The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-21


in that way as though I had made the
assertions"
Mr. Raynor announced his cross
examination closed, and the witness
was re-examined by Mr.. Hanna, assist
ant judge advocate.
Mr.. Hanna asked whether it is prac-
ticable in times of urgency to make
log entries # signals The witness re-
piled that it was not practicable for
the person who usually made such en-
tries to put them down at that time. It
was necessary 10 write them out later,
he said, trusting to memory. He also
stated that it was impossible for him
10 have had knowledge of signals from
the Texas, as Captain Phillip usually
managed the ship personally.
Is it?' asked Mr.. Hanna, "a more
critical matter to coal ship in the open
with a battleship on either side than
with a ship on only one side2"
Decidedly" was the reply.
Captain Parker here asked:
You did some cOaling on the 9th and
2Sth of May2''
~On the night of the 9th and morn
ing of the 2Sth..
did not in the course of that coaling
the collier spring a leak because Of a
collision with the Texas ?''
You could not call it springing a
leak, but the plates We're indented and
in the Texas a very little water come
seeping through.
SO the sea at that time was bad
enough to cause these vessels to coll
The inference. sir, is quite wrong
That was due to float which we put
in between the vessels and did not
notice that it was just abaft the armor
belt. The float consisted of square tim
bers''
That would have been worse in a
worse sea: and it was bad enough in
that sea %
Experience told that it was not nee
essary TO use that sort of thing.
You did not have as much experience
then in eoaling as you have had since,
did you2"
with that sort of sea, yes SIR
By the court: What was the state
of the sea when the Texas coaled on
May q, as compared with the state on
The weather was smoother some
what I believe. more favorable
This concluded Captain Harber's tes-
tlmony, and he was excused.
Admiral Higginson then was recalled
and questioned especially concerning
his statement Of yesterday that the
heet was only two or three miles out
ot Santiago harbor Tt modified his
statement by saying that during the
first portion of the blockade the fleet
stood out farther probably FIVE miles
by day and four miles by night. He
confessed, however. that after three
years his memory was Indistinct
In reply to a question by Captain
Parker. the witness said that with the
900 tons of coal aboard the Massac chu-
~lAtS II NOuAQ nave steamed ls0ut les
or could have remained on blockade
duty for about IL days.
BY Captain Parker: ''Then after u
days out you would not have been able
10 get anyWhere2'
No, we would not"
Did the fleet after the 18th OF Nay
ever go off a distance of p lniles2"
Il don't remember that it ever did
Then the story to that effect. by
whomsoever told, could nor be true2"
II don't remember such an excursion,
and If made the log book should show
the facts
Have YOU any memory that the fleet
ever Withdrew after that date a dis
tanee Of more than six miles,
III have not
By the court: From the distance at
which the blockade was maintained at
night could you have seen any vessel
attempt to leave Santiago under ordi-
nary conditions 7f weather.
Admiral HigginsOn. i thinS it would
nave been difficult on account Of the
high lands and the shadows under the
land"
Admiral Higginson was then ex-
eused and the court at O'Clock took |
recess for luncheon