Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1901-10-17
SCHLEY WAS COOL
In THE FIGHT
He Sent Encouraging Messages
Down to the Men During the
PROGRESS Of the Battle.
HE'S A BRAVE, OLD SEA DOG
Some Interesting Testimony Was Given
Today Before the Scbley Board of In
quiry.- The slowest Ship Fixed
the Speed for the Flying
Squadron.

Washington, D. c., Oct. 1.-THE first
was Lieutenant Commander T. D.
Griffin who, as lieutenant, was senior
watch officer ON the Brooklyn during
the war with Spain. After him came
a number of Junior officers of the
Brooklyn. 1t is still Mr.. Rayner's in
Admiral SIMPSONS relation to the in
quiry before the close of the case. 1t
seems probable that their presentation
will be deferrd until a time shortly be-
fore the beginning of Schley's testi-
mony.
Lieutenant Commander Griffin gave
details of Cienfuegos campaign, say
ing the distance of the blockading line
there varied from three to seven miles,
being farther out at night.
Speaking of the voyage from Glen
fuegos to Santiago, the witness, said a
heavy sea impeded the fleet by delay
ing the smaller vessels, especially the
Eagle. He heard Commodore Schley
tell the commander of the Eagle he
could not delay the squadron any lon
ger on his account, and gave orders
for him to proceed to Jamaica for coal.
The commanding officer of the Eagle
expressed regret at being obliged to
part company with the flying squa-
dron.
At Santiago, the witness said, the
blockading line was mile or two clos
er in at night than during the day, and
on May 29 the fleet stood out three or
four miles, There were picket boats
inside the line.
Referring to the battle of July g.
witness said he had been in charge Of
the powder division and it was also
his duty to look after the lower decks.
deal of the fight.
He said encouraging messages were
sent among the men below.
you don't know who sent these
messages, do you?" asked Rayner.
IT took it for granted"-Judge Advo-
cate Lemly interrupted the witness by
stating il did not appear that Schley
sent these messages, which brought a
statement from Rayner that he would
prove, when Schley went on the stand,
that the admiral sent these messages
of encouragement to the men.
"Can you speak of the conduct, bear
ing and manner Of Commodore Schley
during the engagement in which you
saw him?''
"He impressed me as being remarka-
bly, COOL considering what had just
occurred. He was perfectly natural in
manner and bearing
Hanna asked whether the flying
squadron proceeded with dispatch" on
the voyage from Cienfuegos to San
tiago. Witness replied: eyes, as a |
unit, until we made the turn to west |
ward on May rs. The slowest ship |
fixed the speed, and that was six or
seven knots an hour
Ensign John Haligan, Jr., who serv-
ed on the Brooklyn during the war,
was the first witness of the afternoon |
and when asked as to Schley's bearing |
in battle. the witness said it was ''such |
as to inspire enthusiasm
DR.. Paul Fitzsimmons, chief surgeon |
of the flying squadron, was the last |
witness of the day. He observed the
battle on July g. from the gun deck Of |
the Brooklyn, and said it seemed to |
him that the Brooklyn was fighting the |
battle entirely alone He thought the |
Brooklyn kept the Colon from getting |
away.