Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-24
Early Attendance Tuesday Somewhat
Larger Than on Previous Days.
PUBLIC INTEREST IS INCREASING
Lieut.. Wells Continuing His
Testimony.
LOG WRITER MASON TO FOLLOW HIM

Lieutenant, was the senior watch Otl1cer
on the Brooklyn during the war With
Spain. Aftsr him came number of
the junior officers who served on the
Brooklyn during that Campaign. AS
usual, before any OF tho now witnesses
were summoned, number Of former
n Illnesses were called for the pur-
pose OF correcting their former testi-
mony.
IL had been the intention OF Admiral
Sohley's counsel to PROFOUND yesterday
q number OF questions to the court |
which it was proposed to put tn the |
Witnesses for the purpose OF determin |
Ing to what extent Admiral Sampson 4 |
connection with the present inquiry |
could he gone into, and ii was not |
decided until the beginning Of tha |
afternoon session to withhold the ques-
tions. This decision was then reached |
LARGELY because it was believed TINT the |
information intended 10 be ellcited by |
the questions could be secured in n
more direct and certain way by
Lieut.. MuCaulley's testimony regarding
signals on July I'D. The questions
which had been formulated for pre-.
aentation previous to Mr.. MoCaulley's
taking the stand related principally to
the movements of Admiral SIMPSONS
flagship, the New York, on July I'D,
the day Of the battle off Santiago, aud
especially to the signals of that day
directing the fleet to disregard the flag
ships movements. 1t is still the IN
tention to present other questions in
volying Admiral Sampson q relation to
the inquiry before the close of the case.
1t seems probable thar their presenta-
ton will be deferred until time
shortly before the beginning of Admiral
Sohley,'s testimony.
The first of yesterdays witnesses
called for tine correction of testimony
was Commander Mason, and after
him came in succession Lieutenant-
Commander Scars, Lieut.. McCaulley
and Lieut.. Webster.
A number of additional questions
were addressed to Lieut.. Webster by
Mr.. Hanna.
Replying, the witness said that he
had sesn signal lights at night on the
shore while lying of Santiago.
Ia connection with the question Of
the distance of shore at Santiago Mr..
Hanna asked: while the vessels were
on blockade at Santiago, from May 10Th
to the 3lst, inclusive, we've you able
during the night to distinguish points
in shore readily while you were on
watchYh
The witness replied in the negative
s'Could you make out Aguidores and
CHbanas?''
IL was not familiar with the coast at
that time, and would not have known
thuse points under any circumstances,
but it was SO dark think / could not
have seen thenl.'
What was the background"
A'The high hills back of Santiago die
give MS good points later when we vert
familiar with them. We could see then
quite readily"
Gould you. discover the shore lint
at.niehty''
Not the line Of breakers, IL Their,
were any.
'.Could you see the vessels ON tn
inner picket line at nightfn
''Not without the aid Of search
lights. y
On redirect examination, Mr.. Rayne
asked Lieut. Webster concerning tn
bearing of the Iowa and the Texas o.
iue morning Of July Sd, the beginnin
OF the battle
The witness said they bore ubaft tn
starboard beam OF the Brooklyn. tn
Texas heing to tho right of the Iowa
The Brooklyn was headed, he sale
north or north northwest.
In reply to another question by Mi
Rayner, he stated that after the SUI
render OF the Colon, July Sd, he ha
gone to the forecastle to look for otht
ships. He had only seen the Gregg
and the Texas. The smoke of 9th,
vessels was visible, but not the vesse
themselves.
When Lieut. Webster was excused
Lieutenant Commander Griffin W,
called. He gave details OF the Cienfu
Cos campaign, saying that the distan
OF the blockading line there varit
from three TO seven miles, being farth
out at night.
Speaking of the voyage from Ole
fuegos to Santiago. the witness ga
the weather was heavy" and tn
there was "a short, choppy sea. "
also said that the heavy sea had il
peded the aeet by delaying the small
vesaels, especially the Eagle.
Asked by Mr.. Rayner concerning
conversation between Commodc
SchIey and the commander Of
Eagle, the witness said. az "
present when the conversation to
place, although L cannot give the ext
words. When the Eagle came
astern of the Brooklyn, the cummodt
hailed the commanding officer Of ii
vessel and told him In substance Il
he could not delay the squadron a
longer on his account, and that
wanted him to proceed to Jamaica
coal. The commanding officer OF
Eagls seemed very DESTROYS OF rema
ing with the squadron, and express
sincere regrets at being obliged Ia p
company with the Flying Squadron
"Mhat lsind.of weather was the Ea
making on May Goth, when that 0
versAtinn took placer
"As expressed it, heavy weather
short; chOppy sea, and the Eagle
Vixen were both pitching considt
bly,"
''Did you hear the commanding off
OF the Eagle talk to the commod
about coal on that occasion?"
II do not remember, f"
'.You heard the whole conversation
81 did, but | do not remember I
he asked permission to coal. Ii wo
not have been possible, at least it VIC
not baye been safe. -
Washington, Oct. IS. The list
yesterdays Witnesses called before
Schley Court of Inquiry at the hel
ming OF today's session for the pun
OF correcting testimony was except
ally long, comprising eight pers
There were, however, not May
questions asked of any of them,
as the testimony was comparati
brief in each case, the time oonsu
In hearing them was not great.
The list of witnesses called for t.
included Lieutenant Commander X
maid f. Nicholson, =
=.