The evening times., 1901-10-14
NUMBER 1897.
COOKS STRONG EVIDENCE
Captain of Schley's Flagship Before
the Court of Enquiry.


the Applicant the Most Conclusive
of Any Yet Given-Graphic story OF
the s'LOop." for which He First
Gave the Order. He Stntcs-The
HaryIander's Conduct in the Bat
tie Prnised-WOrst Weather for
. CoaIinE at sea Ever Experienced
By the BroOISiyn's Commander.
Departure From CienfueEos Made
One Hour After Being Assured by
Eagle Of Spanish Fleets Absence
Capt F. Z. Cook. who commanded the
Brooklyn during the Santiago campaign,
was upon the witness stand at the Schley
Court Of Enquiry this morning and threw
a bombsheH into the ranks OF schIey's
enemies. He was called by Captain Lem
". but II the Governments side was
able TO obtain any satisfaction from his
testimony no one was able to discover
what it was
His testimony for SchIey vas the strong
est that has been given Sine the Court
began He practically knocked out every
point which has thus far been advanced
against Schley. He definitely established
the fact that the AIcCaIIa memorandum
did not reach SchIey until the arrival Of
the Hawk. and that even then Sampson
only told schIey to proceed to Santiago if
he was satisfied that Cervera was not at
Cieufuegos. SchIey was not satisfied until
tho Eagle had communicated with the in
Eurgents and found that the Spanish fleet
was not at Cienfuegos
Captain Cooks evidence also concIu-
sivefy proved that schley was not adj
viscd Of the code Of signals until incident
ally informed by Captain McCaHa. who
was much surprised that The information
had not been previously communicated to
him +" also established the fact that
Schley left within an hour after he as
certained that Cervera was not in Glen
fueEos- He further told Of SchIey's a1x-
iety about the coal supply, the response
bility which he felt I'm this regard. and
said that the weather on the 24th. 18th
and 2oth Of May was the worst for coal
ing ships at sea he had ever experienced.
As soon as Schley found out that he
could coal the Texas he Immediately turn
ed back to Santiago.
The witness also gave a very. Craphic
description Of the battle off Santiago. in
cluGing the Brooklyn's loop" and said
that at no time while the move was be-
ing made did be have any fear Of a col
lisiOn with the Texas. The thought. he
said, never entered his mind He be
heved that the Brooklyn passed clear OF
the Texas by 200 yards. There was never
any danger Of the Texas being rammed
by the Brooklyn There WIS a perfect
understanding between Commodore
6chl,y and himself. he said as 10 which
way the Brooklyn should turn. He said
he had given the order first and that it
was followed almost Immediately by the
order Of the commodore.
Captain Cook said that SchIev's conduct
during the time he saw him under fire
was at all times entirely proper. In his
own words be declared that Schlcy was
"an enthusiastic. brave, and patriotic Of
ficer- ] never saw him any other way"
Captain Cook IS whole testimony and
his manner upon the stand was such as
10 cause CONSERVATION in thc ranks %
SchIeys enemies. and considering the
fact that he was called 10y the Govern
inert. his testimony was the most i'm
portant that has yet been before the
Court
Interest in Captain Cook
When the Court convened AT II o'clock
this morning Lieutenant Commander
Staunton, Captain Chadwick, and Lieu
Tenant Twining were called in turn to cor
rect their testimony. None Of them. how
ever, had any important corrections 10
make.
As Lieutenant Twining left the stand,
Captain Lemly said:
"Can Captain Cook. please"
Instantly there was a furry Of excite
ment through the court room and Cap
tain Cook, with disnided bearing. walked
down the centre aisle and entered the en-
closure where the Court sits. lie greeted
Admiral SchIey pleasantly. and Admiral
Dewey, as the latter administered the
cath to him.
In reply TO the usual preliminary ques-
tiOns the witness said that he had COM
uanded the Brooklyn during the Santiago
campaign and was now a member OF the
Retiring Board in Washington. He said
he was at Key West on May 70, and that
the Brooklyn was Admiral Schley's flag
chip. He was examined by Mr.. Hanna
Q--What information did you have on
AIay 19 respecting the whereabouts %
ReTVeTa' s fieet2
Any impression is now, although il is
simply from rumor, that IL had left
Martinique and from consular luiorma-
tiOn, or perhaps from other information,
that II had gotten to Curacao
Q.-Was the Flying Squadron despatch
cd 10 Cienfucgos about May lSZ
o-Undcr what orders generally was
the squadron sent to Cienfuegosr and foi
A@We understood to intercept the
Spanish fleet. and we expected 10 meet d.
a. having been determined at that time
according 10 our information, that ID
would make CienfuegOs its objective
point ] understood that they (the Span
ish vessels) carried munitions Of war FOR
Havana. and CieufuegOs being an acccSsi-
bic port and in direct communication
with Havana. that was thoir probable
destination.
Continuing. the witness said that the
Cincinnati and MarbIehead had been al
CienfuegOs. lie was not sure, but he
thought the Machias had been there, too.
j was expected that they would aug
nent the Flying Squadron there lie said
that Il was his impression at Key West,
ana IL Was the general impression that
the Flying Squadron would catch the
Spanish fleet somewhere IN the vicinity OF
Cieufu, gOs.
Anxiety About COaIing.
The witness then told Of the meeting OF
the living Squadron and the sub-squad.
ron under command Of Captain McCaIIa
while the latter was returning 10 Key
West
Q--..d YOU hear any conference with
the comm odOre, OF were you present OF
board .Ee Brooklyn WHOM any c0uvcr.
Fat.0n was held with the comma nding Of
fiCer OF the Cincinnati
Al am not sure whether 7 was rres