The Washington times., 1901-10-18

told of a conversation on May rs, while
the Flying Squadron was on its way to
Santiago, between Commodore Schley and
Lieutenant Commander Switzerland, of
tho Eagle Schley said to Switzerland
that he couldn't delay the squadron any
longer on account Of the Eagle, which
was proceeding slowly. and ordered him
to go to Kingston, Jamaica, for coal
Then the squadron vent ahead at the
increased speed of nine knots
OF the Santiago blockade Mr.. Griffin
said that Schiey's ships were about a
mile closer to the harbor at night than
by day He testified also that when it
was suggested to Commodore Schley. as
ii had been several times, that the Brook
lyn go to Guantanamo to coal and give
the officers and men a rest from the
strain of the blockade he had answered
in each instance that he preferred to re-
main on his station until the Spanish
ships came out Of the harbor.
In the battle Of July Mr.. Griffin was
in charge of the Brooklyn's powder and
torpedo division, with station on the berth
deck. He went to the forecastle after
the Nizcsya, Teresa and Oquendo had
gone ashore and watched the chase Of the
Colon. Commodore Schley. he said. i'm
pressed him at that time being remark
ably cool considering the battle that had
just occurred.
Cross-examined by The judge advocate.
Mr. Griffin, after examining the Brook
lyh's log, said that during the afternoon
watch. on May &C. when the Eagle was
sent away, the Flying Squadron was
about forty miles to the westward of the
place where the squadron first stopped
on its passage toward Santiago. He read
from the log what was said about the
81. NJ.
condition of the was moderate on
both these days, he said
Bad for Small Vessels.
In regard to a statement of the witness |
that the sea was short and choppy for |
small vessels on the 26th, when the Eagle |
was sent away, Captain Lemly had Mr.. |
Griffin look at the log for that time, and |
how the state of the sea was recorded. 1t |
was recorded as moderate. There was /
considerable surf at Cienfuegos on May
- and %, he said. With pointed reference
to Admiral Schley's statement that as |
the squadron approached Cienfuegos, he
heard guns firing and believed that Ger
vcras fleet had arrived and was being
saluted. the witness was asked if he had
heard any firing at that time
NO, sir" he answered.
Did the Flying Squadron proceed with
despatch directly from Cienfuegos to San
tiago?7 asked Mr.. Rayner.
Yes. sir; until they stopped and turn
ed around on the 26th. l mean by that.
the despatch of the squadron unit
The speed of The slowest vessel neces-
sarily fixed the speed of the squadron"
Then you except the retrograde move |
ment. and the time lost by that
Yes. sir
The court asked the witness these ques-
tions, to which the answers are append
ed:
Q.-Was it the roughness of the sea
that made it difficult for the Yale to take
the Merrimac in tow, and that caused
the hawsers to part?
Aim not sure.
Odd the hawsers part, or did the
ends slip from the Merrimac?
Any impression is that the hawser
parted, but I'm not sure.
Q.-What difficulties did the Brooklyn
have in coaling off Santiago prior to
June l?
Al don't know that there was any
difficulty at that time.
Q.-Was the surf on the beach at Glen
fuegos heavy enough to prevent COM
inunica;ion with The shore on May % and
z3?
Al should say it was, except there
might be some particular spots where the
hnats might go in and find landing
place.
The next witness was Ensign C. A.
Abele, Of the Brooklyn. He spoke indis-
tiRctly and Dir. RGyner requested him to
"holler' as he would on board ship.
After fen preliminary questions the
Wines stated, in answer TO enquiries by
made frcm Cienfucgos for Santiago the
weather was bad; il was rough and IN
settled. Mr.. Rayner asked for q general
description, and the witness raid that The
weather was not so bad for the larger
vessels, but ii was particularly had for
the smaller boats. They made bad
weather of it.
In describing the state of sea the wit
ness used the word moderate" Mr. /
Rayner asked him what be meant by that I
and Captain Lemly interposed with an OBJ ,
lection, arguing that the Court knew bet !
ter than any one else the meaning of
the term moderate as it was used by ;
sea going men. l
Mr Rayner Ito Captain I.emIyl-WeII
what is the meaning OF the word mod
crate as understood by naval officers?
Captain Iemiy-I am not on the wit
ness stand and ! decline TO answer.
Mr.. Rayner repeated the question to the :
witness.
A-weH. a moderate sea is a sea be- ,
tween a rough sea and smooth sea. A
moderate sea, as regards small vessels ,
like the Eagle and Vixen. is one that I /
would make them roll and tip considera-
bly- .
The witness. continuing, said that the
Moro could be seen from the ships on !
the night of May %. when the squadron 1
arrived of Santiago. He told of seeing a |
light on shore one night which proved to
be the headlight of a locomotive.
PIcfuring the Battle Scene.
o.-Can you gi-e an account Of the
events of the battle that came under your
observation? l want your own descrip-
zion of what you saw
A.-As / was going to quarters. ! heard
the executive officer cry out, Clear ship
for action,' and | ran TO my station. At |
first I could not see the ships coming out.
heard the order to man the port bat
terics. ] then looked out and saw the ;
first ship almost straight ahead. and /
could not train the guns on her at first
a little later ] began to fire. first with !
the port guns. The leading ship drew aft
three or four points with the port helm
steady for a time. Then l noticed she !
turned to the westward, and / could see
the next ship in the line. About that /
time they began to go aft rapidly The
range at that time was 1,40o yards. Then !
] could fire at any one Of the four ships
When they turned l could not see them
al all and ! ran over to the other side
About that time we got range of 1.1OD
yards and / opened fire in the starboard
batteries. The range was then increased
and we were proceeding along the coast
ships had. dropped to the rear and were
close together. two others were ahead
and close together. We fired a the lead
ng snip and finally she was passed by