Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-21
New York Was Seven Miles Away.

New York Was Seven Miles Away.
WASHINGTON. oct. IS.-The list OF
yesterdays witnesses called before the
Schley court Of inquiry at the opening
OF today's session for the purpose Of cor
reeting testimony was exceptionally long.
comprising eight persons.
While Ensign Marble was on the stand
for the purpose OF correcting his former
testimony he was further interrogated by
Judge Advocate Lemly concerning the
conversation between Captain Sigsbee, Of
the ST, Paul. and Commodore Schley,
overheard by him (the witness) when Cap
tain sigsbee came aboard the Brooklyn
on Santiago May %. 49,
Captain LemIy asked:
May not Captain Sigsbee have said. I
have been here about a week and have
not seen anything Of them or words to
that effect. meaning the Spanish feet?'
mo, sir. As ] remember II he said;
They could not be here unless knew 1t.
lieutenant Commander Nicholson, Of
the Oregon, was then called and began
his recital Of the story OF the battle OF
July 3, which he had observed as 7haviga-
tor Of the oregon. He wasl he said, on
the deck OF his vessel, and added:
-"Occupying the position 1 did during
the day Of the engagement I necessarily
saw considerable of 1t. The incidents Of
that day commenced about $3.50 o'clock,
or five minutes before. When the first
ship started to go around the cry went
up, There they go
'I looked toward. the harbor and saw
the first ship. Her bow was making a
turn into the last reach of the harbor on
her way out. She was followed in sue
cession BY the others. I went to my sta
ton. first on the bridge. then down to
the coming tower and saw that the prop
er connections were made. In the mean
time the signal had been sounded to gen
eral quarters and by. this time steam was
coming up. all the boilers and blowers
were going full tilt and a few minutes
afterwards Captain Clark came up. We
turned the ship. going slowly at first, the
speed increasing all the time. Turned
ship with starboard helm and started in
toward the enemy. They came out at
full speed. apparently puch faster than
we were al this time. BY the time we
were Strengthened they went to the west
ward ahead Of US. The Iowa started in,
she being TO the westward. apparently
closer to the enemy that we did, because
we passed under her stern. A few min
utes after that on our course TO the west
ward we passed under the stern of the
Texas, apparently still in the water.
called Captain Clark's attention TO this.
OF course. firing commenced on both sides
at the time the first ship cleared, prob
ably IL to miles of at that point.
When we crossed under the Texas stern
we saw the Iowa coming out OF the
course nearly parallel to a converging
course with ours. I noticed her a little
abaft our starboard beam. Captain
Clark at the same time noticed her and
called my attention to her and told me
to look out and avoid a collision. AS the
action commenced We passed the Texas
and the Iowa, .-oaz tts :F1i
THE only ship then ahead OF US was
Il. he hua
gotten out by this time and we were, pur-
suing them. heading for the leading ships.
We noticed the Maria Teresa drop astern
at less speed than at first, saw flames
leaping up and out from her which con-
WINGED us she was on fire. A few minutes
after the OquendO appeared to be cover
ed with smoke and we concluded that she
also was on fire, which proved TO be a
fact. Just about this time the Viscaya
which starbOarded her helm, seemed to
head OF 70 the southwark and west to-
ward the Brooklyn and fell out OF line.
IT then became evident that the Colon was
pulling out OF battle and running along
the shore but II was developed that she
was running away and had more speed
than all the other ships. The Viscaya
headed toward the Brooklyn. She ran
that course for some time and then
Strengthened out again: then turned in
shore and a few minutes after that ran
ashore also.
There Is no question about the Wis
caya pulling out Of the general Spanish
line to the southwark, because a short
time after this Captain Clark turned
around and called my attention to some
objects in the water that looked like float
ing buoys apparently three or four feet
above the water. We thought they were
nets with torpedos between them, prob
ably thrown out to fnjure the ship. 1
ported the helm and before could do
anything we passed over the spot and
found that we were in the wake of the
Viscaya."
Commander Nicholson then detailed the
chase OF the Colon. the subsequent going
ashore and surrender. -a-sr
Commander Nicholson. said that he re-
called some signals from the Brooklyn on
the day of the battle, among others one
at the beginning OF the battle to close
IN and another at the close OF the en-
gagement saying well done. Oregon"
He did not see any signal from the
Brooklyn to the Oregon to use her 13-inch
guns on the Colon. t.-s...
What was the relative position Of the
American ships when the Spanish vessels
came out?" - ~.
THE Iowa was due south, the Texas on
her. port hand and the Brooklyn further
the right OF the Iowa and the Indiana in
shore to the. eastward, with. the New
York IN the distance. remember fmmedi-
ately looking for the flagship and saw her
of seven or eight miles toward Siboney."
DR.. Charles NJ. Devalin followed Com
mander Nicholson. He said that he had
been medical officer on board the Brook
lyn and had observed the battle Of July
Sd from the forecastle. He gave brief
description of the battle. saying he had
been present when YeOman Ellis was kill
ed. and that he had observed Commodore
Schley during the entire engagement.
His conduct and bearing" said the wit
ness. was all that could be expected. He
seemed TO know what he was about and TO
be doing all that he wished to do. He was
in perfect control Of the situation"
On cross-examination the witness said
he had heard Commodore Schley give the
order Helm hard aport," and had heard
no one else give II. In response to a ques-
ton he said that he had. at that time
heard no collOquy or alteration concern
ing this order.
Lieutenant Thos. f. Carter, passed as
sIstant engineer. who was in charge. was
called.
The witness had written memorandum
which he had prepared. showing the speed
OF the Brooklyn during the day Of the
battle and indicating q gradual increase
from II to il knots per hour. The
memorandum was based on the basis Of
/ the revolution on the propeller. 3.
/ In response 10 questions by Captain
/ Lemley tho witness stated that he estima-
! ted the entire distance traversed between
9:55 q. IN. AID $50 y. m, at 50 knots.