The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-09
LIEUT.. VI. l.. BRISTOL.
Testimony of the Former Division
Officer of the Texas


Lieut.. NJ. L. Bristol. former watch and
division officer on the Texas. was next
called. He had only related the arrival of
the Texas at Cienfuegos and detailed con-
ditions there when the court took recess
for luncheon. At the afternoon session Of
the court, speaking of the blockade of Glen
fuegos, he said that during the day the
ships lay from five to ten miles from the
shore, steaming in nearer at night: then
going farther out and returning nearer at
daybreak. He had. he said. observed the
signal lights on the shore near Cienfuegos
but had not understood their significance
With respect TO coaling. he said that on
one occasion, while off Cienfuegos, Captain
Phillip had signaled to the flagship that he
considered il dangerous to put the collier
between the Texas and Iowa, meaning by
that IL was dangerous TO collier to put it
between battleShips. regardless of the
weather" He also told of the injury to
the Texas in coaling while off Santiago
but said IL was not due to the weather
The witness also described the blockade of
Santiago, saying that il was maintained
by steaming back and forth i'm front of the
mouth of the harbOr at slow rate OF
speed as the ships could travel cat 500 yards
or double distance aparD. The line was
about one and One-half miles long. The
vessels gene rally steamed from three and
harbor. going and coming practically over
the same line. The Marblehead and Vixen
were on the inside, but could only be seen
at certain times. even when the weather
conditions were favorable. Frequently. i'm
fact. only the vessel next ahead could be
seen.
Mr. Hanna here asked the witness: ''If
the vessels of the Spanish squadron had
suddenly appeared, what orders had YOU
To meet such contingency
mo orders Were turned over 10 me IN
4
las watch oficer, should YOU have had
such Orders2
Il should have had"
SPANISH SHORE BATTERIES.
Lieutenant Bristol stated that the fleet
lay outside of Moro from six 10 eight
miles during the day lie spoke of the
Spanish shore batteries. saying Person
ally examined them the day We arrived
there. and satisfied myself that the bat
teries amounted 10 nothing. From the Va
rious bombardments we took part in we
discovered just what guns were there We
went i'm as a feint 20 the westward to
draw the attention of the Spanish from the
real landing of the army TO the eastward
We were not TO fire on the ZOCOpa battery
unless they fired on Us. We returned the
fire with our six and tWelVe-lnch guns. We
fired several shots in answer TO theirs. The
last shot they hred struck the Texas. We
kept the glasses on them. and whenever
We saw anyone appear on the battery We
opened fire with one siN-inch she'll. That
would drive them away. then we had orders
TO withdraw. We steamed out slowly, max
ing turn toward the MORO. which
brought Us even nearer the batteries than
We were before, but they did not fire on
us. nor did they appear 10 be able 10 use
their guns.
Lieutenant Bristol said that on the morn
ing of July he had fixed the position of
the Texas and also generally OF the other
ships OF the fleet and had prepared "A chart
showing these positions. He considered the
initial positions As assigned to the Texas,
the Brooklyn and the Iowa a. accurate
The witness described the engagement of
July ). saying that the Spanish fleet had
come Out only sufficiently far 10 clear the
shOal near the mouth OF the harbor before