The sun., 1901-10-17
He Says the Admiral Was Always
Cool and Coursgeous-Descri
Two Hlockndes and the Naval
Battle of Santiago.

ler TO nfSt examine O1flcerS or the
Brooklyn and to follow these with n
number of those who We're on the Ore
gon during the battle off Santiago. 1t
is understood that his entire list of
witnesses is practically confined to per-
sons who were on board these two yes-
sells.
Commander Mason, detailing the
siege OF Cienfuegos, said that on the
first day of their arrival the vessels
were kept in column and about sun
down steamed in slowly to within 1000
or 5000 yards of the entrance and then
sheered out After that the blockade
was between three and seven miles.
He said that the squadron was kept
steaming slowly mt all times, but that
il occasionally driftcd in at night The
torpedo boat Dupont arrived the morn
ing of the first day and that night per-
formed picket duty inside the squad
ron. The Castine was on picket duty
fhe next night.
blockade of Santiago.
Referring to the blockade of San.
tiago, the witness stated that the YES
sells were in column, steaming slowly
perpendicular to the north and south
line of the harbor at n distance of
from four to six miles.
"The custom was" lie said, "to
steam Il certain distance to the east
ward, turning in toward the shore or
out and then to the westward, the
total run being about two hours. AS
the Brooklyn could not steam slower
than three knots, should say that the
length of the line would be from six
Ito six and half miles-that is, three
miles each side of the entrance"
Mr.. Rayner asked the witness how
many times he had seen Commodore
Schley under fire, to which he replied,
During all the engagements"
what was his general conduct,
manner and bearing on these occa-
sions? Mr.. Rayner asked.
Excellent in every particular. He
was calm, collected and brave"
Asked to give n brief account of the
battle of July 3, Commander Mason.
after giving the preliminaries, said:
when ! saw the leading ship of the
enemy coming out, | gave the order
Clear ship for action What was done
TO the engines do not know, although
my impression is they were started at
once. As soon as l reported the bat
terry to Captain Cook in the coming
tower | asked him if we should com
mcnce firing. lie replied, Fire as soon
ms YOU are ready l Immediately gave
the order TO Lieutenant Simpson the
senior officer of the forward turret, to
fire as soon as he could, giving him
range Of $500 yards.
Il think the first gun was fired with
In five minutes, or very close to five
minutes, after the first alarm. The
rest of the battery took np the fire at
once ana continued to fire on the port
bow until the ranges commenced to get
down 70 1.SO0 ana 1,G00 yards.
The BrookIyn's Turn.
Il asked Captain Cook as to which
way he was going round, it being nee
esSary for me to know on account of
changing the battery below, shifting
from one side to the other He answer
ed that he was going with port helm.
gave the necessary orders on deck
and went bclSw. AS | arrived in the
after cabin the after five inch gun was
fired for the last time on the port side,
ana the starboard gun took up the fire
Immediately, The starboard battery
then was engaged for the rest of the
action. The range at the time we
turned, ms far as | remember was
about l,4OO yards, although | have a
recollection of 1,l00 yards being sent
TO me once.
Il will say here by way of explanation
fllat the ranges We're sent to me if was
near ut hand; if not, they We're sent
direct to the officers of the divisions.
After swinging around the range went
from 2,4O0 TO $500 and 5000 yards.
saw none of our vessels after the first
signal alarm. As to the position of the
enemy. they We're on the port bow out
side OF the harbor when we made the
turn with the port helm. At the end
OF the turn they We're on our starboard
beam and quarter, with one of them
little ahead. The Maria Teresa very
shortly after this or about the end of
the turn dropped astern and sheered in
Tor the shore, the Oquendo following
along some short time later, leaving
r the NiZcaya and Colon. | made the
statement moment ago about not see
klhg any of the vessels of the squadron.
" was Just about this time | saw the
u oregon coming out of the smoke.
Fight with vizcaya.
M AFTER the 0quendo got ashore we
%had a running fight with the yizcovo
Tor some time, the Colon going ahead
.Rxof her and on the inside. The Vizcaya
& nnally, when we'll forward on the
beam, put her helm hard starboard If
Qlooked as If she was going to turn and
go for us or cross our path, then imme-
p1ately shifted to hard aport, went
eciear around the circle and started
y asilore After that we had a chase
gu some time with the Colon, in which
a time she made better speed than
we did, when gradually we managed
70 overhaul her."
Mr. Rayner-What time as it when
he Colon ran ashore?
'oN no time. l only know by
pori at the time that 1t was about
ss ., !" nav ulu the Brooklyn do immedi-
& 10y .,s, "l'er the surrender of the Colon r'
nhe stopped about mile or a mile
Ss''iiu half from the Colon and startad
w. once to send officers in to receive