The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-10-09
SUMTER. S. c.. WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 9. 1901

structions were to report to Commo-
dore Schley that the Spanish squadron
probably was in Santiago harbor. He
fell in with the flying squadron on the
evening of May 26, the squadron then
being 20 or 25 miles south of Santiago.
He had reported to Commodore Schley
ssthat ne knew nothing positively"
about the Spanish feet.
He was then asked if he had express
ed his belief to Commodore Schley
that Cervera's feet was out in the har-
bor, as reported later by Commodore
Schley.
The witness replied: 81 stated that
we had seen nothing of the Spanish
feet. I may have stated that 1 knew
nothing positively or absolutely about
its movements, but I recited certain
events to show that there was q prob
ability of the feet being in Santiago
at that time
Mr.. Hanna: "The portion of the
question to which I should like to
have you give an explicit answer is
whether you assured Commodore
Schley that you believed the Spanish
feet was not in Santiago.
ct did not say that I believed it was
not there I said had not seen it. !"
ssDid you give him any assurance
which would point in that direction?"
s'I made known first my orders from
the navy department, which stated
that the Spanish feet was reported to
have arrived there. ("
Mr.. Hanna read number of letters,
among them being one from Capt.
Sigsbee to Commodore Schley, written
from Mole st. Nicholas, May %, in
which he said to the Commodore:
''Do as you are doing and you will
do right
He told the Commodore that the de-
partment expected him to exercise
great efforts to keep in coal.
Mr.. Hanna: T wish to ask your at
tention to the clause: DO as you are
doing and you will do right What
was the flying squadron doing at the
time you wrote that letter."
"That was based on the tenor of the
cipher telegrams I found at the Mole
from the commander-in-chief and from
the navy department, urging that the
Spanish squadron be held, and that
every effort be made to coal ship. [
had twice urged on Commodore Schley
the Importance of taking advantage of
that particular kind of weather,
stating that it was better than any
thing we had had during my stay off
the port.
Mr.. Raynor then questioned the wit
ness, bringing out the statement that
the purpose Of his ship being sent to
the vicinity Of Santiago was to, if pos
sible, locate the Spanish feet. He
said that he had first seen the Spanish
vessels in the harbor at Santiago but
that when he reported the fact he found
the squadron had already made the
discovery.
Mr.. Rayner attempted to quote
statement from Admiral Sampson to
the effect that Capt. Sigsbee had said
that on May 80 the flying squadron
was blockading Santiago twenty-five
miles out at sea, but objection was
made to bringing Admiral Sampson
in and Mr.. Rayner asked Capt. Sigs-
bee whether he had made that report
to anyone at that date. The witness
replied in the negative.
In reply to question as to the con-
dition of the weather at the time he
was at Santiago, Capt. Sigsbee said:
During the Oath, 25th and 26th of
May the weather was unsettled; trade
condition had been hindered. There
was more or less rain and moderately
heavy sea on sea on those three days.
The Court asked a number Of ques-
tions of Capt. Sigsbee. These, with
the replies, were as follows:
"What was the sea on the afternoon
and evening Of May 26, when you COM
municated with the flying squadron to
the southwark Of the port of Santi-
ago?,, -
was moderating, that is to say, more
moderate than it had been on two days
before. should say, however, it would
have been very difficult job to have
coaled from ships alongside that
night
By. the court: "Did you make any
effort to ascertain if the Spanish
squadron was at Santiago prior to
May 28s"
"only by extreme watchfulness,
that is ALL
ssWhat information had you com
municated to Admiral Schley on May
26 regarding the whereabouts of the
Spanish squadron?''
'The departments order to me di-
rected me to state that the Spanish
squadron was there, Or had been re-
ported there, and again the circum-
stantial evidence afforded by the cap
ture of the Restormel after her very
peculiar cruise. -
.sDid you show this dispatch to
Commodore Schley on May 26?''
eff cannot recollect the act of show
ing tito him. I presume I did, but
that | informed him [ remember