The state herald., 1901-10-18
CAPTAIN COOK OF THE BROOKLYN
TELLS STORY OF THE BATTLE

v,
the Schley court Of inquiry, Judge Ad
yOcate Lemly concluded presentation
of testimony for the government an,
the first of Admiral Schley's witnesse
was introduced. Captain Francis A
Cook, who commanded Schley's flag
ship, the Brooklyn, during the Santi
ago campaign, and who acted, thougl
unofiiclally, in the capacity of chief O
staff for the commodore, was on tn,
witness stand the greater part Of tn,
day.
He was followed by Lieutenan
Commander William +. Hullam, wht
was senior watch officer OH the New
Orleans during the Spanish war, ant
Former Lieutenant Joseph Beale, who
as m officer on the Harvard, trans
lated the cipher dispatches between
Commodore Schley and the Navy De
pnrtment carried by that vessel
Among those dispatches was that sem
by Commodore Schley, May 2Sth, ex
pressing regret at not having been able
10 obey the orders of the department
and explaining the reason why he
could not do so. There are some YER
bal discrepancies between the original
draft OF this dispatch and the official
print of 1t. and these Mr.. Beale eX.
planned.
Lieutenant Beale was the last of the
government witnesses, although Cap
tain Lemly explained that he would re.
serve the right to call others II occas-
ion should demand. He had no sooner
retired than the first witness for Adj
mral Schley was called. This proved
TO be the Cuban pilot Eduardo Nunez,
who told Schley May %, 1893, that he
did not believe the Spanish fleet under
Cervera was in the harbor at Santiago.
Captain Cooks testimony was re-
view Of the entire campaign after Ger
vera's fleet, beginning with the depart
ure Of the flying squadron from Key
West May 10Th and concluding with
the battle Off Santiago July Sd. He
said that at first II had been believed
by both Sampson and Schley that the
Spanish fleet was in the harbcr of Glen
fuegos and that no information to the
contrary had been conveyed to Commo-
dore Schley until the arrival Of Captain
McCalla May 9th: that 1t was Commo-
dore Schley's expectations to meet the
Spaniards In the open sea, and his con-
slant care was to have coal enough for
such an emergency. He gave particu-
lars concerning the retrograde move
ment, and explained the BroolilIn's
loop In connection with graphic ac-
count of the engagement of July 3d.
Asked for an opinion as to Admiral
Schley's bearing as commanding Off
Ger. he said:
Il always regarded him as an en-
Enthusiastically brave and patriotic Off
GER"
Replying to questions concerning the
blockade of Santiago, Captain Cook
said Commodore Schley's constant idea
was that the vessels should be kept
well supplied with coal and kept NOV
ing constantly. as his theory was that
the Spanish fleet would come out OF the
harbor.
"Why was the circular blockade not
adoptedi" Mr.. Hanna asked.
There are many forms OF blockade.
and l have nothing but praise for the
circular blockade" replied the witness.
"but the idea was 10 get the Spaniards
TO come out and to have our ships NOV
Ing and ready for action"
What We're your orders of battle
from May 10th to June lst:"
I'VE did not have any. The fleet was
always In condition for action"
"Do you call that n battle orderT'
1T Is possible TO have an order for
battle If you know just what condition
you are going to meet. The idea with
us was to be able to fight the Spanish
fleet whenever we should meet 1t. ]
think that was understood by all. SO
understood It,"
III the fleet had come out OF the hnr-
bor previous TO June LIST, what would
you have done
I'VE would have obeycd the orders OF
the commanding officer"
Were the fighting ships always In
order for battlcf'
II always supposed they Were: the
Brooklyn was always In excellent or
der"
Were you on deck when the fleet
came out OF Santiago hnrbor July 3rdi
When Were they first slghiedT"
The reply was In the negative. Cap
tain Cook said he had at that time
been In the cabin. The next question
was:
How did you first learn the fleet was
coming ontr'
The reply TO this brought Captain
Cooks story OF the engagement MS fol.
lows:
IL heard the executive officer call out
Clear ship for action: md ms had
given directions to have tisc ship ready
for inspection. I knew Mt once some.
A Il = a A $ A . A .