Evening star., 1901-10-16

witness and reverted to his reply of yes
terday in regard to his recollection of a
ward room conversation in which he was
reported to have said that they had hard
enough trouble to get the commodore to
&c as as near 1000 yards to the Colon
the 31st of May. when protest was made
by some one else against that range. He
had made no such remark. he had Safd,
and when again questioned today ne as
serted his former statement. saying:
Il felt very much irritated at the delay,
and ii may be that something l said was
misunderstood but 1 certainly could not
have made that remark"
The suggestion that he had been irritated
at the delay caused something of Il coIn-
motion among counsel The judge advo-
cate proceeded promptly to follow up this
clew. and Mr.. Rayner as promptly made
an objection, claiming that the Irritation
of the witness could not affect the case,
but the judge advocate said he Gid not
care about the irritation. but wanted to
get at the cause of the delay There was 4
general impression in the court room that
the irritation at the delay referred to some
delay the part of Admiray Schley. and
as the witness testimony had been rather
favorable to the admiral, a criticism of
this sort from him was regarded as of es-
pecial Importance. After arguing over the
propriety of admitting any further testi-
mony on this line the judge advocate
prevailed. and Mr. Rayner said that
he had no objection to questioning him in
regard to the delay. Then there was in
tense silence over the court room The face
of the Judge advocate showed expectancy
and that of Mr. Rayner and other counsel
for the admiral showed much concern. The
witness. apparently in ignorance of the feel
ing that existed about him, replied oelib-
erately:
Il was very much irritated over the de
lay oecasioned by Captain Higginson ask
ing that the attack be put off until after
lunch time
The. countenance of the judge advocate
expressed disgust. Mr.. Hanna proceeded TO
construct another question, while Mr.. Ray
ner. turning toward the audience. showed a
smiling face. There considerable
laughter among the auditors as the pro-
ceedtngS were continued
Questioned by the Court.
The court questioned Commander Sears
on various points covered by his testimony
of yesterday. He said in reply to these
questions hat on the morning of July
the Brooklyn had begun turning to star
board Immediately after the engines were
started. that the helm of the Brooklyn had
been put aport when the helm of the Vis-
caya had been put aport.
1T was" he said. "a practically stimuli
taneous movement" He also said that
when he mad said to Commodore Schley
during the battle that he thought the
Brooklyn about it's tactical diameter
from the Viscaya he did not mean that the
distance was less than had been reported
by YeOman Ellis. The tactical diameter of
the Brooklyn had not then been determined,
and he had supposed 1t TO be about $50 yards.
The Niscaya had been passed long after
the Brooklyns turn. and they ran along
together for some time. After the Colon
had passed the Viscaya she had outfooted
the Brooklyn. and it then that she was
1000 yards from the Brooklyn, as indicat-
ed by the stadimeter. which the witness
said he did not consider an accurate in
strument- After that time the Colon. hav--
Ing exhausted her best coal, lost her speed,
and the Brooklyn gained upon her.
Asked how much time had been con-
n GOvr,r, a
Sears said he had never been able to reach
satisfactory conclusion that point.
The time had seemed very short to him;
1t might have been fifteen or twenty min
utes. On the morning of July 3, but prior
TO the battle. he had. he said, noticed that
an the shlps We're near the positions
signed to them. except the Texas That
ship was outside her assigned place. and
was at the time headed to the eastward
about as much as the Brooklyn was to the
northWard: The official chart putting the
IeXas well inside the Brooklyn and the
Iowa he said, was contrary to his OBJ
seryatiOns.
The last of the courts questions was con-
cerning the relative positions of the Brook
lyn and the Oregon during the chase of
the Spanish ships up the Cuban coast
ne oregon was not, he said, so near
me Viscaya as was the Brooklyn. but
might nave been nearer the Oquendo 1--WE
We're always nearer the Colon during the
chase ne said. nearer during the chase
ana at the surrender
Commander Mason Called.
Lieutenant Commander Sears was then
excused and Commander Mason was called
as the first new witness of the day.
Commander Mason, detailing the siege OF
Cien1uegOs, said that on the first day of
their arrival the vessels were kept in col
umn and about sundown steamed in SLOWLY
10 within two or three thousand wards of
the entrance and then sheered out After
tnat the blockade was between. three and
seven miles He said that the squadron
was Kept steaming slowly at all times but
Inat 1t occasionally drifted in at night
Ihe torpedo boat Dupont arrived the morn
ing or the first day, and that night per
Iormed picket duty inside the squadron
night o''' 'ie ''eA'
Referring to the blockade of Santiago
ane witness stated that the vessels were in
Cotunih' steaming slowly perpendicular to
the north and south line of the harbor at
d distance of from four to six miles
me custom was he said, ito steam a
certain distance to the eastward turning in
toward the shore or out and then 10 The
westward, the total run being about two
hours As the Brooklyn could NOT steam,
sto"er tnan three knots, 1 should say that
Lne iehgth OF the line would be from six to
SIX and a half miles; that is three miles
each side Of the entrance"
Commodore SchIey's Bearing.
Mr. Rayner asked the witness how many
times he had seen Commodore SchIey under
fire. to which he replied, During all the
engagements"
J" hat was his general conduct. manner
and bearing on these occasions?" Mr.. Ray
ner asked.
Excellent in every particular. He was
calm, collected and brave"
The battle of July 3.
Asked TO give brief account of the battle
or July B. Commander Mason, after giving
the preliminaries, said:
When l saw the leading ship of the
enemy coming out 1 gave the order Clear
snip Tor action What was done to the
engines DO not know. although my impress
sion Is they were started at once AS soon
as reported the battery to Capt Cook in
the coming tower l asked him IL we should
commence firing. He replied: Fire as soon
as you are ready. L Immediately gave the
order TO Lieut. Simpson. the senior officer of
the forward turret. to fire as soon as he
could, giving him a range Of $500 yards I
think the first gun was fired within five min
utes or very close to five minutes after the
first alarm. The rest of the battery took up
the fire at once and continued to fire on the
port bow until the ranges commenced to
get down 10 1850 and 900 yards