Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-18
EIGHT WITNESSES
CONTINUED from page ~

When the Eagle came up astern OF Tn.
BROOKLYN the commodore nailed the
commanding officer of that vessel ano
told him in substance that he could not
DELAY the squadron any longer on ms
account. and that he wanted MIN Il
nroceed TO Jamaica for coal. The COM
manding officer of the Eagle seemed
very DESTROYS of remaining with the
SQUADRON and expressed sincere regrets
at being obliged to part company with
the flying squadron.
What kind of weather was the Ea-
gle making on May 26 when that con-
versation took place." AS l expressed
it. heavy weather. a choppy sea. and
the Eagle and the Vixen were both
pitching considerably
At Santiago the witness said that
the blockading line was mile or two
closer in at night than during the day.
and on May % the fleet stood out three
or four miles. There were picket boats
on the line but he did not see them.
- ibid YOU ever have any conversation
with Commodore Schey before July Sd
relative to the brooklyn going to
Guantanamo for coal?" In substance.
! mentioned the fact that other ships
of the squadron were in the habit OF
going to Guantanamo for coal. We had
mad some difficulty in coaling in the
open off Santiago. The commodore re-
piled that he had been asked on sew
eral occasions if he would like to go to
Guantanamo where he could coal quiet
~ and give the officers and men a rest
from the strain of blockade. He said
that his answer was in each case that
he preferred to remain on the station
until the Spanish ships came out of the
harbor.
Referring to the battle Of July 3. the
witness said that he had been in
charge Of the powder division and that
it was also his duty to look after the
lower decks. Consequently he had not
seen great deal of the fight He had
said that he had seen the Niscaya %
ashore and that. looking abaft tn"
BrooklynS beam. along the coast, he
had seen two other Spanish ships on
firc. with the Colon some distance
ahead ON the StarbOard side and firing
occasionally. Then he went into the
forecdstle where Commodore Schley
Captain Cook and Commander Mason
were standing. remaining there until
the Colon surrendered. The Oregon
was, he said then following very close
u The Brooklyn.
Were any cheering or encouraging
messages sent amonS the mon that vo,
know of. by whom and what were
they? Il had a messenger who mad.
frequent trips To the gun deck and
who reported 70 me what was haup.n-
ing. ! conveyed this information To thr
men II my division in the different
handing rooms"
Were any of these messages of SUI
hc!ent Importance that you would Ike
I" speak of them" "One mess3g..
which seemed to cheer the men h.l..,y
very much was That there We're ,hrp.
Spanish ships on cur starbuard beam
all firing at us
You don't know who sent these mes
saSes. who gave them, do YOU" e..
took il for granted
Judge Advocate Lemly here int,r-
rupted the witness by stating that If
old not appear that Commodore SchIey
sent these messages, which brought a
statement from Mr.. Rayner that he
would prove. when Admiral Schley
went on the stand, that the admiral
sent the message Of ENCOURAGEMENT ID
the men.
commander Griffin said that when
the Colon gave up the conflict. the Ore
Son was close on the Broklyn's star
board quarter and that the Texas ana
vixen were within sight astern.
can you speak of the conduct. bear
ing and manner of Commodore Schlcv
during the engagement in which YOU
saw him." He impressed me as be-
ing remarkably cool, considering what
had just occurred. He was perfectly
natural in manner and bearing"
On cross examination. Captain Lemly
questioned the witness closely concern
ing the weather on the trip to Santa
so, the sending away of the Eagle for
coal and the blocade Of cienfuegcs.
Reading from the Brooklyn's log. he
said that at the time of the Eagles de-
parture the sea was recorded as mod
crate.
Mr.. Hanna asked did you hear
Commodore Schlcy say anything
about leaving Cicnfuegos?" Il did
not
"Or coalng difficulties?" Il do not
remember. | know he was always ex-
tremely anxious and seemed to coal
whenever there was an opportunity
] DO not remember any particular con
versation. The conversation about so
ing to Guantanamo impressed me par
ticularly because afterWard l thought
it was such a wise decision
Mr. Hanna asked the witness Wheth-
or the flying squadron had proceeded
with dispatch" on the voyage from
Cienfuegos to Santiago and the witness
replied: Yes, as a unit. until we made
the turn to the westward on May 70.
The SloWest ship fixed the speed and
that was six or seven knots an hour"
Then in your answer. you except the
retrograde movement Il do"
Having said that when the fleet lcct
Cicnfuegos it was the general under
standing that it was bound for San
tiago. the witness under questions "
MI. Hanna. stated that the feet VS.
headed east when it stopped south 0f
Santiago, May &c. He said in reply
To a further question that if the squad
ron had continued as then headed t
would have landed ''anywhere to /, q
eastward"
BY the Court-"What difficulties dill