The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-03

the logbook which relates to the turn
ing of the port helm, as follows:
"At $50 went to quarters for muster
and inspection, and Immediately after
ward the Spanish squadron was
noticed coming out of the harbor. The
leading ship, the Maria Teresa, flag
ship, opened fire at once. This ship
(the Brooklyn and the other vessels,
namely, Texas, Oregon, Indiana, Iowa,
Vixen and Gloucester, engaged the
enemy at once. The enemy stood to-
ward us at first, then put helm aport
and stood along shore close in to the
westward. We engaged with port bat
terry at first, standing in for the Maria
| Teresa, the Colon and the Viscaya, all
| three Of which we engaged, but just
as soon as the enemy to the westward
put helm to port, swing Ca little inter-
lineation here clear Of the fire of the
Texas. so as to brig the starboard
battery to bear and stood parallel to
the enemy"
The witness then stated that the or
iginal entry in the log had made 1t APP
pear that the helm was put to star
board instead of to port, as it appears
in the permanent log. The change, he
said. had been made on the 5th day of
July, two days after the action. Asked
why he changed, Mr.. Doyle said
Chdu6EQ IL dllSl h1Q lldQ d us
cussion with Sharp. 1 had been under
the impression, as / have stated, that
we had turned with a starboard helm.
Sharp was aboard the Brooklyn on
July to luncheon with us, and l had
a discussion with him that day on that
subject I think that is the time !
changed it."
Mr.. Raynor then stated to the court
that 1t was his desire to treat Lieut..
g.. A 4 C1rt.I
To this the court assented, and Mr..
Raynor asked the witness series Of
questions calculated to bring out brief
history of the Brooklyn's part in the
Santiago campaign and full state Z
ment of his observations while an Off
Ger on board that vessel.
Mr.. Doyle said in response to these
questions that while at Key West
which port the Brooklyn left at the
head of the flying squadron on May 49,
1898, he heard nothing of the Spanish
fleet, nor had he then been informed of
a secret code of signals arranged by
Capt MeCalla for communicating with
the Cuban insurgents.
Relating the particulars of the block
ade of CienfuegOs by the flying squad
ron from the 21st to the Gath of May,
Lieut.. Doyle said he recalled the ar
rival of the Iowa and the Dupont off
Cienfuegos on May y, of the Hawk on
the 23d and Of the Marblehead on the
24th. He said he had observed three
lights which looked like bonfires on the
shore each night that the squadron lay
off Cienfuegos, but that neither he nor
any one else on board, so far as he
knew, understood their purport He
also told Of a reconnaissance of the
harbor at Cienfuegos on the evening of
the 22d of May; Of the conversation
u E fl1 Data f~t, -1xfv
Adula and of the arrival of the Mar
blehead and of the departure of the
entire squadron for Santiago after the
last-named vessel had made commune
cation with the Cubans ashore.
Then, he said on the night of the
gath ships formed in squadron and
started eastward, the speed at first be-
ing nine knots an hour. but afterward
being reduced to accommodate the
Eagle When they made their start
there was quite a surf. long swell
of the sea" and on the 25th the weather
was still worse. making il very difficult
for the yachts to keep up.
Lieut.. Doyle placed the distance Of the |
American fleet of Santiago from the
mouth Of the harbor at from three to
four miles and said there were picket |
boats on the inside of the line. Speak |
ing of the bombardment of the Colon |
on the 3lst of May. ne and Mr.. Raynor |
designating it as a reconnaissance, |
Lieut.. Doyle said that its effect had |
been to develop the fact that the Span |
iards had new guns In their land bat |
teries.
Here Mr.. Raynor asked: when was
the circular form of blockade COM
menced?"
While no mention was made of the |
name of Admiral Sampson. this ques-
tion was evidently regarded as an at |
tempt to bring his blockade into the !
case for purposes of comparison, and |
Capt. Lemly was prompt in noting |
sharp and vigorous objection.
without waiting for an argument on |
the point, the court Immediately an |
nounced a brief recess. The members |
retired for a minute or two, and when |
they returned. Admiral Dewey said:
THE court decides that all questions |
relating to the blockade on Santiago |
must be confined to the time prior to |
the arrival OF the commander-in-chief"
The court then adjourned for the
day.