New-York tribune., 1901-09-22
the Texas, as Captain Philip usually managed
the ship personally.
COLLISION WITH COLLIER


rs it, asked Mr.. Hanna, "a more critical
matter to coal ship in the open with battle
ship on either side than with ship on only one
side?"
Decidedly" was the response.
Captain Parker here asked: You did some
coaling May q and 2s?"
ION the night of the 27th and morning of the
2sth"
did not in the course of that coaling, the
collier spring leak because of a collision with
the Texas?"
You could not call it springing a leak. The
plates were indented and in the Texas very
little water sweeping through"
so the sea at that time was bad enough to
cause these vessels to collide?"
THE inference, sir, is quite wrong. That was
due to the float put in between the vessels
and did not notice that it just abaft the
armor belt. The float consisted Of square tim
bers"
That would have been worse in worse sea;
and it was bad enough in that sea?''
Experience told 1T was not necessary to
that sort of thing
You did not have much experience then in
coaling you have had since, did you?"
With that sort of sea, yes. sir"
BY the Court-What was the state of the
when the Texas coaIed on May % as compared
with the state the 26th?
THE weather smoother: somewhat / be-
lieve, more favorable"
This concluded Captain Harbers testimony,
and he was excused.
Admiral Higginson then recalled and
questioned especially concerning his statement
of yesterday that the feet only two or
three miles out from Santiago Harbor. He modi-
fed his statement by saying that during the
first portion of the blockade the fleet stood out
further. probably five miles by day and four
miles by night He confessed. however, that
after three years his memory was indstinct.
COAL ON THE MASSACHUSETTS.
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.
By Captain Parker-Then, after twelve days
out you would not have been able to get any
where?
mo, we would not"
Did the fleet after May % go off dis
tance of twenty-five miIes?'
u don't remember that it ever did
Then the story to that effect, by whomsover
told could not be true?"
II don't remember such an excursion and il
made the logbook should show the fact"
Have you any memory that the fleet ever
withdrew after that date distance of more than
six mles?'
Il have not
BY the Courtroom the distance at which the
blockade was maintained at night could you
have seen any vessel attempting to leave San
tago under ordinary conditions of weather?
Admiral Higginson-I think it would have
been difficult on account of the high land and the
shadows under the land.
Admiral IJiggipsop xros ,ban .,,,,.oa ~.
court at o'clock took recess for luncheon.
SCHROEDER CALLED TO TESTIFY.
Promptly upon the striking of the hour Of
the court reconVened after the noon recess The
nrst witness called was Commander Seaton
Schroeder, now Governor of the island of Guam
who, during the Spanish war was executive
officer of the hattleship Massachusetts. His ap-
pearance created a slight stir of interest
Commander Schroeder was questioned as tn
the details of the entire campaign. He knew,
he said. of no efforts TO communicate with tho
shore while the Flying Squadron lay off Glen
fuegos He could give details concerning the
voyage from Cienfuegos to Santiago having
been on the sick list On the first arrival off
Santiago the feet had the witness said been
twenty miles to the south Of the port He did
not know of his own knowledge why west
ward movement had been undertaken after ar
the feet had travelled in that direction He
stated that upon the return to Santiago on Nav
2S he had sighted the Spanish ship Colon and
that II lay twelve hundred thirteen hundred
feet inside the harbor the American fleet being
six seven miles out.
The witness stated in response to questions bv
Judge Advocate Lemly that the squadron re-
malned out about six seven miles maintain
ing this distance during the day, and keeping
under way, countermarching eastward and west
ward at night At point they We're nearer
shore than at another the ships describing
an elongated elipse in their maneuvres The
average distance out. however, was about the
same at night during the day.
Referring to the bombardment of the Colon
on May 81. Commander Schroeder said he did
not observe that there was any firing from the
Spanish shore batteries.
sCHLEY'S REMARK TO HIGGINsON
He testified that he was with CAPTAIN Higein-
when he went to meet Commodore Schley
and that the commodore had remarked to Cap
tain Higginson upon boarding the ship ''I am
going to take you and the Iowa In this morning
to pot the Colon" The bomba rdment had he
said. begun at O'Clock, and had continued for
only about half hour. He said that the in
structions had been to put the range at nine
thousand yards, and told of seeing the first shot
fall. He said it had been fine line shot but
had fallen short There had been two passages
the Colon.
What was the effect of that bombardment?"
asked Captain Lemly.
There was no effect of it far as / could
see,' the witness replied.
Captain Lemly asked for statement of what