Evening star., 1901-11-01

1 believe he is mistaken I would not hesi-
tate to say that. But l would not ike TO
be restricted
Captain Parker said that for himself he
would desire to read something in the form
of an argument, and he supposed there
would be no objection to that.
Admiral Dewey remarked that there
would be no trouble. "When we come to
that bridge he said, I'VE will cross Ii"
Correspondent ScoveI Testifes.
Sylvester Scovel, newspaper correspond
ent, was the first witness called today lie
testified regarding a conversation he hao
with Capt. Sigsbee, who, he said, CID NOT
state the Spanish fleet was not in the mar
bor, although he said that after he had
been talking with Capt Sigsbee he was en-
gagged in conversation with other ofhcers on
board the st. Paul and other newspaper
men on board the newspaper boat Somers
Smith continued the conversation with
Capt. Sigsbee.
@. (by the judge advocate) 'sWere you
on board any vessels of the fleet during
the Spanish war? A 1 was on board the
press boat.
@. We're you at any time on board the
press boat known as the Somers N smith !!
A Yes.
Q Please state if you fell in with the
St. Paul. A. Yes
O. Who was her commander? A. Capt.
Sigsbee.
q. w mere was Sne! ~ SioSe III 7hO'N' -
little west of Santiago harbor.
O. State as near as you can Wnen tnls
was. A. The afternoon OF the DAY on Whlch
Admiral Schley left Santiago to go west
ward either the 9th or 18th: J. cannot re-
call the date exactly. The article which
wrote at that time was based on the inter-
view which I had with Capt Slgsoee'
O. Did you have any interchange OF mes
sases or conversation with Capt. Slgspee on
that occasion? A. The St. Paul chased US
offshore and speedily caught us, and we
had megaphone conversation
@ About how near were you? A. should
say about 70 or 100 feet, perhaps; we were
close up.
Conversation With Sigsbee.
Q. Now. l want you to state what that
conversation was, giving, as nearly as you
can the words of the conversation. A. We
had been sent out to find Admiral Schley
and the first question was: "Where is Ad-
rniral Schlev?'' The answer: "In the Yucca
tan passage" AS our boat was slow cne
I asked him if we could catch the commo-
dore. and he answered yes. as 1 remam-
Der. and stated that the speed would be
six knots The second question was:
where is Cervera?' and he dld not answer
that for moment but consulted Win
somebody on the bridge of the snip ana
answered, Il am not sure, but we caught
an English collier trying to sneak INTO the
harbor this morning.
O. You say you were sent out 10 eaten
Admiral Schley. BY whom? A. BY my
paper
He was asked if that was all he remem-
bered of the conversation, and repned tnat
it was all that he had with Captain Slgs-
bee personally Other men on the same
boat had talked with Captain Sigsoee on
the same occasion.
o. Where did the Smith go then? A
After Admiral Schley, but he came back
and we passed during the night.
n
you? A No.
O. Did Captain Sigsbee inform you that
the Spanish squadron was not in Santiago?
To this question Captain Parker obJe;ted
before an answer could be made.
Let him ask what Captain Sissbee
said. and not put words into his mouth.
said Captain Parker.
The Judge advocate explained to the court
that this was the particular point to Ge
brought out and the court ruled that there
was no objection to the question. The wit
ness answered the questions saying:T
"He did not tell us that the Spaniards
were not there.
Landing on the Cuban Coast.
Q. Did you have any experience in land
ing and communicating with the insurgents
while you were down in Cuban waters dur
ing the war? A. Yes.
O. On both north and south coasts? A.
Yes.
".
ask you when and how often and at what
places you landed?
The witness: do you mean alone or
with company Of troops!
The judge advocate: alone"
The witness answered. ",Three times.
The first time was on a reef, June 3, about
three and one-haif miles to the west of
Santiago harbor.
Mr.. Rayner objected here and asked the
Judge advocate if he wanted to go into The
evidence after June !.
The Judge advocate explained that this
came in as did the matter of developing the
batteries after June 1. He said the court
had allowed both counsel for the applicant
and himself to ask questions both regard
ing the development of the batteries and
attempted bombardment.
Mr.. Rayner: Il think that my friend
will recollect that he was ruled out on that
absolute tely."
Admiral Dewey: 1.-THE court would pre-
fer you to confine yourself to the time prior
to June l."
O. By the Judge advocate): Did you
make any landing prior to June 1. A. Not
on the south coast.
The judge advocate then announced that
he had no further questions to ask.
QuestiOned by Mr.. Rayner.
Mr.. Rayner then took the witness in hand
for a cross-examination, and asked him if
he was at the megaphone of his boat. He
replied that he was portion of the time.
Q. By Mr.. Rayner): Who else was at
the megaphone? A. do not remember.
@. You know that somebody was there?
A. do not remember that. 1 do not re-
member that the megaphone was used
after 1 used it. When we got close up
did not have to use the megaphone.
q. Do you know whether any one else
had any communication with Captain Sigs-
bee after you got through? A. do not
know, but l should presume SO.
q. Suppose you try to think. A. 1t may
be that during the conversation l had with
two Heutenants on board the ST. Paul after
concluding with Captain Sigsbee that on
another part of our boat others might have
had conversation with Captain Sigsbee.
Mr.. Rayner read from the testimony Of
Mr.. Hare regarding this same occurrence
in which it appeared that Mr.. Charles NJ
Pepper and Mr. Stephen Crane were also
on board the Somers N. Smith, and, ac-
cording to Mr.. Hare's testimony, had
talked with Captain Sgsbee. He read the
conversation as given by Mr.. Hare, and
asked the witness If he recalled it. The
witness said that he did not recollect it in
all Its details, but that very likely it hap
pened.
Mr.. Rayner then asked him If he was
not going to Jamaica to coal. and he re-
piled, Mo- that the boat did not need
coal; that she had enough coal to take
them clear around Cuba.
-. You say that you talked with Captain