Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-17
IBI a'HL[Y INQUIRY
Iieut. Webster Gives More De-
falls Of the Campaign About
Cieniuesos.
Commander Griffin the First
New Witness Today..Fa.
vorable to Schley.
49,. ~ r..
Thought Admiral's Plan TO Keep
Plenty Of Coal in Sight a
Good One.

Plenty OF Coal In Sieht q
Good One.
washington, Oct. 1.-THE first of yes
terday's witnesses called for correction
of their testimony in the. Schley court
of INQUIRY today, was Commander Ma
con and after him came in succession
Lieut.. Commander Sears. Lieut.. Nc
cauley and Lieut. Webster. Quite a
humber OF additional questions We're
addressed to Webster by Hanna. Wit
ness said he had seen signals lights at
niRht ON the shore while lying off San
tiago from May % to 81 he was unable
during the night to distinguish points
ON the shore readily or see the vessels
on the inner picket line at night, with
out the aid OF earch light.
Lieut.. Commander Griffin, senior
watch officer OF the Brooklyn was the
first new witness called. He gave the
details OF the Cienfuegos campaign, say
ing the distance OF the blockading line
there varied from three to seven miles,
being farther out at night. Speaking
5of the voyage from Cienfuegos to Santi-
ago witness said the weather was
..Heayy" and there was short, chop
py sea- which impeded the fleet by de-
laying smaller vessels. especially the
Eaxle. Asked concerning the conversa-
zion between Commodore Schley and
the commander of the Eagle. witness
said: II was present when the CONVEX
sation took place, altho can not give
the exact words. When the Eagle came
up astern the Brooklyn the commodore
hailed the commander and told him, m
substance, he could not delay the squad
ron any longer on his account and that
I he wanted him to proceed to Jamaica
for coal. The commander OF the Eagle
seemed very desirous of remaining with
the squadron and expressed sincere re-
Grets at being obliged to part company
with the squadron. What Kind OF
weather was the Eagle making on May
as when the conversation took place.
Heavy weather and a short. choppy
Sea4 The Eagle and Vixen were both
pitching considerably" did you hear
the commanding officer of the Eagle,
talk to the commodore about coal on
that occasion. "..I do not remember that
he asked permission to coal 1t would
not have been possible. at least 1t would
not have been safe.
AZ Santiago witness said the block
aiding line was a mile or two closer in
1T night than during the day. and on
May 20 the fleet stood out three or four
miles There were picket boats inside
the lines, but he did not see them. Re-
ferring to the battle of July witness
said he had been in charge of the pow
der division and 1T was his duty to
look after the lower decks, conse-
uuently he had not seen q great deal
OF the fight. He was questioned con-
cerning the sendinA among the men
during the fight OF the cheering and
discouraging messages which Rayner
said he would prove by Schley when
upon the stand that the admiral had
personally sent to. the men. Witness
could not remember the contents. but
told OF delivering them. Griffin said
the conduct and manner of Schley dur
ing the engagement impressed him as
being remarkably cool He was per-
sfectly natural in manner and bearing.
on cross examinat ton Griffin said after
the conversation with Schley about
leaving Cienfuegos on account OF the
Icoaling difIiculties, he was much i'm
pressed that 1t was wise decision.
Grimm was excused.
sEnsfgn c. A. Abele, junior watch Of
lcsr Of the Brooklyn, was called.
Adele said there was heavy surf at
Cienfuegos while the flying squadron
lay on that place and when the start
sWas made toward Santiago the weather
was rough and unsettled. tho.it was not
bad for the larger ships. During the
blockade OF Santiago at night, we
steamed back and forth In front Of the
harbor at q distance of five or six miles.
At night saw signaling going on be-
tween the harbor and fort. The system
gof signals was that used in the English
navy, blinking white light and /
Judged 1t was the Colon signaling to the
fort. It happened on two occasions.
Witness in describing the battle of July
8. said he had had charge of the port
battery on the main deck forward
and that when the Spanish vessels
first came out Of the harbor he could not
trair, his guns on them because OF the
distance. The latter opened fire and he
observed the leading Spanish ship held
steady on the Brooklyn's port bow for
come time and then turned to westward.
His range was then 1,4oe yards and the
lowest range at which he fred during
the day was 100 yards.
Ensign John Haligan, Jr. who served
{ on the Brooklyn during the war. said
that on approaching Cienfuegos on May
q he heard the ng of guns. Refer
ring to the block De Of Cienfuegos he
recalled that on the 22d the Brooklyn
steamed past the entrance to the harbor
and had gone to within about a mile of
the harbor. He also recalled that the
sAdula reported the spaniards had left
Santiago He remembered the Eagle and
Vixen had pitched considerably on the
voyage to Santiago because OF the con-
ditlon of the sea. Coming to the block
5ade Of Santiago, he said he knew the
Marblehead and Vixen had been inside.
the blockading line there.
When the battle Of July 3 occurred,
ne was in port turret. The shortest
range used by him during the engage
ment was 1900 yeards Witness spoke
of the Brooklyn's turn said previous to
a A