The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-24


| correspondents present on the Smith at
| the time, but said he did not recognize
any OF the officers on board the st. Paul
except Capt. SigSpee.s Among the news
paper men mentioned, as present were
| Sylvester Scovll. Stephen Crane, Charles
| M. Pepper, Mr.. yshehan, George Lynch
and w. o. Wilson. In reply to Mr.. Ray
ner the witness saidyJthat Shehan and
| Crane are dead and that Scovill is in
Havana. He told the court in response
to a qeustion by it that Capt. Sigsbee
had himself used the megaphone.
Man BeRind the Gun.
Mr.. Hare was succeeded by Chief
Boatswain William L. Hill, who was
bcatswain on the Brooklyn during the
summer of 1888. He testified to hearing
guns on approaching Cienfuegos, and said
that while there a blockading line was
maintained three or four miles out. He
said that he had written letters to his
wife during the campaign, and had from
these made journal covering the period.
He said in reply to d question by Mr..
Rayner concerning the weather on the
cruise between Cienfuegos and Santiago:
THE weather was rough. 1t was worse
than that. 1 should say it was blowing
reef topsail breeze, and at one time
the seas were breaking completely over
the Massachusetts. l made an entry to
that effect
Mr.. Hill also stated that he had had
direct charge under the executive officer
of the Brooklyn of the coaling of that
vessel. THE Brooklyn" he said, was
the best ship in the fleet to coal but
only with constant watchfulness in the
calnest weather could we coal without
having an accident
The witness said in reply to a question
that the derrick beams of the collier were
not long enough to throw the coal onto
the Brooklyn, and that other and sup
Elementary devices were necessary for
that purpose. He also said that he had
person ally known of the Texas, and
knew that the projecting sponsors of
that slip made it a difficult vessel to
coal, and on more than one occasion per-
mission had been asked and received for
the ship to go to Guantanamo for coal.
Brooklyn Was Constantly Engaged.
In the course of his description of the
battle of July the witness said Prob
ably fifteen minutes after we started the
Spanish ships had nearly all gotten out.
There were three of them stood near
enough to touch Commodore Schley at
that time, within five feet of him, and
1 saw that we were going into pocket.
The Spanish ships had gotten out and
the Vizcaya, the second ship, had turned
toward US, and we were about to cross
the lire of fire Of our own ships. At
that time the order was given to port
the helm. l heard Commodore Schley
say port; and the ship started to swing
to starboard. The helm was put over
hard aport and she swung around on
her heel. The fire from our batteries
never ceased from the time We started
tC turn until the end of the battle, when
the Colon went ashore. The guns were
constantly being fired. The Texas was
on our starboard side and she was fully
{; third OF mile from u.s. There was
never any question in my misd about
striking her. We did not come anywhere
near her. We did not cross her bow
We were slightly ahead Of her and turned
in that way entirely clear of her. After
swinging around we lined up parallel
with the Spanish fleet. In a few minutes
the Teresa went ashore, ON FIRE. Soon
after the Oquendo followed, and then
we sided up with the Vizcaya and kept
with her for ten or twelve miles. At
this time there was not ship to be
seen astern except the Oregon, which
was about a half a mile from U.S. On
this run with the Vizeaya Ellis was
killed. There were fourteen or fifteen OF
US standing together.
A Hail of Shells.
THE commodore asked in a matter of
fact tone, What is the ranger Ellis
raised the stadimeter to his eye, and
as he did so a shell took his head off
AS he fell on the deck dead, young Nc
Cauley said, Let's throw it overheard
The commodore said, No, don't throw
that body overheard He died like
brave man and L am going to bury him
like one He directed me to look out for
the body. I had it wrapped in blankets,
laid in the shade, and that evening it
was gotten ready for burial. The Viz
caya was putting up the best fight of
any snip there. She fought we'll and the
big shells were going over US and great
many of US ducked. These shells sounded
like half a dozen railroad trains under
way. As they were heard going through
the air down would go head, but Com
modore Schley's head never bent"
There was a great outburst of applause
in the court room as in a dramatic way
the witness recited this, incident Admiral
Dewey, for the first time during the SEES
sions of the court, found it necessary to
pound his gavel on the table and admon-
ish the audience against such demonstra-
lions. Continuing his story, the witness
said:
Only Thought for His Men.
HE was as calm, cool and collected as
he is at this moment. His only thought
was for his men,. He called constantly
as the different events occurred, saying:
DO the DULLES below know this? Do
they know that? That this ship has gone
ashore and that ship has gone ashore?'
His whole idea seemed to be that he
wanted the people below to know as
much about it as those of us on deck"
Continuing his account of the battle,
Mr.. Hill said that before the Vizcaya
went ashore she had made turn to ram
the Brooklyn. He was proceeding to
say that he knew this to be the case be-
cause an officer of the Spanish ship had
told him so, but this testimony was rulsd
out The witness then said that he him
self knew that to be her purpose.
Speaking of the oregon, he said that
during the chase of the Spanish vessels
that vessel could always be seen, and was
the only American vessel that could be.
She was, he said, from one-quarter to
one-half mile in shore. He also said that
at the time the Vizcaya turned in the
Colon was 5000 yards ahead. Later in
the chase of the Colon he said that Capt.
Cook had put his head out of the coming
tower and said to the commodore: Don't
you think we had better close in little? ''
And said the witness, parenthetically,
Il thought so myself.
But" he went on, 'the commodore re-
piled, No, don't you see that point ahead?
Just as soon as that fellow starts to come
out I am going to head him off. I'll get
him yet. Damn him, I'll
Follow Him to Spain
if have to-"
This testimony was given in clear and
distinct tones, and was heard distinctly
throughout the large court room. Like
previous statement, it was received
~