The sun., 1901-10-23

tain Sigsbee knew was a newspaper
man and was there looking for infor-
nation, and Captain Sigsbee later took
a dispatch written by me and vised by
Commodore Schley. He took 1t aboard
his ship, and he was to deliver 1t to one
of the small boats or else take 1t over
himself"
And Captain Sigsbee took that dis
patch?"
"Yes, sir. 1t was open. 1t detailed
the fact that the fleet was not there"
''Do you remember the reconnois.
sance of May 31?"
"Yes, sir; | was aboard the Massa.
chusetts."
Were you present at any conversa.
tion between Commodore Schley and
Captain Higginson In the pilothouse
of the Massachusetts,
Conversation with HiEginson.
ION the Brooklyn | had heard that
they We're going in to lombard and that
the flng would be transferred to the
Massachusetts. / asked permission to
go aboard the Massachusetts, with tho
commodore. He had just given per-
mission for Mr.. McCariley to go, and,
turning to me, he said: L do not thinB
you'd better CO. think you can see IL
better from the Brooklyn She was
then coaling. He further said that they
did not intend to do anything except
find out what the batteries consisted Of.
kept urging him to let me CO. and he
finally consented"
Now. tell me regarding the conver-
sation between Commodore Schley and
Captain Higginson.''
"There was some discussion about
what the Spanish fleet had brought
with them. A report was current that
they had brought arms and ammuni-
tion for the defense of Havana, and
there also was ii discussion as to
whether they had had time to mount
them or whether from any ships in the
harbor prior to the arrival of the feet
they had taken any large guns and
mounted them. The two officers
smoked their cigars and chatted over
it. Commodore Schley said his idea
was to go in about 1000 or 1900 yards
and fire, simply to draw their fire. So
far as | remember Captain Higginson
acquiesced in that. Later Mr.. Potts
came in
Were you in the presence of Com.
modore Schley during the whole OF
this reconnaissance ON the Massachu
Setts?"
"Only part of the time. At times
was behind the coming tower, and he
was on the other side of it."
"Did YOU see Lieutenant Potts on
board the Massachusetts"
HE came into the plothouse dur
ing the conversation and took some
part in it."
Conversation with Potts.
At this point Mr.. Rayner read tc
the witness a portion of the testimony
given by Mr.. Potts wherein he had re
ferred to the conversation between
Commodore Schley and Captain Hig
ginson as to going in for the lombard
ment and asked, Were you present al
that Conversations"
NO" answered the witness. nrha'
conversation must have been wheI
J they stepped outside the pilothouse
!. Potts was in there short time witt
/ u.s."
!; Ibid you hear any Conversations
! "Only that the range was to be be
| tween 1000 and 1900 yards"
"That was the only remark you heart
made by the commodore when Pott'
was present?"
| II don't think the commodore made
the remark. My impression is tina
| Captain Higginson made the remark Il
| Potts"
"Were Won present at any conversa
! tion at all between Commodore Schle.
! and Lieutenant Potts, or We're yol
! present Mt any time when Commodor,
Schlcy made any remarks during eacl
! time Potts was PRESENT."
mo, sir. | followed them right on
/ of the pilothouse and down to the con
ming tower. ! did not hear any con
versation of that kind"
''Then you do not know anythin,
about the conversation about whicl
Potts has testified that the conmodor
said: Gentlemen, we are very conspic
uous objects here. Let's get out of it?
IT never heard such conversation
| stood on top Of the forward Is incl
turret. The commodore called to me
Boy, that's bad place for you. Stol
in here. / afterward asked why, an,
he said that the concussion would hur
me. / had no serious intention of re
naming there"
"Was Potts present at that timer"
Il think he was giving the range
ut the time
SchIey In the Hattie.
Describing the battle of July 3. Nj
Graham said that Commodore Schle,
had got to position in front of TIL
coming tower as soon as the nose 0
the first of the Spanish ships appeared
The Brooklyn was at that time, h
said, pointing almost north. Lieuten
ant Simpson had fired the first gul
from the inch turrets and, calling t
Commodore Schley said, "How |
thati"
"To this the commodore replied,
said the witness, 4 did not see it, Simr
son, but keep at it,"
Continuing, the witness said that b.
the time the Brooklyn had complete,
her turn,--and he thought the turn hat
been continuously to the right-th,
three leading Spanish ships had emerg
ed from the harbor. The witnes
thought they had come out in fan shap
order "The commodore" he said a