Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-10-03
Lieut.. Doyle Testified.

Mr.. Rayner in the interest OF the adj
miral when the court adjourned until
today.
Lieut.. Doyle Testified.
Before undergoing examination at
Mr.. Rayners hands Lieutenant Doyle,
at Captain Lemly's request, explained
his part in the battle Of July 2, and
his original entry in the ships log
concerning the famous loop and his
alteration of that entry because he
subsequently discovered that his first
entry had been erroneous.
Lieutenant Commander Sharp, who
commanded the Vixen during the
Spanish war, also gave testimony,
giving especial attention to notes of
the battle of July 3, made by Lieuten
ant Harlow, of his ship.
Admiral Evans, Captain Sigsbee
and Correspondent Dieuade We're all
their testimony as given Tuesday, and
all made additional statements.
The testimony of Lieutenant Doyle
was in part as follows:
"How did you come to enter in the
ships log that the vessel turned With
starboard helm? Do you recognize
that log (handing him the log of the
BROOKLYN?
II do
The witness then, in response to
request, read to the court that part
of the log book which relates to the
turning of the port helm, as follows
AT $50 went to quarters for mus
Ter and inspection. and Immediately
afterwards the Spanish squadron was
noticed coming out of the harbor.
The leading ship, the Maria Teresa,
flagship, opened fire at once. This
ship (the Brooklyn and the other
vessels, namely, Texas, Oregon, In
diana, Iowa, Vixen and Gloucester,
engaged the enemy at once. The
enemy stood towards us at first, then
put helm aport and stood along shore,
close in to the westward. we en-
gagged with port battery at first,
standing in Tor the Maria Teresa, the
Colon anu the yiscaya ali three vi
which we engaged, but just as soon
as the enemy stood to the westward
put helm to port, swinging Ga little
interlineation here) clear of the fire
of the. Texas, so as to bring the star
board battery to bear, and stood par
allel to the enemy.
Original Entry Wrong.
The witness then stated that the
original entry in the log had made it
appear that the helm was put to star
board instead OF to port, as it ap-
pears in the permanent log. The
change, he said, had been made on
the 5th of July, two days after the ac-
ton.
Asked why he changed it, Mr..
Doyle said: Il changed it after l had
had :. discussion with Shafp. | had
been under the impression, as | have
stated, that we had turned with a
starboard helm. Sharp was aboard
the Brooklyn on July 5, to luncheon
with us, and | had discussion with
him on that day on that subject. |
think that is the time. changed It."
do you know whether the neyiga-
tor had then signed the log as cor
rect?"
Il do not, sir"
why were the interlined words put
in?"
They were put in, think-in fact,
| know-at the suggestion of some
person, probably the navigator. They
were put in evidently after the log
was written up, because they are in
terlined'
Nj. It.4s 44~1 tvoA cLe essacss and
asked him if it was not true that the
change in the log was not due to an
error on the part of the witness and
to no desire upon the part of anybody
10 falsify the facts?
Absolutely was the response.
Mr.. Rayner stated to the court that
it was his desire to treat Lieutenant
Doyle as a witness for Admiral
Schley. To this the court assented.
Mr. Doyle said in part, in response
TO questions by Mr.. Rayner, that
while at Key West, which port the
Brooklyn had left at the head of the
flying squadron on May IS. 1898, he
had heard nothing of the Spanish
fleet, nor had, he then been informed
Of a secret code Of signals arranged
by Captain McCalla for communicate
ing with the Cuban insurgents.
He said that he had observed three
lights, which looked like bonfires, on
the shore each night that the squad
ron lay of Cienfuegos, but that Meth
er he nor anyone else on board, so
far as he knew. understood their pur-
port. He also told Of a recognizanca