Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1901-10-18
.THE SCHLEY INQUIRY.
Lieutenant Commander Griffin Put
on The Witness Stand.
BLOCKADE DETAILED
Tie Tells What Took Place at Cisnfae.
ges, but Saw Little Of the San.
tiago BatiIe-several Other
Witnesses Testify.

Washington. Oct. 1.-THE first new
witness called before the Schley court
OF inquiry this morning was Lou
tenRn Commander T. ID. Griffin. who
as lieutenant was senior watch officer
on the Brookiyn during the war with
srais. After him came number of
junior ofilcerz who served ON tho Brook.
lyn during the campaign As usual bo-
fore any of the new witnesses were
summoned a number Of former witness
- were called for the purpose Of cor.
recilng their testimony.
Il has been the intention Of Admiral
Schley's counsel 70 PROFOUND a number
Of questions 20 the court which they
proposed to put 70 witnesses for the pur-
pose Of determining 20 what extent Ad-
miraI Sampson's connection with the
present inquiry could DO gone into. but
10 has been decided TO withhold tho
questions. This decision was reached
because Il was believed the information
intended 10 be elected by such questions
could be secured in a more direct and
certain way by Lieutenant McCanlsy's .
testimony regarding signals on July 8.
The questions related principally 10 the
movements of Admiral SIMPSONS flag.
ship. New York. on July 8. the day OF
the hattie OF Santiago and especially to
signals Of that day directing the 1set in
disregard 20 the aAgship's movements.
IL is still the intention 20 present other
questions involving Admiral Sampson's
relation 20 the inquiry before the closo
Of tho case IL seems probable thsir
presentation viii be deferred until a
time before the beginning Of Admiral
testimony.
The frst of Wednesdays witnesses
called for correction testimony was
Commander Mason. and after him came
in succession Lieutenant Commander
Sears. Lieutenant McCanley and Lieut.
Webster. Quite number Of addition.
al questions were addressed 20 Lieut.
Webster by Mr. Hanna. Replying. the
witness said he had seen the signal
lights at night on shore while of San
tiago. In connection with the question
Of the distance OF shore at Santiago,
Mr.. Hanna asked:
~While the vessels were on the block
sde at Santiago from May 40 20 81 in-
elusive were you able during the night
10 distinguish points on shore readily
while ON watchs''
The witness replied in the negative.
In reply 10 another question he stated
that after the surrender Of the Colon
on July he had gone 10 the forecastle
20 look for the other ships He had
only seen the Oregon and Tsxas The
smoke of the other vessels was visible,
but not the vessels themselves.
When Lieutenant Webster was ex.
ousod Lietenant Commander Griffin wns
called. He gave the details Of the Glen.
fuegos campaign. saying the distance Of
the blockading line there varied from
three 10 seven miles. being farther out
ut night Speaking Of the voyage from
Cienfuegos 20 Santiago. the witness
said the weather was ''heavy'' and that
there was short, ohoppy sea-" He
also said the heavy sea had impeded the
feet BY dslsying the smaller vessels.
especially the EAgle
Referring 70 the battle Of July 3.
Lieutsnant Commander Griffin said ID
was his duty to look after the lower
decks. consequently he could not zee q
great deal Of ths hght
"Wers any cheering or encouraging
messages sent among the men that You
know OFF,
"One message which seemed TO cheer
the men below very much was that
there were three Spanish ships on our
starboard beam, all firing ~ ~. he an
swered.
Msutenant Edward McCauIsy. Jr.,
who was signal officer and LAeutenant
Charles WsSs.sT, Who had charge Of
the forward gun deck battery OF the
Brooklyn during the battle on Santa
go and was a watch officer on board
that ship. also testified Wednesday.
Commander Mason and LeutenAnt's
McCauley and Webster all gave nc.
counts OF the engagements OF July B.
Mr.. McCauley recited in detail the
signals made in connection with that
historical event at the instance of Com
modore Schley. When asked II Com.
modore Schley had said anything dur.
ing the battle for tho encouragement OF
the men. the witness replied that he
several times had said; Give 'em hell, i,
boys" All these witnesses testified
that the conduct Of the commodore
when under fre was cool and cour.
agoouA