The Washington times., 1901-09-21

| the witness SAID Inc mex
| morning there was "a little lump of Z
sea-, which appeared to distress the
| Eagle, and at times the squadron came
| down to very slow speed and ever
| stopped to let her regain her position
Ihat continued nearly the entire day
| The next day the Eagle was signaled &c
leave the fleet to coal at Jamaica. On
May % the weather had moderated some
| and was considerably calmer on the 18th
| when the squadron arrived to the south
| ward of Santiago. The witness said that
| the Texas was capable of making greater
speed than she did.
Q. At what time did you arrive of San
| tiago on the 2Gth?
A Well. we arrived at a distance, !
of Santiago. about twenty miles. about
$50 or O'Clock. We did not go off in the
ordinary acceptation at all
g You saI did not arrive .!a.,. Of Santiago? -,
mean from about three to five miles. say.
or perhaps six or seven miles from the
harbor
Q. How far off were you?
A. Something over twenty. 1 think it
was
The witness said that the Yale, Mime
apolis and st. Paul were sighted and when
the first-named passed within easy hail
Captain Philip called: Say, boys. have
you got them in there?" Captain Wise
was on the Yale's deck and responded
Yes: | think We have"
This testimony may have an important
bearing on Admiral Schley's statement
IN his communication to the Senate Com
mittee on Naval Affairs that Captain Sigs-
pee, who commanded the st. Paul, had
told him on the occasion to which Com
mander Harber referred that he Captain
Sigsbee) did not believe that the Spanish
M neet was In Santiago. Captain Sigsbee
denied making this statement He had
merely told Admiral Schey. he said in
letter to the Secretary of the Navy that
Nunez. pilot. had at first expressed a
belief that such large vessels as Cervera's
could not get into Santiago. But he af-
terward admitted that they might get in
with the aid of tugs.
Commander Harber. continuing his tes-
timony, said that no attempt was made on
May 25 or 26 to coal any vessel of the Fly
ing squadron. AS to whether the condition
OF the weather or sea on the 18th would
have prevented the Texas from saking
coal Commander Harber said:
on the evening of the 10Th 1 do not
think the sea was any heavier than at
the time when l was successfully coaling
snip at Tortugas, although the collier was
a heavier vessel. | had coaled ship in
Tortugas with a considerable sea having
as collier, schooner of, l think, about
$500 tons"
Q. OF course 1 understand that you do
not go to sea to coal ship: but In an
emergency you think you could have coal
ed the Texas ON that date, do you?"
In the Texas; yes, SIR.
q You say you coaled ship at Tortugas
when the sea seemed to you to be worse
eHiH ~ WAS on TINS occasion!
A. Yes ss
The Signal on the BROOKLYN.
Commander Harber then told Of the sig
mails from the Brooklyn. Schley's flagship,
Destination Key West" etc. They were
to tsart as soon as the disabled collier
Marrimac was ready, the signal said The
collier was taken in tow by the Yale In
answer to question the witness said the
squadron did not make nine knots, the
speed indicated in the signal. There was
considerable trouble over the parting of
the Merrimac's tow line. The next day,
May q, about noon the tow line appear
ed to be satisfactory. and the squadron
steamed westward until evening, when
the Brooklys. signaled to the. Texas. Can
you coal shp?" Captain Philip respond
ed, We can,try.' AT o'clock that night
the Texas began coaling from the Merri-
mac. t'' 'la.-- i-pi : ;,i.llifF g.
O. What did you mean by that express
sion, we can ,try?'i Did you have some
doubt about it?
A. think not.
.. You did not have?
A. do not think we had any doubt
about it.
On the night of May %. when the SQUAD
ron returned off Santiago, the vessels
steamed In column in front of the en-
trance to the harbor, seven or eight miles
out by day. the witness said that he as
sumed. and at night, rather farther"
The vessels. the witness thought ran
backward and forward about seven or
eight miles TO each side. of the entrance.
Inc Colon was seen at intervals on the
syth, soth, 3lst, and June l. She had ap-
not moved in that time
In answer to question by Mr. Hanna
the witness said he did not see the Loop"
or turn of the Brooklyn. Describing the
blockade maintained. Commander Harber
said the column passed at varying dis
tances from the entrance of the harbor.
l estimate at from seven to ten miles.
After passing the mouth of the harbor
they turned still In column at point ap-
proximately eight miles east or west, go
ing on the ordinary course That was the
character of the blockade. l do not think
we ever came within six miles. / will put
it at seven miles. as being as near as
we came during the day, and my estimate
was that we went as far as ten miles dur
Ing the night and at times during the day
We were ten miles off,
Squalls of brief duration occurred. the
witness said, but the blockading vessels |
kept one another in sight during the |
night. The squadron steamed eight |
miles each side of the entrance during a
run of sixteen miles.
The loop" was again brought up. Com |
mander Harber said he had not seen the |
Brooklyn make the turn. but Immediately |
after 1t was made the Texas was stand |
ing somewhat in shore and was just puck |
ing up her way after having backed her |
engines, or while there was deemed to be |
danger of coliiding with the Brooklyn |
during the turn
While Commander Harber was on the |
stand the hour of adjournment-4 o'clock |
was reached and the Court adjourned |
until this morning. Commander Harber's |
examination will be continued today.
STRUCK BY A FREIGHT TRAIN.