The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-10-25
DENIED BY sIGsBEE.
Witness Says BE Told schley Ger
vera Was Not at Santiago.
Is Positive In His Declaration That
He Heard the Famous C~Onversa-
ton Between the Two Ma
val Commanders.

Washington, Oct. 23.-Lieut. Wells
resumed the witness stand soon after
the Schley court of inquiry was called
to order at II o'clock Tuesday, and
continued his narrative of the events
of the Cuban campaign of 1898. He
was under cross-examination by
Judge Advocate Lemly, and his as
sistant, Mr.. Hanna, when the court
adjourned Monday, and they contin-
ued their questions Tuesday. Lieut..
Wells was followed by A. v. Mason.
the log writer of the Brooklyn, who
wrote the logs on that vessel during
the Cuban campaign.
Mr.. G. E. Graham, the correspon-
dent of the Associated Press, who
was on board the Brooklyn with Adj
miral Schley during the entire cam
paign, was also on the list of Tues
days witnesses.
Capt. Lemly began his examination of
Lieut.. Wells by asking him whether there
was kept a book of records showing letters
received on the Brooklyn as Lieutenant
Commander Sears had testified there was.
The witness replied that there was no such
book kept, but that there was a record OF
letters sent to and received from vessels
Of the squadron.
Lieut.. Wells also was questioned con-
corning the department orders concerning
the risking of the American ships to bonn
bardment from the shore batteries, the
orders under consideration being those OF
April 6. April 26 and two of Maya
Lieut.. Wells was then excused, and Mr..
Albert V. Mason called. He was Ques-
toned by Capt. Parker, and said that he
had been a yeoman of second class on board
the Brooklyn during the Santiago cam
paign and had been the writer of that ships
log. He had made the entry concerning
the battle off Santiago, and he produceda
copy of the rough log which he had made
for his own use.
The witness said that as the log giving
an account of the Brooklyn's turn had been
at first prepared 1t read: 1--WE engaged
with port battery at first, but Just as soon
as the enemy stood to westward we put
our helm starboard at first, then hard
aport, so as to bring our starboard battery
to bear, and swinging clear of the Texas
fire we stood parallel with and to the en-
envy"
This entry had, he said, been changed
later at the instance of Lieut.. Hodgson
SO as to make it read as it does in the per-
manent copy, as follows: soon as the
enemy stood to the westward we put our
helm aport, swinging clear of the Texas.
etc."
Mr.. Mason then retired and Mr.. George
Edward Graham, the Associated Press coz
respondent, was called. He was questioned
by Mr.. Rayner and said he had been on
the Brooklyn from March % to August u.
1898.
corning the conversation between Com
modore Schley and Capt. Sigsbee on the
occasion of the captains visit to the Brook
Ign on May &c. as follows:
Did you see Capt. Sigsbee on board h
Brooklyn on May 26?"
Yes, sir"
did you hear him in conversation with
Commodore Schley?"
Eyes, sir"
Can you give us what that conversation
was?"
What Sigsbee Said.
after he had reached the quarterdeck
from the gangway he stopped, and Commo-
dore Schley said to him: Have we got
'em, Sigsbee?' Captain said: No. they ara
not here. l have been here for a week and
they are not here"
us that the whole of the conversation
as you recollect?"
mo, sir. We went aft. further back ON
the quarterback, and ne continued the con-
versation. Commodore Schley said: Are
you sure they are not in there?' He said:
I have been very close to the harbor en-
trance two or three times. Capt. Cotton
has been in and cut a cable, and they ara
not there"
you heard Sigsbee say that?"
Yes, sir. / took some part in the con-
versation."
did you record that conversation. and
did Capt. Sigsbee know you recorded it?"
capt. Sigsbee knew l was a newspaper
man and was there looking for informa-
ton, and Capt. Sigsbee later took a dis
patch written by me and vised by Commo-
dore Schley. He took it aboard his ship,
and he was to deliver it to one of the small
boats or else take 1t over himself"
And Capt. Sigsbee took that dispatch?'
Yes. sir. IT was omen. 1t detailed tbs
fact that the fleet was not there"
do you remember the reconnaissance
of May 31?"
Eyes, sir. I was aboard the Massachu-
sets"
Were you present at any conversation
between Commodore Schley and Capt
Higginson In the pilot house of the Massa-
chusetts? %
There was some discussion about what
the Spanish fleet had brought with Them.
A report was current that they had
brought arms and ammunition for the de-
Tense of Havana and there also was a dis
cussion as 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. The two officers smoked
their cigars and chatted over 1t. Commo-
dore Schley said his idea was to go in about
1000 or $500 yards and fire. simply to draw
their fire. So far as l remember Capt. Hig-
ginson acquiesced in that. Later Mr.. Potts
came in"
Were you present at any conversation
at all between Commodore Schley and
Lieut.. Potts, or were you present at any
time When Commodore Schley made any
remarks during each time Potts was pres
ent?"
mo. sir. I followed them right out OF
the pilot house and down to the coming
tower. l did not hear any conversation Of
hat kind"
Then you don't know anything about
the conversation about which Potts has
testified that the commodore said: Cen
tlemen, We are very conspicuous objects
here; let's get out of it?"
II never heard such conversation. Z
stood on top Of the forward 1S-inch turret.
The commodore called to me: Boy, that's a
bad place for you. Step in here l after
ward asked why. and he said that the con-
cussion would hurt me. I had no serious
intention of remaining there"
Congressman HOnOred.
Washington, Oct. 23.-Representa-
tive James ID. Richardson, of Tennes-
see, was Tuesday elected sovereign
grand commander of the Accepted
Order Of the SnottiSb P;+a Of Troo