The Topeka state journal., 1901-10-22
He WROTE THE LOG.
Continued from FIRST Page.)

o,
on the quarter deck and he continued
the conversation Commodore Schley
said, Are you sure they are not IN
there He said, I have been very close
to the harbor entrance two or three
times. Captain Cotton has been in and
cut the cable and they are not there "
You heard Sigsbee say that?"
Yes, sir. / took some part IN the con-
versation.'
Did you record that conversation and
did Captain Sigsbee know you recorded
it?"
Capt. Sigsbee knew was a news
paper man and was there looking for
information, and Capt Sigsbee later
took a dispatch written by me and
vised by Commodore Schley. He took 1t
aboard his ship, and he was to deliver
it to one of the small boats or else take
it over himself
And Capt Sigsbee took that dis
patch?"
Yes, sir. 1t was open. 1t detailed
the fact that the fleet was not there"
DO you remember the reconnaissance
of May 31?"
yes, sir. / was aboard the Massa-
chusetts."
Were you present at any conversa-
tion between Commodore Schley and
Capt. Higginson in the pilot house of
the Massachusetts? %
..On the Brooklyn I had heard that
they were going in to lombard and
that the flag would be transferred to
the Massachusetts. I asked permis-
with the commodore. He had just given
permission to Mr.. McCauley to go, and
turning to me he said: 1 don't think
you better go. 1 think you can see it
better from the Brooklyn She was
then coaling. He further said that they
did not intend to do anything except
find out what the batteries consisted of.
/ kept urging him to let me go, and he
finally consented
Now tell me regarding the conversa-
tion between Commodore Schley and
Capt. Higginson.'
There was some discussion about
what the Spanish fleet had brought
with them. A report was current that
they had brought arms and ammuni-
ton for the defense of Havana, and
there also was q discussion to
whether they had had time to mount
them, or whether from any ships in the
harbor, prior to the arrival of the fleet.
they had taken any large guns and
mounted them. Commodore Schley SAID
his idea was to go in about 1000 or 1850
yards and fire, simply to draw their
fire So far as remember Capt Hig-
ginson acquiesced in that. Later Mr..
Potts came in"
Were you in the presence of Com
modore Schley during the whole of this
reconnaissance of the Massachusetts?
'Only part of the time. At times 1
was behind the coming tower and he
was on the other side of it,
AS TO POTTS.
did you see Lieut.. Potts on board
He came into the pilot house during
the conversation and took some part in
it,
AT this point Mr.. Rayner read to the
witness portion of the testimony given
by Mr.. Potts wherein he had referred
to the conversation between Commodore
Schley and Captain Higginson as to
going in for the bombardment and
asked:
Were you present at that conversa-
tion?''
NO. answered the witness That
conversation must have been when they
stepped outside the pilot house Potts
was in there short time with u.s.
Did you hear any conversational"
"On1y that the range was to be be-
tween 1000 and $500 yards
THAT was the only remark you heard
made by the commodore when Potts
was present.?
7 do not think the commodore made
the remark. My impression is that
Captain Higginson made the remark to
Potts.
Were you present at any conversa-
ton at all between Commodore Schley
and Lieutenant Potts, or We're you pres
ent at any time when Commodore
Schley made any remarks during which
time Potts was present."
NO sir, 1 followed them right out
of the pilot house and down to the con-
versation Of that kind
Then you don't know anything about
the conversation about which Potts tes-
titled that the commodore said, Gentle
men, we are very conspicuous OBJECTS
here, let's get out of it?'"
s'I never heard such conversation. I
stood on top of the forward 13-inch tur-
ret. The commodore called to me, Boy,
that's a bad place for you. Step in here
1 afterward asked why and he said that
the concussion would hurt me. l had
no serious intention of remaining there"
WAS Potts present at that timer
81 think he was giving the ranges at
| the time
The Witness said he was with the
| commodore during the whole of the re-
| connoissance and did not hear either OF
| the alleged conversations.
Mr.. Graham also said he had not
| heard Commodore Schley say anything
about ''potting the Colon" when the
commodore went aboard the Massa-
| chusetts, May 81, and that he was with
the commodore at the time.
Then you heard none of these re-
| ported conversations? ?" asked NJ. Ray
ner.
None" was the response.
And you were with him all the
time?"
.'I was with him all the time" the
witness replied. except when he was
taken in hand by Capt. Higginson and
taken to his cabin
After concluding his narrative of this
incident, the witness was asked about
suspicious incidents in the harbor at
Santiago on the evening of July and
he said he recalled that the commodore
had sent the Vixen to investigate.
Describing the battle of July 3, Mr..
Graham said that Commodore Schley
had gotten to a position in front of the
coming tower soon the nose of
the first of the Spanish ships appeared.
The Brooklyn was at that time, he said,
pointing almost north. Lieutenant Simp-
son had fired the first gun from the g.
inch turrets and calling to Commodore
Schley. said: How is that?" ITO this
the commodore replied said the witness.
Didn't see it, Simpson, but keep at it,
Continuing the witness said that by
the time the Brooklyn had completed her
turn (and he thought the turn had been
continuously to the right the three
leading Spanish ships had emerged from
the harbor.
CAME OUT IN FAN SHAPE