The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-15
Called by Department; His Testimony
Very Favorable to SchIey.
He COMMANDED THE BROOKLYN.
fie Told the Court That There Was Neye1
Amy Danger of Collision With the
Texas-Commodore seh!ey Was
an Enthusiastically Brave
and Patriotic Officer
at Ali Times.
(By Associated Press.l

| WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. 1.-To-day
in the schley court of inquiry, Judge
| Advocate Lemly concluded presentation
of testimony for the Government and the
| first of Admiral Schley's witnesses was
! introduced.
! Captain Francis A. Cook, who COM
! n1anded the Brooklyn during the Santiago
| campaign, and who acted. though unoifi-
| 'cially. in the capacity of chief of staff
{ for the Commodore. was on the witness
! stand the greater part of the day. He
| was followed by acknowledgements
| w. F. Fullanl, who was senior watch
officer on the New Orleans during the
| Spanish war, and former Lieutenant
| Joseph Beale, who, officer on the
| Harvard. translated the cipher dispatches
between Commodore Schley and the Navy
| Department, carried by that vessel.
| Lieutenant Beale was the last of the
| Government witnesses, although Captain
| Lemly explained that he would reserve
| the right to call others II occasion should
| demand that he should do So Then me
| first witness for Admiral Schley was
| called. This proved to be the Cuban
| pilot, Eduard Nunez. Captain Cook was
! questioned by Mr.. Hanna, and responded
had been al Key West. May 18th, giving
| directions for the departure OF the flying
| squadron for Cfenfuegoes. Captain Cook
| said the squadron bad been sent to that
! port to intercept and meet the Spanish
| squadron. it having been determined. as
| we believed at that time, TO make Glen
| fuesos their objective point. He had
| understood that the Spanish fleet carried.
| munitions of war for Havana, and it was
| believed that they would go to Glen
| fuegos because Of its accessibility 20
Havana.
Captain Cook detailed a conversation
| between Commodore Schley and Captain
! Chester while the squadron was en- route
| to Cienfuegos. He said there had been
! talk between them about coaling on the
| southern coast OF Cuba.
| Captain Cook said that upon arriving
| at Cienfuegos ON the morning of May
| 22d. a blockade was Immediately estab-
| lished, as the firing of guns was heard
| and it was believed that Cervera haCH
arrived and a fete in honor of his ap-
pearance was on. Earthworlls on the
! shore were seen, but they were not fired
| upon, because it was considered advisable
not to unnecessarily eSpenG ammunition
1T was presumed that the whole beach
| was occupied. We saw cavalry and others
on the beach. The possibility of a boat
landing was talked OF. On the arrival
of the Adnla we fully expected to get
all Information
did you see any signal lights on shore
while you were there?"
Yes; the first thing after we arrived
on May e2.''
Where We're these signal Lights anu
what were they?''
II judged them to have be IN about >ajx
or seven miles to the westward. three
lights, one ahead OF the otlo-. very dis
tinctIy, and in the discussi IN that took
place on the ship, in which chink the
Commodore took part, It was regarded
as pretty clear evidence rs :. signal of
some kind to assist that fat, and that
he certainly had them in thc-e''
There could have been n. doubt what
ever from the arrangements of those
lights that they were ;ntendcd as sig
nals?'
"Oh, no; their appearance at the time
they did and remaining SO long But we
could not determine for whom or from
whom they Were sent
MCAI.LA SURPRISED.
Mr.. Hanna questioned the witness con-
cerning the arrival of the Iowa AMI the
Dupont Off Cienfuegos- Captain Cook
said they had brought dispatches, and
he had gathered from conversation with
Commodore Schley, after their :ecaipt.
that it was the idea of both Sampson and
Schley that they should continue to hold
Cienfuegos. He did not, he said, recall
the receipt of dispatches by Capt. AtcCalIa.
what was the nature of the consuIta-
ton with Capt. McCalla?''
'We talked on different subjects princI-
pally on mining material We brought
up the question Of the insurgent camp
and where it was, and then the Cornmo-
dore said to him: We have seen peculiar
three lights, one ahead o. the other, here,
but we cannot make out what they are,
and I believe it is something in conn
ton with the Spanish fleet Captain Nc
Gala gave a start threw up his hands
and said: That is the signal from the in
surgent c;Lmp. They want to comrluni-
cate with you, and added: Well l can
go there and find out at once The Com
modore told him to go, to get Off as soon
as possible, and added: You can send
boat across and let me know as soon as
possible Then the subject OF coaling
came up again, about the great difficulty
we were going to have in coaling from
Golfers. and Captain --cCalla said: You
need not be at all concerned about me-.
will get coal If there is any coal to be
obtained He was always cheerful about
everything. He started from the ship al
most Immediately, and said: I must get
off,
ADULA INCIDENT
In the meantime, closely connected
with that. was the arrival of the Adula.
This steamer came in from Jamaica and
eported that the Spanish fleet had gone
into Santiago and had left on the 18th.
That seemed to confirm the Commodore's
idea that they had reached Cienfuegos
It was suspicious craft, I said some
hing to the commc<>re about letting that
steamer go. He said: I don't care any
thing about that steamer, but am bound
to get Information from her. II the cap-
tain does not give itsI viii certainly get
tout of some Of the passengers. It was
arranged that When she came out the
officers should go aboard and question the
passengers and get informa ton from