The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-16

AS near as I recollect the circum
stances there was a conversation after
the message had been brought TO me that
signal had been made bound for Key
West by Yucatan channel | did not
understand the signal and do not recol-
lect that at any time anything had been
said about that.
MUST HAVE COAL.
81 went in to see the commodore about
it, / asked him what the signal meant
and he said that he must coal the ships.
That he must seek some place to coal
them and that he was going toward Key
West until he could find an opportunity
to coal from the collier and if he did
not find that he must be near a coal base
to keep the ships coaled. I made some
remark concerning the weather condi-
tons that 1 thought they would be more
favorable later. He said, Until they are
and until | am able to coal from the col
lier, I must keep within striking distance
of coal. I said that I recognized that
he felt the responsibility as no one else
could and that it was a serious question.
He answered that he recognized that
fact but that he must act in accordance
with his Judgment, whether right or
wrong; that personal consideration was
of no account when the safety of the
fleet was to be considered. That is about
all l recollect.
WAS anything further said at any
other time on this subject between you
and the COMMODORE"
Not except what I have stated in re-
gard to the fact of having gotten coal
aboard the Texas"
Can you state whether this conversa-
ton took place before or after the signal
was made regarding the coaling of the
TeXas?"
VI;
memory serves me right between and
8 O'Clock on the evening of May e. after
the signal had been made that we We're
to return to Key West"
when did the conversation between
you and the commodore take place with
regard to coaling the TeXas?"
That was on the evening of the 27th.'
The court asked the witness the follow
ing questions:
What instructions did you receive
from Commodore Schley regarding the
movement of the Brooklyn after it was
discovered that Cervera's squadron was
coming out the harbor of Santiago"
1.-THE commodore was on deck when the
discovery was made and when I went
forward, the ship was moving toward the
enemy. Everything had been connected
in the coming tower and he was
AT HIS POST,
or the place he had elected to stand,
which was near the coming tower, to be
in easy communication with me. [ do
not recollect any specific instructions.
We were standing for the enemy
please report any conversation that
took place between Commodore Schley
and yourself from the time the Spanish
squadron came out until the Brooklyn
was steadied on her westerly course in
the chase?"
He several times spoke of the posi-
ton of the enemy. One time he spoke OF
the turning of one of the ships from the
lire. I saw it, the Vizcaya, [ think, turn
out and turn in again. He spoke or
that. He said to me one time to look
out for the torpedoes or torpedo boats,
torpedo boats, I think. 1 know at that
time that the executive officer had come
from below and l turned to him and said:
Leok out for torpedo boats or tor
pedo attack He said:
AYE aye, SIR ard left me- [ have
no recollection OF seeing them. I did not
concern myself much about them. Then
there was the conversation as to put
ting the helm aport which l already
have stated. He spoke frequently to me
during the action about cautioning the
men at the batteries to fire steadily and
fl0wly not TO lose their shots. He called
out a number of times, loud enough to
be heard in the turret and to be heard
on the lower deck by the men manning
the auxiliary batteries, to fire steady,
especially at time when the ships were
doubled on each other, as for instance
the Colon passed from third to first
place inside of the other ships He spoke
to me a number of times asking me il
| could not edge in on them. ] recolect
that distinctly, because / was anxious to
keep a straight and steady course, be-
lieving we gained by that, and we had
them at all times under an easy range
We had the range completely and our
SHOTS WERE LANDING
Theirs We're not
Please state what was the conduct
and bearing of Commodore Schley during
the battle of July g. The answer to this
being previously given by you does not
refer specifically to this date
Il cannot imagine any conduct in battle
more admirable. He was COOL brave and
enthusiastic, from the beginning to the
end of the action
Judge Acknowledgement specific orders
were given you by Commodore Schley with
regard to the handling of the vessel under
your comand. more than such as you
have already given relative to the turn
to the westward?
Il do not see how I can add anything
to what already has been said. The whole
thing passed so quickly there was not
much time for consultation. I will say
that whatever 1 did was done either
under his direction, so far as 1 know,
his direct approval"
This refers to the battle throughout
and to the orders that may be given you
in regard to the handling of the vessel:"
1T does
Mr. Rayner-What damage or injury
was done to the Brooklyn on the day
of the battle by the Spanish ships?
My recollection is that she was struck
twenty times. She had the marks of
some forty injuries, but examinatio
showed twenty shot holes.
She was in such a condition at the
end of that battle that so far as the ship
herself was concerned, she was ready for
action again. She was not materially in
jured The most injury was done by a
shot that entered the mid-ship compart-
ment and tore things UP pretty badly.
There were shots through the smoke
stack that might have interfered With her
draught. OF her five-inch battery there
were seven out of the twelve carriages
that had been injured to such an extent
that we could not elevate them. In fact
at the end Of the action, we were lifting
with pieces of board in imitation of old
chopping blocks
The Court-Were those INJURIES you
last referred to caused by the shot?
mo. They were caused by the fire OF
the guns and spring of the elevating
gear"
Mr. Rayner-Was Commodore's Schley's
position on the Brooklyn on the day OF
the battle one of danger?
Yes as much as any one on board.
He was in the open all the time
The Court-How far was the Colon
from the Brooklyn when the turn to