Evening star., 1901-09-21
CAPT. HARBERS TESTIMONY
EXECUTIVE OFFICER ON THE TEXAS
IN SPANISH WAR.
Tells of Experiences OF Cienfuegos
and SantiaEo-AD4dn't See the
BroOk1yhss Loop.

now naval attache at Paris and St. Peters
burg. who was executive officer on board
the Texas during the Spanish war, occu-
pied the last hour of the sitting Of the
Schley court of inquiry yesterday after
noon. Capt. Harber was put on the stand
about 3 o'clock and he was still testifying
when an adjournment was taken at 2. m.
In the absence of Captain Philip he was
asked to give a detailed account of the
operations of the Texas during the war.
and he did so. The Texas had been part
of the flying squadron and the witness
said that when they left Key West for
Cienfuegos the flagship had signaled 1--WE
go to Cienfuegos to bag the Spaniards;
wish you good luck"
While Off Cfenfuegos.
In reply to questions he said that when
Clenfuegos was reached earthworks were
discovered there, but no effort was made
to destroy them.
Captain Harber was questioned as to
orders concerning plans of battle, but he
said that notwithstanding he would have
taken command in case of the incapacity
OK captain Philip, he received no directions
from the commander-in-chief. He had
heard of no plans in case the enemy
should be engaged.
The witness said that while lying off
from the shore which, from their nature,
they took to be signals, but that no atten-
tion had been paid to them until the oath.
when the Marblehead had. arrived, and he
understood 1t had responded to the signals
and communicated with those on shore.
He also said that the Texas had been in
no great need of coal while lying off Cien-
fuegos but that it could have taken more
and would have been glad to get it. The
Iowa had coaled there, he said.
Describing the trip to Santiago, the wit
ness said there had been rough weather,
but that the Texas could have made better
time than 1t did He said that when the
squadron arrived in sight Of the Yale and
other American vessels off Santiago on
the evening of May 26 all the vessels
cleared for action, thinking they were ves-
sells of the enemy.
Capt. Wise's Opinion.
When they discovered their mistake Capt.
Philip had signaled Captain Wise of the
Yale, asking: Have you got them in
there?" (meaning the Spanish fleet, to
which the reply was: Il think we have"
Mr.. Hanna, who conducted the examina-
tion of this witness, asked him particu-
larly concerning the trip from Santiago
toward Key West, when the squadron
started for the latter place in order to
coal.
He said that no effort had been made
the 26th, the day of the arrival off
Santiago, to coal ship. The sea was some
what rough, but the witness expressed
the opinion that the coaling could have
been accomplished. He had succeeded in
in that operation at TortugaS when the
water was equally rough.
The questions and replies on this point
were as follows:
Have you had any experience In coaling
vessels in the waters of the West Indies
or in that part of the world?'
Il had some experience shortly before
while lying at Tortugas'
IF, as executive officer Of the Texas you
had received instructions at that time, on
the 26th, to coal ship, what would you
have done?"
Could Have Coaled the Texas.
II would have coaled ship, probably"
WAS there anything in the conditions of
weather or the sea7then prevailing to have
prevented the Texas from taking coal on
the 26th?". a.s.
ION the evening of the 26th do not
think the sea was any heavier than existed
when l successfully coaled ship at Tortu-
gas, although the collier was a heavier
vessel. I coaled ship in Tortugas with
considerable sea, the collier having only
about $500 tons
'Of course / can understand you don't
go to sea to coal ship, but in an emer-
gency you think you could have coaled the
II believe we could have taken coal on
the Texas, yes"
Captain Harber volunteered the statement
that on May q, before the new supply of
coal was taken on the Texas, there were
about 400 tons of that fuel on the vessel
He said, in reply to questions that the
blockade was maintained by the vessels
steaming in column back and forth in front
Of the mouth of the harbor, at a distance
of from seven to ten miles out, the greater
distance being that maintained at night
At this distance there was no difficulty
In seeing the shore during the day time
,s-~l,x1
was bad it was difficult to see the shore
in the daytime and sometimes under those
circumstances impossible to see it at night
The BrOoklyn's "Loop."
Asked concerning his knowledge of the
Brooklyn's loop during the battle off San
tiago the witness said he did not see the
loop made.
Captain Harber was asked concerning the
position Of the Brooklyn relative to the
Texas and to the other ships when he first
saw her after the turn.
1.-THE Brooklyn" he replied, was on the
port bow of the Texas, standing at an
angle. I should say, approximately one-half
point to the southwark of the heading of
the Texas. At that time the Oregon was
just forging past us on the starboard side,
inshore. The Iowa was still farther in
shore, and pointing up, so that her bow
overlapped our bow. At one time I know
that we fired across the stern of the Iowa"
Where were the Spanish vessels with
reference to the heading Of the Texas?'
The head of the line was hten on our
starboard bow; should say, approximate
ly, four points on the bow"
Referring to the Brooklyn he said he
had seen that vessel Immediately after It
had executed the loop, when it was on
the port bow Of the Texas, about 800 feet
distant.
The Texas was not then moving at her
full speed because the Oregon was pass
ing her. If the Texas at that time backed
or stopped he was not aware of the cir
cumstance.
At this hour, o'clock the court adj
journed until II o'clock today
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