Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-17
THE PILOT
CORRECTS
TESTIMONY
It Was He Who Told Schley
Squadron Gould Not
Enter Harbor.
THEY WERE TOO LARGE
schley's Side of Case is Unravel-
ing.
Schley's Side of Case is Unravel-
ing.
AMERICAN VESSELS COULD NOT ENTER
Lieutenant Commander Sears, Flag
Officer on the Brooklyn During the
War, Also Placed on the Stand and
Adds His Testimony.

washington, Oct. lo.-EuuOdfuo Nu-
nez, the Cuban pilot, was recalled in
the Schley court Of inquiry today to
add to his statement of yesterday that
he seen the Brooklyn firing the day OF
the bombardment of the Colon, where
as the records show the vessel was
coaling at the time and did not partici-
pate in the engagement. He correct
ed his former statement concerning
the conversation with Schley on the
first meeting with him. He told
Schley he didn't believe the Spanish
boats could get into Santiago harbor
because of their large size, the mar
rowness of the channel and the shoal
in front of the entrance. Schley ask
ed him if his flagship could enter. MI
nez told him he thought it not advis-
able because of the conditions mention
ed, the absence of buoys marking the
channel and there We're many torpedo
lines across the entrance.
Sears Testimony.
Lieut.. Commander Sears, flag officer
on the Brooklyn during the war, testi-
fed while off Cienfuegos he knew moth
ing of the code signals for communi-
eating with the Cubans; that Mccall
las memorandum was brought to
Schley by the Hawk; that the blockade
was maintained from one to four miles
out; that the weather during the cruise
from Cienfuegos to Santiago was bols-
ferrous with heavy sea. and that II
would not have been safe to coal at
sea before May 27, when it was under
taken; that the squadron was delay
ed by the Eagle and other small boats;
that the collier had to stop several
times to repair her machinery.
At Santiago the blockade was main
tanned distance Of three to six miles
out in thick weather, and at night the
distance was less than in fairNweather
and in the daytime.
The witness said the bombardment
of the Colon had developed the land
batteries which proved to be stronger
than anticipated. Schley told him his
purpose was to ascertain what the bat
teries were.
Not Sure Who Gave Order.
In describing the engagement July
3, the witness said he is not positive
who gave the order hard a port, but
thought Schley said hard a part" and
Captain Cook said, ITS hard a port.
He said he gave only sufficient atten
ton to the Texas when the Brooklyn
made the turn to see there was. no dan
ger of collision between the two yes
sells. He thought the vessels passed
500 yards apart. He said he had beer
with Schley in five engagements ant
'his bearing to me was a model fol
anybody worthy of emulation at al
times. Under fire his faculties, II i
were possible, seemed clearer and hi
was more in possession of them thar
at any other time. He was absolutel.
cool and calm. He was always put
ting himself in exposed positions.
requested him many times not to eX
pose himself, as it was useless to de
So"
On cross examination the witness
said he had reached the understand
ing that Cienfuegos was Spanisl
stronghold early in the war; that be
yond the standing in of the American
feet at Cienfuegos and the sending il
of the Adula, no effort had been mad
before the Accallas arrival to discov
err whether the Spaniards were in hal
Dor there. so
Schley discussed the coal situation
freely with him and when the retro
grade movement begun the Texas hal
, only a little more than enough Goa
to carry her to the nearest eoalini
station.