Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-04
TIE S|jHLEY INQUIRY
Lieut.. Dyson Testifies REGARDING
the Coal Supply Of Flying
Squadron.
Executive Officer Of the Iowa
Tells Of Dispatches to
Sampson.
Wa. Advised on May 20 of
Cervera's Presence at
Santiago.


of inquiry began Its proceedings today.
with recall of witnesses who were on
the stand yesterday and after they had
corrected their previous testimony and
made such additions thereto as sug-
gested themselves they were excused
and new witnesses introduced. Lemly
still has long list Of witnesses before
him and 1t was today said on his behalf
that he would probably not be able to
conclude the presentation of his case for
the department before the middle Of
next week.
Lieut.. Dyson, who was on the stand:
yesterday when court adjourned. was
recalled He said that on May "a the
Brooklyn had coal enough aboard to
have remained on blockade duty of
Santiago for twenty-five days and then
have returned to Key West; the Massa-
chusetts had enough to remain seven
teen days and then go to Key West; the
Iowa had enough for eleven days; the.
Texas seven days, and the Marblehead
one day. This was assuming they would
have gone by the Yucatan channel.
Rayner brought out the information
concerning the time coal on each of the
vessels would have lasted on forced
draft, in chasing the enemy's vessels,
taking the amount Of coal on each on
May 26, and leaving sufficient coal to
return to Key West.
Commander Raymond p. Rodgers. ex-
ecutive officer of the battleship Iowa
during the summer of 1898. testified that
before leaving Key West on May 20 he
had, as representative of Capt. Evans. o
conference with Sampson at which
Capts. Taylor and Chadwick were pres
ent. At that time he was told by samp-
son he had received information from
the department at Washington that the
Spanish fleet was probably in the har-
bor Of Santiago. He had not been In
formed OF any secret code for communt-
cation with the Cuban insurgents near
Cienfuegos. He had taken dispatches
for Schley. one OF which witness thought
was signed by Secretary Long. Begin
ming: 1.-THE report of the Spanish fleet
being at Santiago might very well be
correct. The department strongly adj
yises you to send word Immediately to
schley by the Iowa to proceed OF Santi-
ego with the whole command, leaving
one small vessel OFF Ctenfuegos." Rodg-
ers was examined at length concerning
coaling the flying squadron.
Rodgers safd he sthought there had
been no trouble coaling the Iowa on the
afternoon of May 90 He related two or
three instances in which the ships of
the flying squadron cleared for action
upon signal from the flagship Brooklyn
before May 81. when vessels were dis
cerned in the distance. In each case the
vessels proved to be American ships.
Each time the signal was to clear for
action and make speed of twelve
knots an hour. He also told OF the bonn
bardmentiof the Colon and described the
blockade Off Santiago harbor, but they
did not differ materially from that given
by Admiral Evans.
This afternoon the question as to
whether the word in the dear Schley"
letter should be Santiago or Cienfuegos
again came up on statement by Capt.
Lemley, who said he would continue to
hold to the Santiago version. Rayner
said If this was the case he would be
compelled to summon Sompson, author
Of the dispatch, as a witness.