Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-10-30

4 witnesses who have already been heard,
was enliyened by several brilliant pic
/ lures of the sea fight and the surrender
/ of tie Spanish vessels.
/ The attendance was much larger than
/ it has been for some time, showing the in
/ creased interest being taken in the in
/ curry as it nears its close The days
witnesses were Lieut. b. w. Wells, Jr,,
! Schleys flag lieutenant; Yeoman Albert
| " Mason, who kept the Brooklyn's log
during the campaign; George r. Graham,
| Associated Press correspondent aboard the
Brooklyn during the battle; Dennis J.
| Cronin, SchleN's orderly; Lieut.. Com
mander WilliaIa r. Bush, Lieut.. Ed
ward Simpson. Assistant Engineer Fitz-
gerald, all of the Brooklyn.
| The most important Testimony Of the
| day was given by Correspondent Graham,
| who not only told the story of the battle
but detailed two conversations al which
he was present, both of which will it is
| believed, be of considerable Importance
in aiding the court in its conclusions.
One of these conversations took place
| between capt. Sigsbee and Commodore
| Sehley aboard the Brooklyn on May 20,
| 1895, with reference to the rumor that
| the Spanish fleet was in Santiago bar
| Dor. The witness swore that he heard
| this whole conversation, and that be dis
/ tinctly heard Capt. Sgsbee tell the Com
modore that the Spanish iieet was not in
side the harbor When Capt. Lemly
! sought to show that at the time this con-
versation took place Capt. Sigsbee was
not aware that the witness was a news
paper man, Graham answered that this
was not fact and that on the day the
conversation took place he had given
/ Capt. Sigsbee dispatch for transmits
sion to the Associated Press.
| The other conversation testified to by
| the witness was that between Capt.
| Evans and Commodore Schley after he
| fight. In this connection Graham said:
Il was in the Commodore's cabin on
the Brooklyn on July 3, when the con-
versation took place. When Evans came
! in the first thing he said was, 'Schley,
did you see Jack Philip run away with
the Texas? and Commodore Schley said,
No, neither did you. /"
| With reference to the Sigsbee converse
| ton on the Brooklyn in front of Santiago
| the witness said:
| After Sigsbee had reached the quar-
terdeck of the gangway he stopped. and
| Commodore Schley said TO him: Have
we got EN-, Sigsbee| The Captain said:
| No, they are not here. have been here
for week, and they are not here
I'VE went aft further back of the quar-
1 ter deck, and he continued the CONVERSE
! ton. Commodore Schley said: Are you
sure they are not in there?' He said: L
have been very close to the harbor en-
4 =. ~,
ton has been in and cut cable, and they
| are not there
"You heard Sigsbee say that?'
Eyes, sir"
| Lieut.. Simpson gave the most graphic
and interesting story of the eattle that
has yet been told from the witness stand
He occupied a position in tie forward
| turret during the fight and fred the first
gun. He described the approach of the
Oregon in the following language:
st was after the Maria Teresa had
dropped astern and we had only two ships
| to contend with, / got the cry that one %
the Spanish ships was on fire and head
ing for the beach. / tried to see her.
Il looked back and could see nothing
! for the smoke. Then | heard the cry
very shortly afterward, Another one is
on FIRE, heading for the beach Between
shots / looked back again, and saw a
bow wave coming from the smoke, fol-
lowed almost Immediately hy two thir-
| teen-inch guns. 1t was the Oregon. She
was then about off our starb6sri quarter.
| should say 600 yards, l called 30 the
men that the Oregon was with ", got
| cheer in reply and then the acton con.
| tinued, the Oregon firing alsJ.3 AS the
Niscaya turned and headed off the Ore
| gon fired one Of her big guns.
II heard the Commodore say, He has
raked her and she is on fire. Signal to
Oregon to cease firing. and through the
peepholcs of my hood ssw Lieut.. Nc
Cauley climb on top of my turret with
the wig-wag flag, aud could hear the
Tapping OF the flag. As soon as the Wis
caya turned in we ceased firing Uu her
and were allowed to come out Of the tur-
rets for a breathing spell"