The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-03

witness.
Capt. Sigsbee was the first of yester-
days witnesses to appear for the pur-
pose of correcting his testimony. When
he began his statement, it was found
| that the official stenographer was not
present and Admiral Dewey's private
secretary, Lieut. Crawford was called
upon to perform the duty of recorder of
the proceedings
Captain Sigsbee stated that he had
made another search last night for the
message from the navy by the terms of
which he sought to connect with the fly
ing squadron off Santiago and that he
had found private letter which he had
written at the time in which he had
said:
Until we sighted the vessels. on the
29th, we knew nothing positive as to
their whereabouts"
DOYLE RESUMES.
Lieutenant Doyle then resumed his
testimony begun yesterday. He was ex-
amined by Mr.. Rayner.
He continued in reply to questions to
give a narrative of the campaign
Mr.. Rayner asked whether the Brook
| 1yn had engaged in any bombardments
during the month of June, 1898. but
Judge Advocate Lemly and Mr.. Hanna
objected, on the ground that the ques--
tion was similar to the question asked
yesterday concerning the blockade after
the arrival of Admiral Sampson
Mr. Rayner said that his purpose was
to show only what the Brooklyn had
done and that it did not in any way con-
| cern what the New York had done. His
purpose, he said, was to show what had
been done toward developing the
strength of the shore batteries. Il know
what the ruling of the court MEANS" he
said, ''and bow respectfully to it.
Admiral Dewey said that if the ques-
there could be no objection.
The question was then asked as to
what the Brooklyn learned concerning
the shore batteries as a result of any
bombardments in which she had partici-
| pated in June
Before a reply could be given, the
| court retired for consultation. At the
conclusion of the conference, Mr.. Ray
| ner changed his question so as to read
as follows:
What do you know from your own
| observation in reference to the strength
| of the shore batteries and the guns?
| want the result of your observation at
| Santiago, acquired by you at any time,
| without going into any general or spe-
! cific details as to the bombardments.
| Replying Lieutenant Doyle said that
at the bombardment which had taken
| piled at first very spiritedly, but that it
| "soon went out of business" After the
| ships withdrew the enemy had again
manned their guns and then shot at the
| ships.
On the occasion of the second bonn
| bardment they did not remain so long.
They always took snap shot at US
| as we left" he said
! Mr. Rayner then asked Lieutenant
Doyle how often he had seen Commo-
| dore Schley under fire during the San
| tiago campaign
| replied. During those bombardments
and in the battle of July g."
| What was his conduct? / refer you
! to the first specification of the precept.
t-lIis conduct in connection with the
| events of the Santiago campaign and
| what was his conduct and bearing at
| any time, either. during the lombard
ments, or during the battle of July l,
when his ship was under fire?"
Il did not have opportunity, as the
| commodore was always near about the
coming tower to observe his conduct
during the battle but Immediately pre-
vious and after, I did have an oppor-
tunity to do SO. He always struck me
as being just about as well possessed
as it was possible for anybody to be
under those circumstances"
Mr. Rayner then asked the witness
whether on July 2, 1898, he had observ-
ed smoke. coming from Santiago harbor,
over Zocopa hill. Capt. Lemly objected
and Mr.. Rayner said that his purpose
was to prove that it was believed at
that time that the Spaniards were pre-
pairing to withdraw from the harbor
and that Commodore Schley had COM
municated the facts to the squadron. 1t
was competent, he said, to prove the
conduct of the commodore under the
departments precept.
Capt Lemly and Mr.. Hanna contend
ed that the certain effect of such ques-
tions, would be to open the gates for in
terminable inquiry, and that if one side
should enter upon such questions, the
other must also be allowed to do so.
They did not object except for the rea-
son of the time involved.
WIDE OPEN DOOR.
Captain Parker announced his will
ingness to open the door wide" He
wanted the entire matter investigated
and would have the searchlight turned
upon every Individual from the COM
mander-in-chief to the lowest officer un-
der him.
Mr. Rayner was then permitted to ask
his question, which he did in the fol-
lowing words:
was the smoke observed on July 2.
by Commodore Schley, communicated to
the squadron ?"
The reply was: Smoke was observed
rising in the harbor on July and my
impression now is and always has been
since that night that information was
conveyed to the commander chief"
The witness was then requested to
give a brief account of the part taken by
the Brooklyn in the battle of July 8,
which he did repeating much that he
had said yesterday.
After stating the preliminaries, Lieut.
Doyle related his observations of the
battle in the following language:
Il fired the left gun first and HalliA n
shortly afterwards fired the right one.
Then we began to load the guns again.
1t was necessary then after loading the
guns a second time to turn the tn e
directly ahead ship was appar-
emily shutting the enemy out by turn
ing with a starboard helm. Immediate
ly after firing the left gun. the second
time. the order was to man the star
board battery. 1 got out of the turret
through the roof, that being the most
convenient way of getting out and
crossed over the Sfarboard turret As
] was going into the starboard turret.
had an opportunity to see the Spanish
ships They were then little on our
starboard bow. AS / had charge of the
controller, which up to this time had