The St. Louis Republic., 1901-10-17

~
COMMANDER N. e. MASON.
Executive officer of the Brooklyn. who was
witness before the Schley Court OF
Inquiry yesterday.
The rest of the battery took up the fire at
once, and continued to fire on the port DO"
until the ranges commenced to get down to
1,S0O and loo yards. l asked Captain COOK
as to which way he was going round, it re-
| ing necessary for me to know Oh aCc)uE,
of changing the battery below. shifting rom
one side to the other. He answered tina: Ae
was going with port helm. gave the nec-
essary orders on deck and went below.
| "As arrived In the after cabin the after
| five-inch gun was fired for the last time on
| the port side and the starboard gun took
up the fire Immediately. The starboard bat
terry then was engaged for the rest of the
! action. The range at the time We turned, as
far as 1 remember. was about 1,403 yards.
| although l have recollection of 1.1Ol
| yards being sent to me once AS to the po-
sition of the enemy. they were on the port
| bow. outside OF the harbor. when We made
the turn with the port helm. At the end
| Of the turn they were on our starboard
beam and quarter, with one of them a little
| ahead
Mr.. Rayner: What time was It when the
Colon ran ashore?"
1 1 tooh Ho L only Know Dy the re-
| port at the time that it was about 1:1o
p. M"
| Mr.. Hanna asked about the Oregon in the
| chase. The witness said that her course was
| about 500 yards from that of the Brooklyn
and on the Brooklyns starboard quarter.
The Court asked a number of questions
| before discharging the witness. In reply to
these Commander Mason said that. beyond
sending men aloft and having Captain Nc.
Gala go ashore no effort had been made
by the Flying Squadron to determine wheth-
! er the Spaniards were in the harbor at Cien-
| fuegos: that he knew of no American ships
/; being between the Brooklyn and the Span
| ish ships when the Brooklyn was turning
| to starboard July 3; that when the Spanish
! fleet came out Of the harbor the Brooklyn
was near her regular blockading position,
which was 5000 yards from the Moro: that
on the voyage from Cienfuegos to Santiago
! the fleet had been delayed by the smaller ves-
! sells. especially the Eagle, and but for these
vessels. better speed could have been made;
! that he had observed the bombardment OF
! the Colon and from this engagement had
reached the conclusion that the guns in
the Spanish shore batteries were of caliber
not to exceed or s inches.
Commander Mason was then excused and
the court took recess for luncheon.
| STORY OF THE BATTLE
! TOLD By SIGNALS.
The first witness at the afternoon session
was Lieutenant Edward McCauley. Jr.,
, who as an Ensign on the Brooklyn during
the Cuban campaign, served as Commodore
Schley's signal officer. He had q diary, in
which he had made notes of the progress Of
events. and frequently consulted it to re-
fresh his memory.
The witness then read a list of the signals
| to and from the Brooklyn on July 3, the
list being as follows: July 8. 1858, a. NJ
Ma
commander-in-chief.' 9:15 a. m--Brooklyn
| to Texas: What is your theory about burn
| ing of blockhouses on the hill last night?'
'S:34 a m.-Iowa to Brooklyn: Enemy is
| escaping
'.s:35 a. m--Brooklyn to fleet: Enemy is
| escaping
1856 a. m.-Brooklyn to fleet: Clear for
| action
'9:45 a. m.-Brooklyn to fleet: Close up
"u:Se a. m-Brooklyn to the Oregon: Well
done
While chasing the Colon, the Oregon
| fired number Of shots. We wigwagged her
| when each one struck. and number Of
unimportant messages were exchanged"
Give US these unimportant messages, as
| well as you can recollect.''
When the Oregon came up on our quar-
| ter we wigwagged to her: God bless the
| Oregon Later on. during the chase of the
Colon. We wigwagged to the Oregon to try
! her 13-inch guns, or something to that ef-
| feet"
Was that the signal that has been
| spoken of as Try one OF your railroad
| trains?'"
Il have heard It spoken of outside the
| court. but do not remember"
Have you given all the signals on the
day of the battle?''
mo, SIR" Readine): "1l5 p. m.-This is
not signal-just note Of when the Colon
1 Ic1,~ ~V.0Y do Fad. ~o>
hauled down her flag
! '1:25 p. m.-Brooklyn to Oregon: Enemy
has surrendered
'I:26 p. m.-Brooklyn to Oregon: Cease
firing
| '1:2e p. m.-Brooklyn to Oregon: Keep
your guns loaded and trained on the enemy
| "1:30 p. m.-Brooklyn to Oregon: Con-
gratuiations on the grand victory. Thanks
for splendid assistance
i L35 p m.-Oregon to BROOKLYN: Thank
you more than words can express
I:S p: m-Brooklyn to flagship New
| York: We have gained a great victory.
l Details Will he communicated
'1:50 p m.-New York to Brooklyn: Re-
port your casualties
"1:55 p. m.-Brooklyn to New York:
| Killed. one.'
"l:5S p. m.-Brooklyn to New York: This
is great day for our country
$3.50 p. m.-New York to Brooklyn: AS
/ SSA& &AA, s'' Aoa 90 pOSSluIc, pOSillOu anu
strength OF the enemys forces and report
| without delay
'.2:3O p. m.-New York to Brooklyn:
Hoist out all boats
''2:4o p. m.-New York to Brooklyn: DO
you want services of chaplain to bury
| dead?
"2-45 p. m-Brooklyn to New York:
Would like to have services of chaplain.
| Will signal time later
| "2:5O p. m.-New York to Brooklyn: Send
for chaplain when you want him.
$3.50 p. m.-New York to Brooklyn: Send
| both steam cutters and strongest towline ;
"3:45 p. m-Brooklyn to New York: Both
| steam cutters entirely disabled by shot
| Will use such pulling boats as We can.
| Will send towline.'
'4:2o p. m.-Brooklyn to Oregon: Follow
| nag
.4:25 p m.-Brooklyn to Oregon: Close
up
'4:25 p. m.-New York to Brooklyn: VIII
| remain in charge Of prize"
Lieutenant McCauley also gave list OF
the signals made from the Massachusetts
while that vessel was being used as Com
modore Schley's flagship, May 81, and. when
asked whether any signal had been sent to
the fleet to mot go in any closer" he re-
piled: mo. SIR" He said he had charge OF
the signals. and did not remember such q
signal
sCHLEY's CONDUCT AND
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
Leading up to the battle of July 8, Mr.
Rayner asked: What was the conduct and
bearipg Of Commodore schley on the day Of