Evening star., 1901-10-04
Lieut.. Dyson Presents Statistics to
the Court Of Inquiry.
FUEL NEEDED BY FLYING SQUADRON
Hits by Brook|yn's Shots in Battle
Of July 3.
ON SOUTH COAST OF CUBA

neSSeS VINO were on the Stand yesterday,
and after they had corrected their pre-
vious testimony and made such additions
thereto as suggested themselves they were
excused and new witnesses were intro
duced. The list of available witnesses for the
day included Commander Raymond P. Rod
gers, who was executive officer of the Iowa
during the Santiago campaign; Ensign
(now LieutenanD M. L. Bristol who was
watch and division officer on the Texas
and officer of the deck of that vessel when
the Spanish ships came out of the Santiago
harbor; Lieutenant Commander ALBION c.
Hodgson, who was navigator on the Brook
lyn and whose testimony has been looked
forward to with much interest, because of
his correspondence with Admiral Schley,
and Lieutenant c. w. Dyson of the bureau
of steam navigation.
Captain Le1nly still has quite a long list
of witnesses before him, and when court
began business today it was said on his be-
half that he would probably not be able to
conclude his presentation of the case for
the department before the middle of next
week.
Captain Dawson of the marine corps,
who was on the stand yesterday, was called
to correct the official copy of his testimony.
He said that while he had not seen the
Brooklyn swing with starboard helm, he
was sure that she did so swing.
schley's Coal Supply.
Lieut.. Dyson, who was the witness
stand yesterday when the court adjourned,
was then recalled. He had added to his
coal history of the fleet, information as
to how long the supply of coal on hand
May 26 would have held out under forced
draught. The information was contained
in a chart which was read by Judge Ad-
vocate Lenlly. The witness also read the
O.
ment. The chart covered the period from
May Is to June 1. It showed that May
20 the Brooklyn's supply of coal was 952
tons; the Iowa's, 7s4; the Texas, 40S tons,
and the Marblehead's, 122 tons,
He said that on May "a the Brooklyn
had coal enough aboard to have remained
on blockade duty off Santiago for twenty
five days and then to have returned to Key
West; the Massachusetts enough to remain
seventeen days and then go to Key West;
the Iowa enough for eleven days; the
Texas seven days and the Marblehead one
day. This was assuming that they would
have gone by the Yucatan channel. He
also gave estimate of the length of
time they could have remained and gone to
Gonaives channel, Cape Cruz. Mole St.
Nicholas Kingston, Port Antonio, Jamaica,
Guantanamo bay, the time of remaining
on blockade being increased as the dis
tance to the various points diminished.
Mr.. Rayner brought out the information
concerning the time the coal on each of
draft, in chasing the enemys vessels, tak-
Ing the amount of coal on each on May 26
and leaving sufficient coal to return to
Key West. Mr.. Rayner read the informa-
tion from Mr.. Dyson s tabulated statement,
showing that the Iowa would have con-
sumed 243 tons of coal day. the Texas 160
tons day and the Marblehead II tons.
That estimate would, he said, give the
Brooklyn % days chase, returning by way
of the Yucatan channel, and 2.35 days
chase, returning by the Windward Pas
sage, the Iowa chase of IL days. the
Texas would have a chase of three-fourths
of day and returning by way Of the
Wfndward Passage. nfne-tenths Of day.
The rblehead would have chase OF
two-tenths of a day by the Yucatan chan
mel and four-tenths by the Windward Pas
sage.
The statement showed that the Massa-
chusetts could not have steamed more
than Is knots an hour, and that In doing
go she would have consumed 1SO tons Per
day. At this rate she could have chased
the enemy for 1.S days, returning via Yucca
tan channel or for two days returning via
the Windward Passage.
The witness said In reply to questions
that his statement contemplated average
conditions Of weather and Of the vessels.
Mr.. Rayner: You have taken as a base
for coaling a number Of ports. You took
Gonaives, the Mole and Kingston. Those
are ports that have just been given you
from which to make the calculation
These ports were just mentioned to me
here today"
You, Of course, know nothing about our
right to coal in those ports?"
Il do not"
Commander Rodgers Narrative.
Lieut.. Dyson was followed on the stand
BY Commander Raymond P. Rodgers, who
was executive officer Of the battle ship Iowa
during the summer of $685. He testified to
leaving Key West on May 20 for Cienfuegos
10 join the flying squadron. Before leaving
ne had, as a representative of Captain
Evans, he said, conference with Com
Sampson. at which Cap
tains Taylor and Chadwick were present.
At that time he was told by Admiral Samp-
son that he had received information from
the department at Washington that the
Spanish fleet under Cervera was probably
IN the harbor at Santiago. He had, how
ever. not been informed Of any secret code
for communication with the Cuban insur-
gents near Cienfuegos He had, he said,
taken dispatches for Commodore Schley,
and while not certain whether there was
more than one package, he was under the
impression there was more than tnat num-
ber. One Of the dispatches carried at this
time was, the witness thought. that signed
oy Secretary Long and dated Washington,
1890 o'clock, May 20. and beginning: s@The
report of the Spanish feet being at Santiago
lie Cuba might very well be correct. so the
department. strongly advises that you send
word Immediately by the Iowa to Schley to
proceed off Santiago with his whole com
mand, leaving one small vessel Off Glen
fuegos.''
Commander Rodgers was examined at
length concerning the coa.ing Of the flying
squadron.
could you have coaled the Iowa on the
afternoon of May 26?" Mr.. Hanna asked.
I'm the late afternoon, the time 1 speak
Of the weather being fine and smooth, I
think there would have been no trouble at
ALL replied the witness.
han fha Ia1f
battle ship like the Iowa take it?"
with ship like the iowa. with no broad
side guns, the danger in coaling at sea is
entirely to the collier"
''Is there any more danger to a collier
with a battle ship on either side?'
There would be very great danger to a
collier in coaling battle ships with battle
ship on either side.''
Several False Alarms.
Captain Rodgers related two or three In
stances In which the ships of the Flying
Squadron were cleared for action upon sig
nal from the flagship Brooklyn before May
81 when vessels were discerned in the dis
tance In each case the vessels proved to
be American ships. Each time the signal
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