was empty. VI
esss** &s.&* ssses
ships as full Of coal as possible, avail
ing himself of every opportunity to
take on fresh supplies. He had never
been especially anxious about the coal
supply of the Brooklyn, but there
were times when he would have been
glad to have more
Cook said he recalled the arrival of
the Hawk May "a with dispatches.
Schley had told him the Hawk
brought orders to the effect that the
squadron should proceed to Santiago
if he was satisfied the Spaniards were
not at Cienfuegos but Schley said:
I'm not satisfied they are not here.
still believe they are here.
"If satisfied the Spaniards were at
Cienfuegos why did you leave there?"
the witness was asked.
Because of McCalla's report from
the insurgents on Shore" he answered.
Describing the departure of the fly
ing squadron for Santiago, the witness
said it was made after dark in order to
conceal it's intentions. The run on
the night of May "a was fairly good.
The next day the weather was squal-
ly and stormy with the sea moderate
| to rough"
On May 26, the weather moderated,
but there was long, nasty sea- with
the ships rolling a good deal. They
had been compelled to slow up in or
der to accommodate the Eagle, the
commodore desiring to keep the fleet
intact as it was in column formation.
There was considerable talk on the
part of the commodore concerning the
coal supply, he feeling that if the then
present expenditure was to continue,
it would not last long. He was still es-
pecially concerned about the Texas and
had said to Cook 1--WE must keep the
ships in fighting trim" Then they
consulted the charts looking for place
fit for coaling. Finally they hit upon
Gonaives bay and decided to lay the
course for that point. The idea," he
said, was that he should proceed in
the direction of Santiago and that if
We found the sea such, the we could
coal We would Immediately institute a
4 blockade, but if not practicable to do
THAT we would proceed to Gonaiyes Bay
and coal there"
The witness detailed the retorgrade
movement of the flying squadron to-
ward Key West beginning May 26. He
said his first information that such a
movement was to be undertaken was
when he received orders to move. He
had informed Schley on the evening
of May 27 that he thought the sea had
become calm enough to coal and found
the Commodore had also reached the
same conclusion.
i Concerning the Santiago blockade
Cook said Schleys constant idea was
that the vessels should be kept well
supplied with coal, kept moving con.
stantly, SO if the Spanish fleet should
come out of the harbor our ships
would be ready for action. Cook said
there were no orders for battle from
May 19 to June 1, but the fleet was
always in condition for action.
Tells of Famous Loop.
\ Cook, at great length, told the story
of the battle of July g. He said when
the Spaniards came out all the yes
sells were carrying out the instruc
trance. He saw the Spanish vessels
heading straight for the opening be
tween the Texas and the Brooklyn
when he gave the order hard aport'
which started the famous loop of the
Brooklyn, on his own responsibility
He never for moment thought of {
collision with the Texas, which vesse
he passed about 400 yards away. He
has always felt after studying the po
sitions of the vessels, had he
shifted his helm at that time
disaster would have followed
Oregon Was Safe.
He said the starboard engine of the
Brooklyn was not reversed during the
turn and denied that the Oregon wa!
! ever between the Brooklyn and the
Spanish vessels.
SchIey Understood.
{ Immediately after he had given thu
7 order Hard aport" Schley had asked
if mis- helm was "aport" and that there
; was a perfect understanding betweel
r himself and the Commodore Cool
v said he was not afraid of being ram
med unless the Spanish fleet got with
in the Brooklyn's turning circle. HI
USISfSu lldJ IL nc udu lullSt
2 with the starboard instead o
!, the port helm he would have blanketet
: the fire of the American fleet ant
i made ramming by the enemy impossi
). bic. He said he always regarded
i: Schley as an enthusiastically brav
t and patriotic officer, on all occasions.
e Schley's Counsel Satisfied.
At 2:30 o'clock Cook was excused
: counsel for Schley announcing the
!, u had no questions to ask the witness a
!, this time.
u Schley Begins Testimony.
. . At $3.50 o'clock the government rest
. ed in the Schley court of inquiry. NJ
: nez, a Cuban pilot, was the first wi
: ness called for by the counsel fo
= Schley.
L