Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-11-02

receive this until June 10. The judge
advocate objected to this testimony, as 1t
went beyond the date on which Sampson
| arrived at Santiago. The court DECIDED
to admit the evidence. however.
From this point he went on to the dis
covery Of the Colon in the harbor, and
said that Captain Sigsbee, when called
| aboard the Brooklyn shortly after the
discovery was made, was much surprised
| to know the Spanish fleet was in Santiago
after he had been so certain it was not
| there.
| Coaling a Serious Problem.
The rear admiral said his orders were
to coal at every opportunity. He had IN
quired about Cape Cruz, which was 100
miles from Santiago, but he did not re-
gard it as an available place; he was in
formed that some Of the smaller ships
had gone ashore at Manzanilla and he did
not propose to lose any Of his larger ships
| in attempting to coal at that point lie
had information about Mole st. Nicholas,
and Gonaives, these places being avail
| able for the small vessels.
| He did intend to use the smooth water
outside the marine limit at these places
for coaling. He did not wish to go in
nearer, as he desired to avoid lnterna-
| tional complications growing out OF a
| stronger nation taking advantage OF a
weaker one in using its ports for coahnS
purposes. He suggested to the Navy De-
partment that Sampson be sent to relieve
him so as to enable his ships to be coaled.
Commander Eolger, when before the
court, criticised the blockade maintained
by Schley. The rear admiral said Com
mander Folger did not tell the court the
entire conversation in regard to the
blockade. During this conversation Com
modore Schley condemned the circular
| blockade and said his own blockade was
the best that could be put in practice,
considering the number Of ships under
his command. 1t was always ready for
battle, he said, was easily handled, and
| was not likely to cause a miXup of the
American ships in the event Of a battle
with the enemy.
Commander Folger was placed in an
awkward position by Rear Admiral
Schley, who stated that Folger one day
suggested that the flying squadron go in
closer to Santiago harbor, but the next
day said if the squadron did not go out
to sea it would be fired upon by the guns
Of the fort.
Before reaching the story of the battle
Rear Admiral Schley referred to the
movement in the harbor on July 2 which
indicated that the Spaniards intended to
make a sortie. He was much impressed
by this movement, and Sampson answer
ed the message by notifying Schley to
move in closer. Schley and Cook also
had a conversation about coupling the
engines, but owing to the excessive heat
and the fact that the engineers would
become exhausted if all the engines were
started it was determined to trust to the
engines already coupled.
Schley, in his story of the battle, said
that just previous to and after the turn
was the hottest part Of the engagement.
All Fire Conferred on Flagship.
AS the four Spanish ships and the forts
| centered their fire on the Brooklyn, he
could see the jets of water made by the
shells which missed his vessel and heard
the roar of the projectiles, (which once
| heard" said the rear admiral, could
never be forgotten" He thought some
of the Spanish ships would get away,
and said to Captain Cook: 1--WE are alone
with them. We must stay with this
crowd. If they could have shot as well
as our people the Spaniards would have
| got us"
| Then the rear admiral saw the Oregon
break through the smoke and come up
near the Brooklyn, and give splendid as
| sistance.
Captain Cook was constantly by the
| side of Schley and was directed to keep
| the men below informed of the progress
| Of the battle. These messages had the
| desired effect, as they were answered by
| cheers which were heard through the ven
| tilator. He then described the running
ashore Of two other Spanish vessels and
the chase Of the Colon. During the
chase Schley got occasional glimpses Of
the Indiana and Gloucester but could not
see what they were doing.
| Just before the Vizcaya went ashore il
received a wound that listed it so much
that Schley thought it would capsize.
The signal halyards and speed cones
OF the Brooklyn were shot away, and one
Of these came near striking Schley. who
stood on the bridge as it fell into the
water.
AS the Brooklyn gained on the Colon
Schley ordered extra ammunition, so that
when his ship came in close quarters with
the Spaniard it would be a matter of a
few minutes to knock it out" as he mt
it. Before the Brooklyn had an oppor-
tunity to use its extra ammunition tba
Colon ran ashore, hauled down its fac
and surrendered.
It was exactly 2:23 p. m. when the New
York arrived, which was one hour and
eight minutes after the Colon had snr-
rendered. The New York, with Samnson
Oh oon1J h.
through long marine glasses and Schley
signaled word of the victory and added.
This is a glorious day for our country"
1t was fully half an hour before the New
York responded to this signal. which In
Dictated that the vessel was so far awov
it was impossible for those on hoard
even TO SEQ thn SIGNALS 49,