Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-09-26
INFORMATION OF
CERVERA'S FLEET
Effort OF Navy Department Was to Show
That Admiral Schley Had knowledge
of Its Whereabouts.

ago prior to the arrival Of the flying
squadron"
Il was senior officer until Capt.
Cotton came on the 2Srd. He was there
until the Gath, and | was senior officer
on the 25th and the squadron came
there on the 26th."
Did you not direct Capt. Sigsbee to
give to Commodore Sehley the infor-
nation that you had received from the
navy department with regard to the
whereabouts of the Spanish squadron
II did not"
ADMIRAL COTTON RECALLED.
At this point Capt Wise was ex-
cused and Admiral Cotton was recalled
TO make verbal corrections to the tes-
timony previously given by him.
Admiral Cotton was questioned con-
corning some points of the Santiago
campaign, lie said that on the morn
Ing of May n, after arriving from
Kingston, he had gone aboard the
Brooklyn with dispatches for Admiral
Schley.
Asked by Capt. Lemly to relate his
conversation with Admiral Schley on
the occasion Of that visit. he said:
He informed me that II had been as
certained that some, at least, Of the
ships Of Admiral Cervera's squadron
were within the harbor of Santiago
that they had been seen and were in
sight ana, as matter of fact, one of
them was In sight at the entrance 60 the
harbor. In language, as nearly as can
remember, he said. After dinner | am
going 10 hoist my flag on board the
Massachusetts, and take her and the
Iowa and go In and have a pot shot
at those fellows
MIR. Lemly--Anything further?
There was, OF course, some further
conversation. ! cannot recall the
words nor aside from what ] have mem
toned, the particular subjects"
CHIEF MACHINIsT GRAY.
VIM. c. Gray, who was chief machin-
list on the Texas during the battle of
Santiago on July 3, testified that on
that date he had been on duty at the
throttle Of the starboard engine OF the
battleship. He said that when he went
to the engine room the vessel was go
Ing ahead. THE next signal" he said
was 10 stop minute afterward 10 re-
verse. The engines were then re-
versed."
The witness said that the reversal
was very brief. the revolutions not ex-
ceeding 100 and the time being short.
He had, he said, heard afterward that
the reversal was because they were
passing the Brooklyn.
1T. WOOD TEsTIFlEs.
Lieut.. Spencer S. Wood, who com
manded the dispatch boat Dupont dur
ing the Spanish war, was the next wit
ness
Lieut.. Wood related the particulars
OF his mission as dispatch carrier |
from Admiral Sampson lying at Key
West TO Admiral Schley, who was off |
Cienfuegos. He had left Kew West on
May 20, carrying dispatches of which |
the Iowa carried duplicates, and had |
reached Cienfuegos several hours In ad- |
vance of the Iowa.
ION my arrival" the witness said. II |
went aboard and personally delivered |
the dispatches which / carried from |
Admiral Sampson TO Commodore schley |
in his cabin at o'clock He asked |
me Admirals Simpsons idea about |
where the Spanish squadron was.
told him | did not know he asked me |
or Admiral SIMPSONS intentions.
told him did not know them. He |
told me he thought the Spanish squad
ron was there. The conversation was
on the line to endeavor to find out
from me what Admiral SIMPSONS plans
were could give him no informa-
ton"
How long were you on board the
fagshlp?"
Until just before luncheon"
nave you anything further 10 state
Win respect TO this interview which
luiry?"
'The commodore hesltated some
ioout giving me coal. He did not think
ne could spare coal at first said
! was absolutely necessary; that we
were almost out OF coal. having made
me run from Key West. He said
I over"
II went below to the ward room and
MAS afterwards called up and inform
ID that they would give me coal 7
lad never before met the admiral ue
Impressed me as being very
iervons He would get up and walk
'round, come back and sit down ana
number OF questions he asked mo
bout Admiral Simpsons intentions 7
vas unable 10 answer
IF | understand YOU clearly Won had
20 knowledge ~ the contents M Tho
dispatches which YOU deliyered7-
Admiral Sampson dld not toll mo
yhat was In them. He simply told me
nose were duplicate dispatches he was
ending hy the Iowa. Those dunilca Toe
e SAID. he gave 10 me because no
hought the Dupont could make hotter
leed' left after the Iowa passed nor
n cape san Antonio and arrived IN
ienfuegos some three or four hours
,eiore she aid. left Key West al II.
a m. on the GOTH
During this interview In which VIM
nade some statements with respect N ,
ne aunirals manner. had he read tho
lspalchesg Did he read them in your
"Oh. yes"
hen2" N'''eh's
He did not tell me positively what ,
hey were. ! gathered while I was
board the flagship what they con- /
aimed but whether II was while was
J the cabin or later In the ward room | I
do not know. never saw their con- !
ents. and Admiral Sampson never lola
le what they were" 7
II wish to ascertain exactly the mar !
culars OF this interview" a
"All the dispatches seemed TO be OF an ,
Important character. judging from The :
dmlrals manner upon receiving them :
q stated, he was very nervous" u
Asked by Mr. Raynor n Admiral {
ampson or any one else had Informed =
i'm before he left Key West for Glen
iegos that code Of signals had been c
greed upon between the American I
lrces and the Cuban insurgents, Lieut.. =
FOOD replied In the negative. He had j
u. he said, received such information
fficially. but he added Il was current
TX al Key West that the Marblehead
D previous trip had established COM
with the Cuhane n how