The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-10-14
DONE TODAY
Interesting Witnesses Called By
Both Sides.

Washington, Oct. 14.-Captain Francis
A. Cook was the first new witness called
before the Schley court of inquiry to-day
He was called by the navy department,
but as he also is on Admiral Schley's list
Of witnesses, he was considered, like Lieu
tenant Commander Hodgson and Lieuten-
ant Doyle, as a witness for both sides OF
the controversy. During the war with
Spain Captain Cook was commander of the
flagship Brooklyn and also Admiral
Schley's chief of staff, thus occupying the
same relative position to Admiral Schley
that Captain Chadwick occupied to Ad-
miral Sampson. His appearance on the
stand therefore created considerable in
terest and his testimony was listened to
attentively. Other witnesses summoned
by the department for to-day were Lieu
tenant Commander VIM. F. Fullaman,
who was on the New Orleans during the
Santiago campaign, and Lieutenant Joseph
Beale, who was on the scout ship Harvard
and who volunteered to go ashore and as.
certain whether the Spanish fleet under
Cervera was in the harbor at Santiago.
These are the last witnesses which Judge
Advocate Lemly expects to call and when
they shall have completed their testimony
he will rest"
A number Of Admiral Schley's witnesses
were in attendance about the court room
to-day. 1t is expected his first witness
will be the Cuban pilot Edward Nunez
and that he will be followed by Com
mander Mason, who was on board the
Brooklyn during the Santiago campaign.
by Lieutenant Commander Griffin and
Lieutenats McCauley and Webster.
Staunton's Addition.
The first of the witnesses recalled for
the correction Of testimony was Lieut..
Commander Staunton, formerly of the
New York, who made an addition to his
statement as to the first news he re-
ceived from Captain Allen at Key West
on May 20, concerning the presence of the
Spanish feet at Santiago. The addition
was as follows
The information obtained at that time from
Captain Allen and reported to the COM
mander-in-chief some time near noon, was
not considered sufficient at that time to cause
a change in the plan that had already been
adopted.
Captain Cook was called He was ques-
toned by Mr.. Hanna. He said he had
been at Key West on May 10.
Mr.. Hanna-What information did you
have at that time concerning the whereabouts
of Cervera's feet?
Witness-My impressions now are that sim
ply from rumor we understood they had left
the Canary islands and a part of them had
been sighted at Martinique and from con-
sular information, or perhaps information
sent by the Harvard, that they had gone
to Curacao.
Giving the reasons for the departure of
the flying squadron for Cienfuegos, Cap
tain Cook said the squadron had been sent
to that port ito intercept and meet the
Spanish squadron, it having been deter
mined, as we believed at that time, by
them to make Cienfuegos their objective
point" He had understood that the Span
ish fleet carried munitions of war for
Havana, and it was believed that they
would go to Cienfuegos, because of its ac-
cessibility to Havana. Captain Cook tes-
tilted al great length about coaling move
ments Of the flying squadron, etc.
When the Spanish Fleet Came out.
General interest was manifested when
Mr. Hanna began his inquiries about the
battle of July 8. He asked:
Were you on deck when the fleet came
out of Santiago harbor on July 8, when
they were first sighted?"
The reply was in the negative Captain
Cook said he had at that time been in
the cabin. The next question was:
How did you first learn the feet was coming
out?
Witness-I heard the executive officer call
out, "Clear ship for action" and as had
given directions to have the ship ready for
happening. / went on deck Immediately.
Mr.. Hanna-Had you any intimation the
night before that the feet were coming outl
Witness-No. l turned in the night before
about midnight. All hope of their coming
out had been given up.
Mr.. Hanna-When you came on deck where
were the Spanish vessels? What were they
doing?
Witness-when I first arrived on the fore
castle there were two in sight. The third one
was Just inside the entrance and the fourth
appeared Immediately afterward.
Mr.. Hanna-What did they do when they
came out? Which way did they head?
Witness-We were to the westward The
feet came out sonth and turned as they
left the entrance L .our points southwest
so that they turned in our direction When
1 first got on deck the helm had been star
boarded, heading a little to the northward
When l saw the fleet were heading south
west and seemed to be coming straight for