The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-08

|lhere was no dialogue. Inere were lnitS
persons interested in that conversation
Commodore Schley. Captain Cook ana my
self participating in it."
Speaking of the blockade off Santiago, the
witness said that at night the blockadlng
feet steamed in column in front OF the
mouth of the harbor and about 4W yaros
apart.
QUESTIONS BY THE COURT.
a number Of questions were then asked
by the court, as follows:
What was .the distance of the Brooklyn
from the nearest Spanish vessel when com
modore Schle.; said to Captain COOK, LOOK
Que. Cook, they're going to ram your
Il should say the distance was ABOUT Z'VU
Did You observe the whole movement of
the Brooklyni from the time Commodore
Schley gave the order. Hard aport' CoQk,
course to the westward parallel to the VS.
caya?"
Did you hear any order given while the
Brooklyn was making the turn 10 ease Oh
steady the hekn?'
course of the beading Spanish vessel
I'm making the turn did the Brooklyn
turn rapidly and continuously, or did she
have her head longer on some heading than
on another?"
Ssh turned rapidly and continuously"
did any of the Spanish ships attempt to
ram the BROOKLYN in the early part or the
''The Maria Teresa evidently made a rank
sheer to port toward the Brooklyn with the
evident intention of getting INTO close quar-
tiers or rammihg."
did you sea the Texas at the commence
ment of the engagement of July 5. about
the time you say the Brooklyn's course was
changed?'
Il saw her at the commencement of the
engagement. gust at the moment OF max
ing the helm hard aport' i did not see her.
/ knew where she was. L was down on the
platform at that time. Probably | had seen
her just an ~iastant before that. l did not
see her while she was turning
What effort was made 10 ascertain II
the Spanish squadron was at Ctentuegos
prior to the arrival of the Marblehead?
Outside OF ihaV1ng the quartermaSter go
as far aloft as he could and look over the
hilltops. 1 knew of none until after the ar
rival of the Marblehead."
What orders were Signaled by the
Brooklyn to the fleet July 3, 1S9S?'
Il can only gay from recollection that my
orders were clear ship for action and close
.SDid Commodore Schley consult you re-
garding the feasibility of coaling the squad
ron at Cape cruz or any other point be-
Not unless he did it through his flag
lieutenant"
"On the occasion Of the flying squadron
falling in with the Narblehead near Key
West, did yosl hear any report made by
m~egaphone regarding the code of signals
which had been established with the insur-
gents at Cienfuegos?"
81 heard noTe."
do you know of any plan of the battle
having been promulgated by Commodore
Schley in case of falling in with the Span
ish squadron
II do not"
The court then asked Commodore Hodg-
son to repeat the conversation he had with
Commodore Schley during the early part of
the engagement of Jul 8, and he did so.
FOLGER'S TESTIMONY.
Commander Hodgson was then excused
and Captain w. NJ. Folger, who com
manded the cruiser New Orleans during
the Spanish war, was called. He detailed
his part in the campaign, beginning with
the New O%rleans's arrival at Santiago as
the convoy of the collier Sterling. He
also related that on May 81 the New Orleans
had participated in the bombardment of
the Cristobal Colon, then lying in the
mouth of Santiago harbor. He said that
the shots of the New Orleans on that day
had been fired at a range of from 5000 to
1000 yards. and that all had fallen short.
What damage was done to the enemy
on that occasion?" asked Captain Lemly.
Il don't think there was any," replied
the witness.
Was there any further effort to cap
ture or destroy the Colon?"
Not to my knowledge"
Were all the vessels available engaged
IN that action?'
No; the Texas and the Brooklyn were
in the rear"
WAS the fire Of the enemy's batteries
attacking ships?'
Il do not so consider"
what was developed as to the shore
batteries?"
do any material damage"
Captain Lemly asked in regard to the
developments concerning the Commandment
Of June IA, but Mr.. Rayner objected. The
court ruled that the question was admissI-
ble, a similar question by Admiral Schley's
counsel having been admitted on a former
occasion. 1--WE cannot blow hot one time
and blow cold the next" said Admiral
Dewey on admitting the question.
Replying to the last question Captain
Folger said that the reconnaissance had
failed to develop that the batteries had
any material strength as a single vessel
had silenced them
Recurring to the bombardment of May
81, Captain FOlger expressed the opinion
that the shots which had fallen near the
feet on that date were from Spanish ships
in the harbor, fired over the hill. and not
from the shore. batteries: For this reason
he had directed all the New Orleans's fire
on that occasion at the Colon, instead Of
the land batteries.
Describing the blockade of Santiago har-
Dor maintained by Commodore Schley the
witness said hat the distance out was
from five to eight miles and that at night
the vessels steamed in column back and
forth across the harbor, somewhat nearer
in. He added that even If the log of the
New Orleans had placed the vessels nearer
the shore he would not change his opinion.
He did not believe the vessels We're more
thar four miles from the MORO on May 81.
DEWEY ASKS QUESTIONS.
After Mr.. Rayner and the judge advocate
had asked witness a number of questions,
the court began in-terrogating him.
For what length Of time was the New
Orleans able to fire on the Colon and the
batteries on May 81 on each rum" Captain
Folger was asked.
Il think it was between five and ten
minutes"
Did you have any conversation with
Commodore Schley as to his purpose in at
lacking the Colon May 31?"
Il did not. The information 1 received
was by signal only
by what method did you obtain the
range for your guns on May 81 while firing
at the Colon?'
I'VE obtained the necessity for a change
of range by the fall OF the prOjectiles."
Were YOU furnished any plan Of battle
by Commodore Schley TO be followed I'm
case the Spanish squadron should come
Out?'
Admiral Dewey--You referred To a signal
from the flagship. TIL court would like TO
know what that signal was.
The signal was: New Orleans, clear ship
for action and l think IL was followed by
the signal: The New Orleans. Iowa. Mas
sachusetts will ngage the forts indicating
that there was TO be a reconnaissance or
commandment. / do not remember any con-
versation with the commodore that fore
moor on that subject.
Admiral Dewey-The court would like 10
know from the signal book exactly what
signals were made by the Massachusetts.
Inc witness (re~ading)-"At 1913. in
obedience 70 dapShfn Massachusetts sig