The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-05

Santiago with his whole command,
leaving one small vessel OH Clentue-
goe.'
Capt. Rodgers was examined at
length concerning the coaling of the
flying squadron. He said he could nave
eoaled the Iowa on the afternoon OF
May 26, the weather at that time pelng
fine and the sea smooth.
Describing Commodore Schley's be-
havior in the harbor Of Santiago, capt.
Rodgers said that the fleet maintained
a position of seven or eight miles out
with the Marblehead and the vixen
inside the line. He remembered that
the Marblehead was on the inside from
the fact that some of the vessels In the
squadron had fired at her. He could
not say whether the fleet was FUR
Their out in the day than at night, or
vice versa He thought the Vixen and
the Marblehead could have been seen
by midnight on a moonlight night
The afternoon session began with
Capt. Rodgers still on the stand. He
stated in reply to questions that ne
was the senior member of the board
of survey appointed by Admiral Samp-
son to examine the wrecked. Spanish
vessels.
The purpose of this line of question:
ing was to bring out the witness
knowledge concerning the effect Of the
Brooklyn gunnery in the battle Of San
tiago, July 8, 1898. Capt. Rodgers
stated that the Brooklyn was the only
vessel that fired five-inch shells, and
Mr.. Rayner said that a careful com
parison based upon the report OF the
board Of Survey showed that IL tive-
inch shells had been found on the four
Spanish vessels.
Ir nrpgpntad statement
showing the number of shells fired at
the Spanish fleet and the witness was
asked to state the percentage OF hVe-
inch shells, assuming the statement to
be correct. Capt. Rodgers replied that
the total number of hits was 80 and
that therefore the five-inch shell hits
constituted of all the hits. Mr.. Raynor
said that the statement had been pre-
pared by Admiral Schley.
Cross examined on the dispatches
carried by the Iowa. Capt. Rodgers
was asked if the Dear Schley' letter
dated at Key West, May 20. 1898, writ
ten by Admiral Sampson, in which the
statement was made that Il am OF
opinion iJslt our best chance of success
in capturing the enemy's ships VIII be
to hold Cienfuegos and Havana" was
included in these dispatches.
The witness replied that he had no
lK1lOWleQRH MHdL lIlt tlNGiOPp SCtA
tanned. While the examination on this
point was in progress, Mr.. Rayner read
the letter including the following ex-
tract:
IF it ever should develop that these
vessels are at Santiago we could then
assemble off that port the ships best
suited for the purpose and completely
blockade it. Until we then receive
more positive information we shall con-
tinue to hold Havana and Santiago.
Mr.. Rayner remarked that he sup
posed it would be conceded that the
word Santiago" as given above was
a mistake and that 1t should be Glen
fuegos." Capt. Lemley replied that he
would make no such concession ana
tilt followed between counsel concern
ing the accuracy of government publ
cations. 1t closed with an understand
ling that the original document should
be supplied tomorrow.
In reply to.-a question, by Mr.. ,Rayner
as to the condition Of the weather from
May "a to 26, the witness replied:
II do not recollect the events of the
night of May "a. My recollection is
that on the morning and throughout
the day of the 25th the wind was fresh
from a direction generally ahead.
"Our course was generally south
easterward The sea depends entirely
I should call a moderate sea. L re-
collect the wind continued fresh that
evening. Next morning we must have
got around the cape headed eastward
THE weather had moderated considera-
bly, and on the late afternoon the
weather was. l should say, fine with a
Ismooth sea-"
"IIow were the sea and weather for
small ships like the Vixen and Eagle"
IT should say on Thursday the
weather for small ships would have
been considered fresh, and certainly
my recollection of seeing the Eagle on
that day was that she was making
what you might call heavy weather"
/ should say on that occasion the sea
was what one finds In that neighbour
hood when here is a fresh wind"
The court asked a number of ques-
| lions of Capt Rodgers, among others
being one as to whether the Brooklyn
and the Texas had been in danger of a
collision on July 3.
The witness replied that If there had
been any such danger he had not seen
it, He had seen the two vessels early
in the engagement, but they were then
about half a mile apart. Later he was
called below and If there had been such
danger it was at that time.