New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-10-02

I've "nee OUT at sea, but objection was made to
bringing Rear Admiral Sampson in and Mr.. Ray
ner asked Captain Sigsbee whether he had made
that report to any that date. The witness
replied in the negative
III reply 70 question to the condition Of the
water at the time he was at Santiago Captain
sigsbee said During the Path 25th and 26th Of
May the weather was unsettled; trade conditions
had been hindered. There more or less rain
and moderately heavy those three days"
Inc court then asked number of questions OF
Captain Sigsbee. These, with the replies, were as
follows:
What was the state of the sea on the afternoon
and evening of May 2s. when you communicated
with the Flying Squadron to the southwark of
the port of Santiago?"
THE sea was heavy for boats. but 1t was moder-
ating. that is to say. more moderate than 1t had
been on the two days before 1 should say. how
ever, it would have been a very difficult job to
have coaed from ships alongside that night"
FORGOTTEN DISPATCH
did Captain Wise communicate to you dis
patch from the Navy Department. stating that the
Spanish squadron at Santiago?'
Il remember no dispatch communication from
Captain Wise to that effect, excepting that which
1 received from the Navy Department through him
as senior officer. at Port Haytien March 90 the
dispatch on which proceeded ultimately to Santi-
ago.
Mr.. Hanna-Captain, the dispatch referred to in
the last question reads: Washington. May 20.
1898. Yale. American Consul. Cape Haytien,
Hayti. The Spanish fleet arrived at Santiago de
Cuba May 10. IF your coal permits. pro-
coed at off Santiago de Cuba, watch carefully
and keep in communication with the Spanish fleet.
reporting information" Did Captain Wise COM
municate that dispatch you?
IT cannot remember that he did
BY the Court-Did you make any effort to ascer-
tain If the Spanish squadron at Santiago
prior to May IS?
"Only by extreme watchrulness: that is ALL"
BY the Court-What information had you COM
municated to Commodore Schey May &C. re-
garding the whereabouts Of the Spanish squadron +?
'The departments order to directed me to
state that the Spanish squadron was there or had
been reported there. and again the circumstantial
evidence afforded by the capture of the Restornlel
after her very peculiar cruise"
By the Court-Did you receive a dispatch from
Secretary Long. dated May 20. stating. THE
Spanish fleet arrived at Santiago May 1872
81 am not certain but my recollection is that It
stated it arrived the 18th 2lst. received the
communication just I have stated. 1t came from
the Secretary Of the Navy. 1t signed Long -
but whether I got a copy of it from Captain Wise
got the original cannot now recall think
got the original"
BY the Court-Did you show this dispatch to Com
modore Schley May 26?
II have already said cannot recollect the act of
showing 1t to him. I presume I did but that I In
formed him 1 remember"
By the Court-Did you see the dispatch signed
Long" May 90 addressed to the ST. Louis. OF
American Consul Mole St. Nicholas. prior meet
Ing with Commodore Schley May 2s?
81 have no recollection of anything addressed TO
the ST. Louis, no.
BY the Court-Did you see the dispatch referred tc
addressed to either the Minneapolis. the St. Paul
or the Harvard?
mo. not to my recollection. There were two
meetings of commanding officers off Santiago while
I blockading there At one time the command
ing officers of the Harvard the ST. Paul and the
Minneapolis met. I think the next time the COM
handing officers of the Yale the Minneapolis and
which might have seen these orders was one OF
these two visits and have recollection of hav-
ing been shown any telegram or dispatch"
CHIEF WOMAN BECKER.
Captain sigsbee was then excused. and Chief
Woman Gustave e Becker. who served clerk
to Rea, Admiral Sampson on board the flagship
New-York during the Spanish war was called He
identified the memorandum from Captain McCalla
fuegos. which Rear Admiral Sampson sent to Com
rnodore Schley under date Of May 49, and said that
this memorandum had been carried in duplicate by
the Iowa and the Dupont Mr.. Rayner questioned
the witness closely bringing out the fact that
Becker had no records show that either of these
vessels had carried the memora ndum and that ne
was dependent upon his memory In making the
statement.
Mr. Hanna said In this connection that the depart
rnent expected to be able show that four copies
OF this memorandum had been forwarded to Com
modore Schley Mr.. Rayner responded that he
would admit only one copy. and that was the copy
delivered by the Hawk on May q, 1895.
The court adjourned for the day at p. m, with
Mr. Becker still on the stand.