Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-01
SIGSBEE TESTIFIES
Met the Flying Squadron OF San
tiago.
REPORTED TO COMMODORE SCHLEY
Correspondent Dieuaide Relates
Experience on the Texas.
ADMIRAL EVANS EXCUSED


Spanish war, continued his testimony which
was begun yesterday.
Capt. Miller, in command of the collier
Merrimac, while the flying squadron was
off Cienfuegos and later at Santiago, and
Capt. Jewell of the Minneapolis went on
the stand to certify to the correctness of
the printed report of their testimony.
Capt. Lemly. Judge advocate, was present
when the court met, but Immediately after
1t had been opened by Admiral Dewey he
withdrew. The sudden death of his sister
at her home in North Carolina called fortn
general sympathy for the judge advocate.
1t Is the third death that has occurred to
in some extent affect the proceedings of the
court. The first was that of President Nc
Kinley and the second was that of MIR. Jere
NJ. Wilson, senior counsel for Admiral
Schley.
Mr. Rayner continued his cross-examina-
tion of Admiral Evans.
Q. (ISy Mr.. Rayner): Did you have a
conversation with Admiral Schley July
some time in the morning between and .
o'clock on his flagship at Santiago, in the
stantiaily as follows: Did you know that
Jack Phillip ran away at the beginning of
the battle? To which Commodore Schley
replied, You are mistaken about that,
Evans 1 saw nothing of the kind. The
Brooklyn made a turn and Capt. Phillips
action was made neceSSary?' a. / do not
remember being on board the flagship at
that time. | am quite positive / was not
on board the Brooklyn. AS to that CONVEX
satiOn. never said anything to that effect.
Thinking over last night what did occur in
reference to the Texas, / think Commodore
Schley and l discussed the position of the
Texas when the fiGht began. The Texas
was headed to the east, but turned in the
same direction as the rest of the ships l
think that was the question | discussed
with Commodore Schley. but that 1 ever
indicated that Capt Phillip ran away with
his ship have no recollection.
.. Did you have a conversation on the
same day and in the place and same hour
or at any other place. IN which you used
language substantially as follows: 4 shot
the bow off the Furor, the stern off the
Pluton. put my helm to starb0ard and
raked the Teresa and knocked out the Wis
eaya-" n. To the best Of my knowledge
I never used that language
II remember said Admiral Evans re-
ferrfng TO a time when Commodore Schley
had called the commanding officers
board the Brooklyn after the Colon was
discovered, May 20, the commodore re-
marked before We left that he felt the
country held him responsible that battle
ships should not be under fiEe from shore
batteries until the Spanish fleet had been
destroyed"
Mr.. Rayner read from a report by Capt
McCaila. in order to show that there was a
plan of battle. but Admiral Evans insisted
that there was nothing in the language
quoted to justify such a construction.
Position of the Vessels.
A long line Of cross-questioning followed
In regard to the positions of the vessels
during the battle before Santiago, Mr.. Ray
ner seeking TO show that there We're dis
crepancies between some statements made
in Admiral Evans book on the war and
statements he made before the court of in
quiry yesterday. Admiral Evans insisted
that what he had formerly said in
strict accordance with his testimony on the
stand. Mr.. Rayner also sought to show
that his statements of distances did not
correspond with distances shown on the
chart prepared by the photographic office
of the Navy Department which had been
admitted as evidence before the court and
which hangs on the wall in the court room.
Mr.. Hanna remarked concerning the hy-
geographic office chart: THE lighthouse at
the entrance TO Santiago is fixed on that
chart There is some difference of opinion
as to the exact position Of the shore line
and We shall be glad to have witnesses
brought here to determine how it should
be corrected In a proper way
Mr.. Hanna said the map was prepared
merely TO show the relative position of the
vessels before Santiago the shore line be-
ing sketched in as we'll possible, but it
was material to the purposes for which the
map had been introduced If the map were
to be questioned he thought it would be
proper to have an inquiry into its inaccur-
aeles made by experts of the photographic
office, who could be called to the stand.
Admiral Evans, in stating the time at
which various incidents of the battle of
Santiago occurred, said that the time he
gave was the time given him by the navi-
gator of the ship. he himself not having on
the spot recorded the time.
The Santiago blockade.
Mr. Rayner continued on a long line of
very searching questions in order to deyel-
op discrepancies In the testimony of the
witness, the latter, however. maintaining
tnat nothing was shown to Indicate such
discrepancies He insisted that his testi-
mony was consistent in showing that the
blockading fleet before the harbor of San
tiago prior TO the battle was further out
at night than it during the daytime.
On cross-examinatiou the witness said
that they had coaled continually while off
Santiago from the 1st of June to the time
of the battle.
O. Were you not considerably worried in
reference to cOaling vessels off the port of
Santiago between June / and July 8? A.
was not worried, l was anxious about IT.
" pld you say great load had been
ntted on your mind and off the mind of
the commanding officer in chief when coal
ing places had been established? A. That
was because smaller vessels could get their
coal at the coaling stations Nv anxiety
was not in regard TO the larger vessels
questions were asked in regard to the re-
porting OF lights by the witness while at
sea, and he said whenever at sea he had
reported any lights to the commanding
officer, which was required by the regula-
tions.
On the 9th. while still at Cienfuesos. at
s:lo am, signal was given from the Iowa
10 the Brooklyn: 'Gunboat standing out of
tne harbor Signals followed from the
Brooklyn to the Iowa: Goal the Dupont"
Il took the Dupont alongside" said the
witness, and gave her coal"
At the time the Iowa gave the Brooxlyn
the signal In regard to the gunboat the
witness said he expected the commodore
would tell him to fire at the gunboat.
This gunboat," he said, came out to
take a look at us. and went back again.
Mr Rayner questioned the witness in re-
gard TO conditions of Santiago, asking
whether, between the Doth of May and the
list or June. he could at all times see other
vessels OF the biockading squadron He re-
pieo tnat ne could not do this. that 1t
frequently happened that vessels of the
squadron were entirely invisible
@ BY Mr.. Hanna: How far back and for
ward did you steam during the blockade?
A. My estimate was six miles east and sly
miles west of Moro entrance
q. How far would that bring you ac-
cording to your estimate, at the end of the
ellipse from the mouth Of the harbor? A. I