Evening journal., 1901-10-01
CAPTAIN EVANS
WITHHELD UODB
Fighting BsO slSO Neglected
TO Tell SchIey Signal
Asserts That Oregon, Texas, Iowa
and Brooklyn We're Bunched
Together

Washington. Oct. Rear Admiral
Evans. who as captain commanded the
battleship Iowa during the Santiago
campaign. was witness before the
Schley naval court OF inquiry yester-
day. His testimony covered the entire
period from the time the Iowa left the
port Of Key West on the goth of May,
1898, until the 5th OF July, when Ad
miral Evans testified he had conyer-
sation with Admiral schley concerning
the battle of the Sd. He described in
detail the principal battle off Santiago,
and also gave particulars concerning
the bombardment of the Colon on the
Slst Of May
other witnesses of the day were Cap
tain Theodore #. Jewell, who was COM
mander OF the cruiser Minneapolis dur
ing the Spanish war, and Commander
James NJ Miller who was in command
Of the collier Merrlmac until that ves-
sci was turned over to Lieutenant Hob
son TO be sunk in the mouth OF the
harbor at Santiago Admiral Evans
had not concluded his testimony when
the court adjourned for the day.
Admiral Evans said that before leav-
ing Key West on May 20 to join the
flying squadron at Cienfuegos Captain
Chadwick had communicated to him
the secret code arranged by Captain
McCalla He had not. however re-
ported this code to Admiral Schley
upon his arrival, supposlng that the
admiral knew about the CODE
The judge advocate asked the wit
ness concerning a statement by a leu
tenant Of the Spanish navy printed by
the navy department to the effect that
at dark the American ships withdrew
to the southwark disappearing. The
introduction Of this book was objected
to, and Admiral Dewey said: "The
witness has already told what distance
was maintained by the feet. We don't
care for that KIND Of information Ad-
miral Evans was there and can answer
for himself We want facts; not news
paper articles"
Admiral Evans said he had not gono
in nearer to the Colon on the occasion
of the bombardment of that vessel be-
cause he was "in formation following
flagship"
Describing the battle OF Santiago,
Admiral Evans said; when Cervera'a
feet came out Of Santiago harbor tho
Iowa was at the center. with the Brook
lyn to the left and the Texas between" ."
"The only vessel between the Iowa
and the Brooklyn was the Texas. / saw
the Brooklyn when the fight began.
When l reached the bridge Of the Iowa
the Brooklyn was still Off to the west
ward, headed, / should say, northwest.
That was just as the fight began.
saw her again possibly five minutes af-
terwards. when she was steaming vest
ward very fast, firing her port battery
headed northwest towards the head of
the Spanish column. | did not see the
Brooklyn again until my attention was
directed to her by the navigator call
ing to me: Look out. captain. for the
Texas. ! went on the port bridge
where the navigator was standing. and
I said, Where the devil is the Texas?
The navigator said. Here she is sir, in
the smoke l said to myself Captain
Philip will look after the Texas
walked over TO the port side of the
bridge and saw the Brooklyn's smoke.
stack and military masts She was ly.
ing directly across the bows OF tho
Texas The Texas was apparently
backing and dangerously close to th'
Iowa. The Brooklyn seemed to be l0l
yards directly in front Of the Texas
eased the helm Of the Iowa a little
ported her helm a little and just a
that moment the Oregon came through
my lee and passed between me and th
Texas. and the three boats wer
punched together.
AT that time the Brooklyn wa
shut out in the smoke. and ! saw NJ
more of her until the Colon has passe
well TO the westward Of me. when som
one on the bridge said: The Brooklyi
is knocked out went on the b.idg
TO see what had hapreaed. end she wa
then about a nile and o hslf forwar
of the port beam Of the Iowa with tn
Colon seven or eight miles ahead an
uA Ncl rldI notlu nuW. fuM ludN TIM
on the firing was light. and I could Sc
the Brooklyn occasionally. The Brook
Ign was on her starboard how on IA
port quarter of the Colon. Well aster
of her was the Oregon. with the Vixe
m shore Of the Brooklyn. The Iowa q
the time was directly In the wake {
the Colon with the Vixen a little O
her starboard bow"
At the morning session Capital
Theodore +. Jewell, who commando
the cruiser Minneapolis in the We
Indian campaign, and Command
James NJ. Miller. who was in commar
Of the collier Merrimack, which su
sequently was sunk by Hobson to bloi
the entrance TO Santiago harbor, ga
Testimony Commander Jewell iu a