The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-16
James II. Sears, Flag Lieutenant on
the Brooklyn, Takes the
Stand.
Graphic Recital of the Adniral's
Gallant Conduct in the San
tiago Fight.

under some authority from our feet in
Jamaica. He suggested that when ne
came out the next day we should BRING
him to with shot so that anybody observ-
ing it from shore would see that he was
acting under force and that anybody who
could speak Spanish could find out all
they pleased from the refugees she had
on board"
with wnat understanding did they go
into the port? Was there any understand
ing with your
That he was to come out the next
day and that it would be possible for us
to get that information in fact that it
would be very easy to do so.
''Dld he come out the next day.
'He did not
Witness also stated that Commodore
Schley had told him that Capt. McCalia
had brought a code of signals for cont-
munication with the insurgents on shore
near Cienfuegos.
Describing the blockade of Cienfuegos,
Commander Sears said that it had been
maintained from one to four miles out
and that the Dupont was stationed inside
with instructions to keep close into the
month of the harbor and maintain care
full watch, reporting any suspicious incl
dents.
The witness in giving the details Of the
cruise from
CIENFUEGOS TO SANTIAGO
said the weather was boisterous, with a
heavy sea, and that eoaling at sea would
not have been safe before May q, when
it was undertaken. $ He also said that
on this voyage the squadron had been
delayed by the Eagle and other small
boats and that the ships had also been
slowed up on one occasion when a mer-
chant vessel was sighted; also that the
collier had to stop several times to make
repairs to her machinery.
With reference to the blockade at San.
tiagO, the witness saSi tnat it had been
maintained al varying distances, of from
three to six miles to suit the commander
in-chief. In thick weather and at night
the distance was less than In fair weather
and in the daytime.
Witness also described the reconnois-
sance of May g. when the Colon was
fred upon and, giving his conclusions with
reference to that event, he said had de-
veloped the strength of the land batteries
and they had proved to be stronger than
he had supposed they We're. Commodore
Schley, he said, had told him that his
purpose was to ascertain what the bat
teries were. He said he had been with
Lieut. Potts, on the Massachusetts, on
versation between that officer and Com
modore Schley. ,i..s-,
Witness described the engag cement OF
July 3. After stating the preliminary in
cidents, he said:
CLEAR FOR ACTION"
"I was in my room when I heard the
cry OF the executive officer, Clear ship
for action I knew what that meant
and ran to the quarter deck l looked
aloft to see if the prescribed signal, enc
my is escaping. was up and saw that it
was. 1 met the commodore on the quar-
ter deck. He directed the signal. clear
ship for action followed by the signal
to close in, all of which were made
From my posIdon I had a good view of
the entrance. Uur ship was heading at
the time, L should say, to the westward
of north, not on her regular heading
which was about northeast by north
The engines had been started by the time
] sot on deck and she was gaining way
and swinging toward the enemy The
first vessel, which proved to be the flag
ship Maria Teresa, came out She was
directly on our bearing from the entrance
tc the port
AS the ship swung toward the Teresa
she swung slowly around To me the
Teresa appeared to not hold an exactly
steady course and the helm of our ship
was eased one way or the other to keep
our ram pointing toward the Teresa. The
Teresa shortly turned squarely toward
the westward, and as she did so I got
view of the next ship following in her
wake. 1t was my observation that the
Brooklyn was then held up to meet tie
second ship approa ching. OF course we
ported helm.
The second ship passed in the wake of
firS air
that it looked as if the second one was
going to try and ram us. He, l think.
asSented. At any rate, the BROOKLYN was
held toward her and she appeared to me
| to be uncertain in her course The
Brooklyn was handled by the e'captain and
quartermaster She turned after she had
passed to the southwark of the Teresa, 8
wake and followed her and then it was
generally remarked on the tower bridge
they were all going to try and escape to
the westward.
Just about the time the Vizcaya turned
Yeoman Ellis, who was a trained oh.
server with the stadimeter, came to me
| on the platform and said that his stadi-
meter showed 800 yards to the Vizcaya. I
Immediately took an especial look at the
Vizcaya with that in mind any my judg-
ment confirmed the stadimeter.
THE LOOP.
Il said to the commodore: 7 think
we are about our tactical diameter from
! that ship now and he said. I think so
| too or we are. Then the order was
hard aport.' I am not positive who gave
| that order I think the commodore said,
| hard aport and Capt Cook said. it is
! hard aport.' The helm was kept hard
aport and the ship swung rapidly on her
| turning circle. When the order was
| given, hard aport,' l looked at the next
vessel in our feet-the Texas-and in my
! judgment we were Completely clear of
| her and as We turned we passed well
clear of her. After the turn was COM
| pieted we found ourselves 8abreast or
perhaps a little abaft the beam of the
leading Spanish ship with aFslowly con-
| Verging course toward the leading ship.
! The smoke at this time was very dense.
but there were two ships in plain sight
and occasionally we could get glimpses
OF the third. Shortly afterward the
smoke lifted to the rear and I saw the
| oregon coming toward u.s. and also got a
nomentaTy glimpse of the remainder OF
| Our heet and the, whole Spanish fleet. 1
saw the torpedo boats afad asent one of
! the commodore's orderles to the after
guns to notify them thatssthey might look
| out. At that time. saw the Vixen on