The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-24

witness said that it was not material
to him what any other man had said.
Then you object to having your
memory refreshed?" said A;r. Raynor.
II said nothing of the kind" replied
the witness, II am here to give my tes-
timony and 1 object to being spoken
to in the way you speak to me-"
HARDER CONTRADICTS HIGGIN-
SON.
Admiral Higginson who proceeded
you on the stand" said Mr.. Raynor,
testified that the blockade of Admiral
Schley cruised nearer at night than in
the day. Now do you still maintain
that you did not cruise nearer at night
than during the day."
Certainly. I gave you my estimate.
Captain Parker asked: You did
some coaling on the 9th and 2Sth Of
May?"
I'm the night of the 9th and morning
Of the 2Sth.''
Did not. in the course Of that coal
ing the collier spring a leak because of
collision with the Texas?"
You could not call it spring leak.
The plates were indented and in the
through
$50 the sea at that time was bad
enough to cause these vessels to col
lide?"
THE inference, sir, is quite wrong.
That was due to a float which we rut
in between the vessels and did not no
tice that it was just abalft the armor
belt. The float consisted of square
timbers.''
THAT would have been worse in
worse sea; and it was bad enough in
that sea-"
Experience told it was not necessary
to use that sort of thing"
What was the state of the sea when
the Texas coaled on May 9th as COM
jared with the state on the 26th?"
Tine weather was smoother some
what. believe. more favorable
This concluded Captain Harber's tes-
timony, and he was excused.
ADMIRAL HIGGINSON RECALLED.
Admiral Higginson then was recalled
his statement of yesterday that the
fleet was only two or three miles cut
from Santiago harbor. He modified his
statement by saying that during the
first portion of the blockade the fleet
stood out farther, probably five miles
by day and four miles by night. He
confessed, however, that after this his
memory was indistinct.''
In reply to a question by Captain
Parker the witness said that with 500
tons of coal aboard the Massachusetts,
could have steamed $500 miles or could
have remained on blockade duty for
about twelve days.
Did the fleet after the 29th of May
ever go off a distance of twenty-five
miles?"
''I don't remember that it ever did"
Have you any memory that the fleet
ever withdrew after that date a dis
tance of more than six miles?''
II have not"
By the court: From the distance at
which the blockade was maintained at
night could you have seen any vessel
attempting to leave Santiago under or
binary conditions of weather."
Admiral Higginson: 81 think IL
would have been difficult on account OF
the land
Admiral Higginson was then excused
and the court at l o'clock took recess
for luncheon.
COMMANDER SCHROEDER TESTI-
FTES.
Promptly upon the striking of the
hour of ., the court re-convened otter
the noon recess. The first witness call
ed was Commander Seaton Schroeder
now governor of the island Of Guam,
who during the Spanish war was ex-
ecutive officer Of the battleship Massa-
chusetts. His appearance created q
slight stir Of interest
Commander Schroeder was questioned
as to the details Of the entire campaign
He knew, he said, of no efforts to COM
municate with the shore while the fly.
ing squadron lay off Cienfuegos.
The witness stated in response tc
questions by Judge Advocate Lemly
that the squadron remained out about
six or seven miles, maintaining this
distance during the day, and keeping
under way. counter-marching eastward
and westward at night. At one point
they were nearer shore than at anoth.
er. the ships describing an elongated
eclipse in their maneuvres. The aver.
age distance out, however, was about
the same at night as during the dav
Referring to the bombardment Of the
Colon May 31st, Commander Schroeder