Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-10-08
CROWDS STILL FLOCK

| y.
Com. HOdgs0n Closely Questtoned-Ncw
| WitnessssAddsd to Observation-Disclosures,
SampsOn's Chief sottan, TO he Cailsd.
A crowd was in attendance at the
beginning Of the third week of the Ad-
miral Schley investigation Monday. II
had been expected that the navy depart
ment would complete its presentation of
the case by the close of last week, but
when court opened Capt Lemly's list
of witnesses still contained almost
dozen names. Prominent among these
Is Capt Chadwick, who was Admiral
SIMPSONS chief of staff and In imme.
diate command Of the flagship New
York during the Santiago campaign.
The program included In addition to
those recalled for correction Of testi-
mony the names Of two new witnesses,
Capt William NJ Folger, who command
ed the cruiser New Orleans during the
bombardment Of the Crstobal Colon on
May 81 in which that vessel participat-
ed, and Lieut. M l. Bristol, who as en-
sign was watch officer on the battles
ship Texas during the Santiago cam
paign.
Lieut. Commander Hodgson. navigator
campaign, resumed the stand. This
| was his third appearance and he was
closely cross.eXamined by Admiral
| Schley's counsel.
Mr. Rayner began his cross examna-
tioD by asking Hodeson whether the
Marblehead had hailed the BROOKLYN
when the two vessels had passed each
! other, as the Brooklyn was on her
way to CieDfuegos. The witness re.
piled in the negative. The examination
then turned upon the events about
Cienfuegos and in reply to Ravnor's
inquiry Hodgson detailed those at length
He said that he had seen lights on the
shore Bt Cienfuegos which were after
ward determined to be signals, but be
supposed they were signals between diff
ferent branches of the Spanish forces
on the shore. He added that when
Capt McCalla arrived with information
as to the meaning Of the signals he was
Immediately dispatched to shore to com
mupicate with the insurgents. He said
the progress of the squadron was i'm
peded between Cienfuegos ahd Santiago
by heavy weather, the smaller vessels
being especially delayed.
He then continued his description of
the battle of Santiago from where be
concluded Friday. He said the Brook
lyn did all she could and got into action
as quick as steam could carry her.
They commenced firing as soon as the
first gun on the port bow would bear.
They kept the port battery firing until
she turned an arc with her port helm.
She used her aft guns until she got all
the starboard guns TO bear. She got
around as quickly as she could with her
port helm until the vessel almost paral-
leled her course with the leading Span
ish vessel. When the Oregan came up
he said, "We we're engaged with three
Spanish vessels. Captain Clark cried
God bless the Oregon. After that we
told the Oregon where her shots struck
and she told us where ours struck -
Com Hodgson said that in his opir-
ion Commodore Schley's conduct dur
ing the battle of July was such ps
that of a commander in chief should
have been. He also explained at some
length his correspondence with AC
miral Schley concerning the alleged
colloquy between them while the
Santiago engagement was in progress.
He said he had had no controversy
with the commodore, but be repeated
that the comm odore bad SAID, Damn
the Texs So when told that the vessel
was in danger.
The witness said that the dialogue,
as reported, was fictitious and that be
had denied it's verbal accuracy while
not denying the truth of part of it.
He said that the commodore had oc-
cupied place on a platform around
the coming tower during the engage
ment. This had been a position of
danger. as the commodore had been
s slwsys in full view of the enemy's
ships, He said that the Brooklyn, in
making her loop, had gone about 600
yards to the southwark, as that is
about the tactical diameter of the
Brooklyn at that speed " The state
ment making the distance 2000 yards
had been absolutely a mistaken one.
Changing the linz of examination
Mr. Hanna then asked "Whec the
BrooKlyD turned with port helm did
she blanket the fire of the Texas and
the eremy?"
- do not think sic did. l thought
she was going to do it,
Capt Wan Folger related how on
May 81 the cruiser had participated
o the bombardnent of the Cristobal
Colon, then lying in the mouth of Sar-
,iago harbor. He said that the S1Gts
hist dav had been fired at d range of
rom 5000 to 0,000 yards and that all
lad fallen short.
Describing the blockade of Santiago
maintained by Commodore Scbley, the
sitness said that the distance out was
rom four to eight miles and that at
light the vessels steamed 10 column
.ack and forth across the harhor,
omewhat nearer in. BE did not be-
ieve the vessels were more than four
uiles from the Moro op May 81.
Lieut. G. W Dyson testified concerr-
rg TIE coal supply OF the boats on
day %, the dav the retrograde move
nent toward Key West was begun. He
aid in reply to questions that no
'sttles zip could travel for more than
light to - hours Oh forced dr ,ft, and
nat on the day of the battle of Sar-
iago the flagship New York had oil
er boilers on and was making IL
nots.