Evening journal., 1901-10-15
GOOK ORDERED
FAMOUS LOOP
Commander Says Movement
Was Successful
Flagship Officer declares SchIeV Vas
Brave Repeats Story Of the
Battle

| NH' otuitJ touiL Vi inquiry JuuBt Au-
vocate Lemly concluded presentation
Of testimony for the government and
the first Of Admiral schley's witnesses
was introduced. Captain Francis A.
Cook, who commanded Admiral (then
commodore) schley's flagship, the
Brooklyn, during the Santiago cam
paign, and who acted, though unonl-
cially. Ia the capacity of chief of staff
for the commodore. was ON the wit
ness stand the greater part Of the day.
He was followed by Lieutenant
Commander William +. Fullam, who
was senior watch officer on the New
Orleans during the Spanish war, and
former Lieutenant Joseph Beale, who
as an officer on the Harvard translated
the cipher dispatches between Com
modore schley and the navy depart
ment carried by that vessel.
Among these dispatches was that
sent by Commodore Schley, May %,
expressing his regret at not being able
to obtain the orders Of the department
and explaining the reason why he
could not do so. There are some YER
bal discrepancies between the original
draft of this dispatch and the official
pront of It, and these Mr.. Beale ex-
planned.
Lieutenant Beale was the last Of the
government witnesses although Cap
tain Lemly explained that he would
reserve the right to call others If oc-
casion should demand that he do so.
lie had no sooner retired than the
first witness for Admiral Schley was
called. This proved to be the Cuban
pilot, Edwardo Nunez, who told Schley
on May 90, 1898, that he did not be-
lieve the Spanish fleet under Cervera
was in the harbor at Santiago.
Captain Cook On the stand.
Captain Cooks testimony was a re-
view of the entire campaign after Ger
vera's feet, beginning with the depart
ure Of the Flying Squadron from Key
West on May 19, and concluding with
the battle off Santiago July 3.
He said that at first 1t had been
believed by both Sampson and Schley
that the Spanish feet was in the bar-
Dor at Cienfuegos and that no notih-
cation to the contrary had been con-
veyed to Commodore Schley until the
arrival of Captain McCalla on May "a;
that It was Commodore Schley's ex-
pectation to meet the Spaniards In the
open sea and his constant care was to
have coal enough for such emergency.
He said that Schleys first intima-
tion that the Spanish feet was not at
Cienfuegos was learned from McCalla
during a consultation. Schley said to
McCalla: 1--WE have seen three pecu-
liar lights, one ahead of the other
here, but we cannot make out what
they are, and believe It Is something
in connection with the Spanish fleet"
Captain MoCalla gave start, threw
up his hands and said. THAT is the
signal from the insurgent camp. They
want to communicate with you" he
added. well, I can go there and find
out at once" The commodore told
him to go. to get off as soon as pos
soble.
oregon's Startling Appearance.
In his story of the battle of July 8,
Captain Cook said that it was he who
gave the order for the Brooklyn's loop
at the battle off Santiago, and that
he considered the movement eminently
successful. He said that when the
loop was made the thought of a col
lision with the Texas never entered
his head. The Brooklyn, he said turn
ed perfectly clear Of the Texas.
"Then," he continued, I'VE had the
Viscaya on our starboard bow and
about abeam was the Oquendo and
then the Colon At the time thought
It was the Teresa, but I soon discover
ed this vessel was dropping out and
heading for the beach, That was about
the hottest time of the action. 1t was
a critical time. There was not any
time for indecision and do not think
there was any. l have always felt in
my mind, in studying the positions.
that the chances would have been for
disaster had we shifted helm at such
time. However, we got around and
we had those three vessels.
Sehley a Brave officer.
81 looked and could see nothing but
smoke astern and vessels seemed en-
veloped in this smoke. could not un-
derstand Il. ! could not understand
exactly how we got there. They we're
all three firing on the Brooklyn, when
almost Immediately, faster than could
tell It, saw large white bone in the
water, and through the smoke / saw
e the bow Of a vessel. exclaimed at
the time. What is that?' The navi-
gator, who was near me, said It was
the Massachusetts,, or something to
that effect I said she was away. and
be then said. That is the Oregon. ]
felt perfectly assured from that mo
Z ment She came up very rapidly. She
was making more speed than we were
az that time. She had all her boilers
on, had shifted boilers that morning
s from forward to aft Sae had steam
and hot water on
He stated that the Oregon was never
between the BROOKLYN and the Snan-