The Washington times., 1901-10-24

Schley's flag secretary. bad finished cor
recting his testimony. the judge advocate
asked him to translate and bring to the
court a cipher telegram found in the
Brookiyn's press copy book. II was from
Commodore Schley to the Secretary of
the Navy. and was dated May "a, lsSS, the
day the Flying Squadron left cienfuegos,
and was endorsed not sent. Admiral
Dewey asked how the message was ma
terial II 1t had not been sent, and MIR.
Hanna explained that it appeared to rep
resent conversation between Commo-
dore Schley and Lieutenant Wells. The
witness said he would make the transla-
tion.
James IT. Hare, a representative of
Golfers Weekly then took the stand.
His testimony was brief. but it was inn
portant to Admiral Schley. 1t further es-
tablshed the fact that Captain Sigsbee
did not believe Cervera was in Santiago
Harbor when the Flying Squadron arriv-
ed off. that port, and that he made the
statement that the Spanish fleet was not
there.
In answer to preliminary questions the
witness said that he was aboard the press
boat Sumers n. Smith during the naval
campaign. and that this boat was of sam
tiago on May 2G. The boat met the scout
st. Paul on that day.
By Mr.. Rayner:
Odd You have any conversation with
Captain sigsbee by megaphone at that
time2
A.-Yes. sir.
Q.-State to the Court what it was.
Ave asked the St. Paul about the
Spanish fleet and Captain Sigsbee told us
that il was not there-that Cerveru was
not in Santiago and that Schiey mad gone
avAy
Q.-Is there any particular incident that
impresses that upon your mind?
A-YeS sir We intended to go to ia
maica TO coal, but in view of Captain
Sigsbee's statement that Cervera was not
there
The4JudEe Advocate Interposes.
Captain Lcmly interrupted with an OBJ
lection as to the purpose of this part of
the testimony.
Mr. Rayner read from Captain Sigs
bees evidence denying that he had meg
aphoned to a press boat that Cervera was
not at Santiago. Sigsbee did not recol-
lect making any such statement, but he
did recollect talking with some press boat.
Mr.. Hanna said he did not object if the
purpose was to impeach the cradibility of
a witness; otherwise he did. His object
IN making this declaration was to have
counsel state that he intended impeach-
ing Sigsbee's testimony.
Mr.. Rayner replied that every time he
contradicted a witness he did not impugn
his credibility or impeach his veracity.
Admiral Dewey said that he saw no OBJ
lection TO the question
Mr. Rayner-Then you may state what
it was that impressed this message upon
your mind at that time and upon your
memory now.
A.-The fact that on Captain Sigsbee's
statement Shat Cervera was not in San
tiago we went back to Key West to coal
instead of going to Jamaica. and the nrSt
news we got when we arrived there was
that Cervera was bottled up in Santiago
Cross examination by Captain Lemly:
GLOW near did you go to the st.
Paul?
A.-Within 100 yards; we drifted pretty
close Part of the conversation was with
megaphone and part without
Q.-Who else was present?
A.-Sylvester Scovel, of the New York
World" Stephen Crane. also Of the
World" Mr.. Pepper-I don't know what
paper he represented; Mr. Sheehan, of the
New York Herald" Mr.. Wilson, an ar
tist from the same paper. and a Mr..
Lynch. of the London Chronicle"
Q;-Who carried, on this conversation
with Captain Sigsbee?
A--Scovel opened the conversation.
Captain Sigsbee said: Who else of my
friends are on board, and Pepper jumped
up and said that he was there. Crane said
he was there, and l declared that l was
there.
o.-What was said to scovel by Captain
Sigsbee about the whereabouts of Schley?
A.-That Schley had gone to the west
ward.
Odd he say where he had gone?
Al do not remember that. l was more
interested In the Photographic end of II.
Q--Do you remember that Sigsbee de-
clined to answer question put to him by
Scovel2
Q.-Do you know whether Sigsbee said
anything about the Spaniards?
Ale said that the Spanish feet was
not inside the harbor.
BY Mr.. Rayner:
Q-Do YOU know anything about the
other men who were on board the press
boat with you2
A,-stephen Crane is dead. I have heard
that Mr. Shechan is dead Scovel was in
Havana the last I heard of him.
BY the Court:
the St. Paul during the conversation to
which you have testified?
A--Captain Sigsbee.
Mr.. Hill a Good Witness.
Mr. Hare was then excused and Will
liam L. Hill. chief boatswain of the
Brooklyn. was next called. He proved to
be one of the most picturesque and in
teTestinSt witnesses to whom the Court
has listened. In answer TO preliminary
questions he said he had been twenty
eight years in the service and sixteen
years at sea. He was examined by Mr..
Rayner.
Con the voyage from Key West to
Cienfut gos, state to the Court whether
you heard any guns fired.
Al did. On Saturday during tire first
dog watch we heard guns to the east
ward.
Admiral Dewey-You heard them?
A.-Yes, sir; l heard them.
Mr.. Rayner-Can you tell me anything
about the blockade al Cienfuegos? Any
thing within your personal observation.
as to its character?
A.-The vessels steamed about the
mouth of the harhor slowly and on one
occasion there was an alarm Of q tor
pedo boat coming out and We steamed
into about one-half a mile of the harbor.
Q.-How far was the feet off Cienfuegos?
Al should say about three or four
miles In the day time and closer at night.
There were small boats inside the line.
Q.-Leaving Cienfuegos in reference to
ha n
anything as to the condition of the
weather and the sea?
A--The weather was rough. IT was
worse than that; should say 1t was
blowing a reef topsail breeze. n
Continuing, the witness said that the
sea washed over the Massachusetts on the
Gay after leaving Cienfuegos, and that the
smaller vessels made bad weather of it.
Conditions Bad for ConIing.
Q.-What can you say about the mat
ter of coaling?
A-The Immediate part Of coaiing came
under my direction There never was a
to.a Of coal taken on the Brooklyn while
on the blockade that / did not look after.
The Brooklyn was the best ship in the
neet to coal, but II was only with con-
stant watchfuluess in the calmest wealth
er that we could coal without having an
accident
Continuing. the witness described the
PLAIN TALK
To Cafnrrh Sufferers.