Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-09-26

promptly at o'clock.
Admiral Higginson the First Witness.
Rear Admiral Higginson was the
first witness called. Speaking of the
conditions when the Santiago harbor
was reached, the admiral said that
he could see we'll into the harbor and
that he saw the Spanish snip Colon ly
ing in the outer harbor. He did not re-
member seeing other vessels, but the
Colon was then 1000 yards beyond
Morro Castle.
The vessel had lain there until she
was fired upon, which was done on May
81, and had then retired.
Where was Admiral Schley during
the bombardment?
"At one time he was with me in the
coming tower, but most of the time he
was on the outside of it. l was near
him most of the time"
Describe the admirals manner in
this engagement"
81 hardly know how to answer that
question, except to say that his man
ner was that of commander-in-c chief"
Then the court announced that it had
some questions to ask. One Of these
created the sensation of the day The
question was: WAS every effort made
by Admiral Schley to destroy or cap
ture the Spanish steamer Colon as she
lay at anchor in the harbor at Santiago
between the 9th and 31st of May?"
"Object," object" object" came
from each of Admiral Schley's counsel,
but before halt could be called the
witness had replied: mo, l don't think
it was"
Mr.. Rayner was still arguing the
question when the court adjourned.
At the beginning of the afternoon ses-
sion the court withdrew the question.
Major Woods Testimony.
Major Wood said that the second day
after Santiago bay was reached by the
Flying Squadron" he had seen the
Christobal Colon lying inside the har-
Dor; that there was at that time an
other Spanish vessel of the Vizcaya
class partly visible. He thought both
were in view for three or four days.
The witness also said that when Ad-
miral Schley had come aboard the
Massachusetts previous to the bonn
bardment of the Colon on May 81 he
had heard that officer say to Captain
Higginson: I'VE are going in, but we
will not go in sufficiently near to en-
danger the vessels" He had been told
that the distance was to be 10000 feet.
After the bombardment ceased, Ma
Tor Wood said, the Spanish shore bat
teries continued to fire at the American
ships At this point he had gone for
ward, where he had again seen Com
modore Schley.
Did you hear orders or instructions
given by Commodore Schley after the
bombardment?" asked the judge advo-
cate.
81 went upon the superstructure to
ask If we were going in again, or going
any closer, so as to know whether we
would have chance to use the six
inch batteries of which / was In COM
mand and l heard, as l believe, Com
modore Schley say to Captain Higgin
son: 'Starboard your helm, and let's
get out of this
Harber's interesting Answers.
Captain Harber was asked, In the
absence of Captain Philip, to give a
detailed account of the operations of
the Texas during the war, and he did
so. The Texas had been a part of the
Flying Squadron" and the witness
said that when they steamed for Glen
fuegos the flagship had signalled: I'VE
go to Cienfuegos to bag the Spaniards;
wish you good luck"
Did Not See the Texas Stop.
Captain Harber was then asked con
cerning the position of the Brooklyn
relative to the Texas and to the other
ships when he first saw her after the
turn.
"The Brooklyn" he replied, was on
the port bow of the Texas, standing at
an angle l should say approximatng
one-half point to the southwark of the
heading of the Texas. At that time
the Oregon was just forging past us on
the starboard side, in shore. The Iowa
was still farther in shore and pointing
up, oo thdl llcI UoW ofCIlApptu Oul
bow. At one time know that we fired
across the stern of the Iowa"
where were the Spanish vessels
with reference to the heading of the
Texas?"
"The head of the line was then on
our starboard bow, l should say, ap-
proximately four points on the bow"
Recurring to the Brooklyn, he said
he had seen that vessel Immediately
after it had executed the loop, when
1t was on the port bow of the Texas,
about 500 feet distant The Texas was
not then moving at her full speed, be-
cause the Oregon was passing her. If
the Texas at that time backed or
stopped he was not aware of the cir
cumstance.