The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-18
SCHLEY'S ENSIGNS.

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PACED
exact location OF batteries and to form an
estimate OF their strength He said he was
not going in tor a regular bombardment, as
he had instructions from the department
not TO hazard the ships against the batter
les and that il ne should disable one OF his
ships during this bombardment his force
would then be rendered inferior TO the
Spanish forces inside the harbor; that he
was going in mercy for a reconnaissance,
and not to destroy the batteries or the
Coon"
The next witness was James A. Hand,
also an ensign who had served on the
Brooklyn as a naval cadet. He told Of the
delay of the progress of the fleet between
CienIuegoS and Santiago, saying it was
due to the Merrimac, the Eagle and the
Vixen. He also said the weather was
rough. The sea had been so rough on May
26 as to cause the parting of the hawsers
of the Yale when taking the Merrimac In
tow previous TO the retrograde movement.
The witness testified that on the day of the
battle OF July 3 he was at the central sta
ton, and had received from
Schley and Captain Cook encouraging mes
sages TO the men, and that one of these
from the commodore was received with a
three cheers for the commodore"
Ensign Ralph n. Marble, who was a
cadet on the Brooklyn during the war, said
that during the voyage to Santiago the sea
was rough for the smaller boats. On the
day of the battle of Santiago he had had
charge of some of the after ive-inch guns.
His closest range was LOO yards. The or
derlies had passed the range of 800 yards
TO him. but he had not used that range.
Later in the engagement the range had
been 400 to $500 yards, which, while firing
on the Viscaya. had been extended to $500
or $500 yards. He said that just before
going ashore the Viscaya starboarded her
helm and headed for the Brooklyn, then
ported her helm and went ashore.
Mr.. Marble related q conversation he had
heard between Captain Sigsbee and Com
modore Schley when the former came
aboard the Brooklyn May 26 off Santiago.
The commodore had asked the captain. the
witness said, Have we got them?' To
this inquiry Captain Sigsbee replied: mo;
they are not here. | have been here for
here unless | knew it."
On eross-examinat.Cn the witness said he
had satisfied himself of the date of the
conversation by referring to the Brooklyn's
log. He was not more thar seven or eight
feet from the two officers at the time. and
he thought he had given their exact words.
The court asked Ensign Marble: did
any Spanish ships show a disposition to
ram the Brooklyn at the beginning of the
engagement of July 80"
Yes. sir. One OF the ships did not turn
as soon as the others, and headed to the
westward"
FITZSIMMONS'S TESTIMONY.
After further questioning Ensign Marble
was excused and Medical Director Paul
Fitzsimmons, who was chief surgeon of the
flying squadron, was called. DR.. Fitzsim-
mons gave an account Of the battle Of July
3 from his standpoint. He had observed
the engagement from the gun deck Of the
Brooklyn. He said that when the first of
the Spanish ships came out of the harbor
at Santiago it appeared to stand still. and
he had been able TO see the entire vessel.
He then saw no more of the Spanish ships
until the Brooklyn had completed her turn,
when all the enemy's vessels became Wis
ible. He had then looked back. and had
been able 10 see only one of the American
ships. Il remember that incident very dis
tinctly,' said DR.. FitZsimmons. because
il seemed TO me that we were fighting all
the Spanish ships alone" He had, he said,
heard the range given several times. and
the lowest was 200 yards, while the highest
figure he heard was $500 yards. The Colon,
ne said, had followed the course OF the
shore in her westward fight, and the wit
ness thought that before the Viscaya gave