The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-19
THE COURTS QUESTIONS.

THE COURTS QUESTIONS.
In reply TO Mr.. Hanna. the witness said
he had observed the Spanish fleet as It
came out Of the harbor at Santiago; that
they were in column and in order three or
four ships lengths apart; that all ported
their helms and turned to the westward
apparently with the intention of going
ashore, If necessary. During the early
part Of the engagement he had seen none
OF the Spanish vessels turning toward any
OF the American ships and he was sure
there was no Well-develOped movement in
tHal direction. Yet the smoke was dense
and he could not be certain of all details.
The court asked questions Of Commander
Nicholson as follows:
Was the Oregon in her proper block
aiding position when the Spanish ships
started Out?'
Practically, yes
What was her course, with reference to
the Morro?'
About four miles distant and a little
eastward TO south Of it,"
What was the distance between the
Diockading positions of the Oregon and the
Brooklyn"
From three to four miles in the day
time; they were nearer together at night. -
w hat was the relative positions of the
american ships when the Spanish vessels
came Out?'
The Iowa was due south. the Texas on
her port hand and the Brooklyn farther off
10 the westward. The Oregon was To the
night OF the Iowa and the Indiana in shore
10 the eastward with the New York in the
distance. L remember Immediately looking
for the flagship and saw her off seven or
eight miles toward SibOney."
DID the Oregon, at any time, pass be-
ships?"
Not when they were Offering any re-
slsIanee; she did as the Spanish vessels
turned 10 go ashore"
When the Oregon changed her direction
toward the Brooklyn had the Brooklyn
completed her turn?"
L am under the impression that she had.
she must have done So"
What was the position of the Oregon
when she turned with starboard helm dur
ing the battle of Santiago?"
she was lying still in the water and we
turned TO head off the Spanish fleet. We
overlook all but the Colon very quickly"
DIR. DE VALIN'S TESTIMONY.
DR.. Charles NJ De Vain followed Com
mander Nicholson. He said that he had
been medical officer on board the Brooklyn
and had observed the battle Of July 5 from
the forecastle. He gave a brief description
Of the battle, saying he had been present
when YeOman Ellis was killed and that he
had observed Commodore Schley during the
entire engagement. His conduct and
bearing" said the witness, was ali that
could be expected. He seemed to know
what he was about and to be doing all
that he wished TO do. He was in perfect
control of the situation
In response to questions from Captain
Lemly the witness said that he had heard
Commodore Schley give the order. Helm
hard apOrJ,' and had heard else
give it. In response to a question he said
that he had at that time heard no collOquy
or alteration concerning this order.
Haven't you stated heretofore that you
cid hear such a conversations"
II may have so stated but I do not re-
member and cannot repeat any CONVERSE
ton OF the kind"
Have you not heretofore repeated it?'
At this point Mr.. Rayner interrupted Cap
tain Lemly'S examination with q protest
against the putting. of his question without
giving the names of persons with whom
witness was supposed TO have had the con-
versation i'm question. Speaking for the
court, Admiral Dewey sustained Mr. RAY
ner's point, saying: We know more law
now than we did before. Time, names
and places of individuals should. be given.
L would not like myself TO have such a
question put to me; no one would like it.
Captain Lemly then asked: Did you tell
Lieutenant Ward in Portsmouth, y. h,
on Aug. that you had heard converse
ton in which the word Texas was uSed?
The witness said that on that date Mr..
Ward had asked him what ne would testify
to in the case and he had said that 1t was
about the order for porting the helm of
the Brooklyn during the battle between
Commodore Schley and Lieutenant Com
mander Hodgson, but the witness sald ne
had no recollection of saying anything at
that time about the Texas.
CHIEF ENGINEER HANNUM.
DR.. De Valin was then excused and Cap
tain John L. Hannum was called. He
was the chief engineer on board the Brook
Iyn and of the flying squadron during the
Cuban campaign. Captain Hannums tesu-
mony, aside from replies TO questions by
the court, related entirely to the condition
of the collier Merrimac May q and Is. He
said that on the forenoon of the former
date Commodore Schley had ordered him to
go aboard the collier; that, having done so,
he found her intermediate valve gear en-
tirely disabled. He said he had taken the
whole OF this part of the machinery of the
vessel aboard the Brooklyn, and that he
had not been able TO complete the repairs
until the evening of the next day, the 18th.
He also said that while the Merrimac was
not entirely helpless, her horse power was
reduced One-third ana that she was able to
hobble along only at the rate of four or five
knots an hour. The court asked Captain
Hannum the following questions:
What was the BroOklyn's most ecOnom-
fcaI speed and how much coal per day did
she burn at that speed VIM you were her
chief engineer
II never had an opportunity to test the
vessel in order TO arrive at that, but her
economical speed l think, was about ten
knots, burning from seventy to seventy
five tons of coal a day.
Were the fires laid ready for lighting
under all boilers not in use by the Brooklyn
July ?? If not, why not?
Il think the furnaces were coaled. I'm
pretty sure they were ready TO throw a
shovel full OF coal on them and start
them"
Captain Hannum was then excused and
Lieutenant Thomas Il. Carter, passed as
sistant engineer, who was in charge of the
machinery of the main engines of the
Brooklyn during the Santiago campaign,
was called. In reply TO a request from MIR.
Rayner, he gave Il statement concerning
the condition of the engines of the Brook
Ign on the morning of the battle of July 3,
saying: THE after main engines were not
used. The forward main engines were dis
connected from the forward ones, and
steam was on in three boilers"
Mr.. Rayner-Can you tell me what went
on in the engine rooms during the action
with respect to increasing the speed of the
ship?
Every effort was made to economize
steam and get the most power out of it
the most turns of the engines. The fires
possible. Forced draught was put on.
Then. of course, il was a question Of how
many turns we could get. The steam was
working TO the best advantage, so as to in
crease the turns of the engines. There
was a steady increase in the number of the
turns of the engines from the beginning to
the end"
Were the engines at any time stopped,
reversed or slowed2'
THE engines were not at any time during
the battle stopped or reversed. / have no
recollection of their ever having been
slowed. They certainly were not stopped
nor reversed.
At Nr. Rayner's request the witness pre-
scented a written memorandum which he
had praDarcd shaving the Snaad Of tbo