Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-19

the Iowa.
After the action commenced we
passed the Texas ard the Iowa. The
only snip then ahead of us was the
brooklyn. She was well off her ac-
cuStomed position, well off to the west
ward. All the Spanish ships had got
Ten out ny this time and we We're pur-
"uing them. heading for the leading
ShipS. we noticed the Maria Tcres.
drop a@tern at Icrs speed than at first.
saw flames leaping up and out from
htr. which convinced us she was ON
iifc. \ few minutes after that. the
cquendo appeared to be covered with
smoke and we concluded that she also
was On fire. which proved to be a fact
JUST ABOUT this time the Niscaya.
which starboarded her helm, seemed to
turn to the southwark and westward
toward the Brooklyn and fell out Of
Hne. 1t then became evident that Tho
colon was pulling out Of the battle and
running along the shore, but it was
developed that she was running among
and had more speed than all the other
ships.
ne Niscaya headed toward the
Brooklyn She ran that course for
some time. and then Strengthened out
again: then turned in shore and a few,
minutes after that ran ashore also.
There is no question about the Viscava
pulling out Of the general Spanish line
to the southwark. because a short time
after this capt. Clark turned around
and called my attention to some object
IN the water that looked ike floating
bu"ys apparently three or four feet
above the water. thought they were
nets, with torD.does below them prob
ably thrown out to injurc the ship. |
ported the helm and before ! could do
anything we passed over the spot ana
found We We're in the wake of the VS.
caya.
Commander Nicholson then detailed
the chase Of the Colon, her subsequent
going ashore and surrender. He said
that he recalled some signals from the
Brooklyn on the day of the battle.
among others one at the beginning Of
the battle 70 close up and another at
The close Of the engagement saying:
Well done. Oregon
AS for the first signal" he said, we
We're already closing in and it did not
inform us
In reply TO questions from Mr. Ray
ner the witness said he could not say
positively that he had seen the Brook
lyn make her turn, but that he had
seen her change her position. He had
never seen the Brooklyn and the Texas
when they We're closer together than
mile or a mile and a half.
Ill response to another question BY
capt. Lemly. Commander Nicholson
said: Il thought the Oregon was near
CT the enemy during the chase than the
Brooklyn. but the distances varied
someN nat. At one time the Brooklyn
had apparently turned to head off a
turn Of the Colon toward Cape Cruz
DR. Charles NJ. DeNalin followed
Commander Nicholson. He said that
he had been medical officer on board
the Brooklyn and had observed the bat
tie Of July 3 from the foreCaStle. He
gave brief description Of the battle
saying he had been present when Yeo-
man Ellis was killed and he had OBJ
served Commodore Schlcy during the
entire engagement
His conduct and bearing" said the
witness. was all that could b. expect
ed. He seemed to know what he was
about and to be doing all that he wish
ed to do He was in perfect control of
the situa ton.
W. p. Cronan, an ensign. who served
as signal officer Of the Brooklyn dur
ing the Cuban campaign. was called.
Mr.. Rayner asked him whether he re-
membered Il message from the Scor-
pion to the Brooklyn May II. as he
Cos. The witness replied:
Yes. sir. That morning | was on
watch on the after bridge of the Brook
Ign. We sighted three ships bound for
Key West. one Of which was q convert
ed yacht. The Scorpion left the column
and went over toward this yacht and
communicated with her. The Scorpion
came back and communicated a mega
phone message to the brooklyn. The
substance of this message was that
the Nashville was returning to Key
West, broken down: that the Cincin-
natl and Nesuvius We're patrolling
Yucatan channel and that Captain Nc
Gala reported that he had seen moth
who received that message" asked
Mr.. Rayner.
ITO the best of my remembrance the
commodore and flag lieutenant were on
the bridge beside myself
Mr.. Cronan continued his testimony
at the afternoon session. He described
the turn of the Brooklyn saying that
after it began he observed that the first
ship appeared to be heading directly
toward the brooklyn. creating the i'm
preston that either she meant To ram
the Brooklyn, or the Brooklyn to ram
her This contingency. however. was
averted by both the Brooklyn and the
Spanish ships putting the helm to port.
He said that the Socapa land battery
also fired at the Brooklyn at that time.
and just before starting in shore the
had made sudden turn to
ward the Brooklyn.
The witness said that he had not seen
the Texas before the beginning of the
battle. but he had seen the Iowa.
which was practically on the Brook
lyn's starboard beam. He did not see
the Texas during the Brooklyn's turn
on cross examination. Mr.. Hanna
asked for description of the blockade
Of Cienfuegos. which Mr.. Cronan g.tN".
ba lipbts .lCbnr. In.