Waterbury Democrat., 1901-09-28

After Lieutenant Hood was excused yesterday afternoon. Captain Bowman II. .McCaIla was called. He said that he had first come into contact with the flying squadron on May 19. 1858. He was then proceeding from the south coast of Cuba to Key West and met the squadron on it's way to Cuba He had not been asked to come aboard for the purpose of making a report.
 Captain McCaIIa said that upon reaching Key West he had informed Captain Chadwick, Admiral Simpsons s chief of staff, of the secret code ar ranged with the Cuban insurgents, but that he had not given it to anyone else.
 Captain McCalla next told of his re turn to Cienfuegos on May 24 with dispatches for Admiral Schley. He said: "It had been reported authorl- tatfvely in Key West on May 19 and when I sailed on the afternoon of May q, that the Spanish squadron was still at Santiago"
 Q@"And you communicated that in- formation to Commodore Schley yer ballyIr
 A--"Commodore Schley told me he thought the Spanish squadron was III NudL hAld AGNCAf1d HWY papers from the steamer Adula some days previously: that one of tlie news papers contained cable dispatch from Santiago and from that he gathered that the Spanish force undeSP Admiral Cervera might have sailed from San- tiagO in time to reach CienfuegOS just before the arrival of the force under his command. I said that had brought arms. ammunition and dyua- mite for the Cuban camp to the west ward and that if he would let me go I would find out at once wlkther they were in CienfuegOs. He Immediately assented. I asked him if he had seen any lights on the beach, He said he had I asked if he saw three He said he had. I then said the lights were from Cubans trying to communi- cate. may have asked him if he saw three horses in line on the beach by day" -sslaI
 Captain McCalla then related how he had gone ashore near Cienfuegos and found the CubanS drawn up in line. He gave them food and ammunition.
 We found, he added. that Cervera was not inside the harbOr and that in fact the situation in Cienfuegos was exactly as it was when I left it on the 16th of the same month"
 Captain 1IcCalIa said he sent the in- formation obtained to Admiral Schley by the Eagle. signaling that vessel to proceed at full speed and report to the Brooklyn that Cervera was not in Cien- fuegOs. At that time witness was steaming with only two boilers and the Eagle could steam faster than the Mar blehead.
 o.-'Did you consider that informa- ton as of impOrtanceT
 Al considered it of great impOr- fance-"
 Q.-saThen what did you dof"
 Awe followed with the MarIfe- head reaching the Brooklyn between 3 and 4 o'clock, somewhat behind the Eagle
 Q.-"Did you go on board the Brook lynT''
 Ar steamed under the quarter of the Brooklyn. and after some conyer- satiOn with Commodore Sch1ey. asked it he would like me to go on board. He said that he would l went on board, and confirmed the fact that Admiral Cervera's fleet was not in CienfuegoS. I saw then for the first time the set of instructions for Commodore Schley. During the conversation the commO- dOre asked me to read the instructions. and after I had read them he asked me what I thought he had better 60. 1ItNlOuS IO IlllS ne S1lu I1dI uP cOtllu not coal off Santiago. that the English had demonstrated that ships could not coal at sea. He also said that if he re turned to Key West he would be court martialed It was after this that be handed me the orders which I read. After reading them, I said: sCommo- dOre. I think you must return to Santi- ago even if you do not stay there"
 Q--~Where were you when Commo- dore Schley said that if he returned to Key West he would be courtmar- fialedz z~
 AT was in the cabin of the Brooklyn. The interview lasted per- haps half an hour. Captain Cook either came in frequently or remained the whole time. Lieutenant Sears came in once"
 CT assume you do not recollect whether any of those gentlemen was present when that remark was nader
 A--@That I cannot say"
 Q.-"Did you hear any reports or re- marks. conversational or otherwise?'
 Awhile I was there the flag lieu tenant. I think. came in twice to re- port signals One was regarding the amount of coal on each of the ships The other was report to the effect that the Merrimac had $500 tons. Of