The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-11

making the chart showing the position
OF the American and Spanish ships at
Santiago.
The witness told how conclusions
were reached by h a board He said:
There was a great deal OF discussion
as to the relative positions. OF course
IL was impossible to get any position
by bearings and there was nothing
known about the relative positions.
We also knew that d distances on the
chart were somewhat incorrect, and the
final decision OF the board was to re-
concile each one as near as possible.
but none OF the positions was consider
ed exact"
Asked by Mr.. Rayner about the
places assigned TO the Brooklyn and
the Texas while the former vessel was
making her loop Commander Vain
wright said he did not consider them
correct. For myself.' he said. Il was
never satisfied with the places as
signed"
On redirect examination Comman-
der Wainwright aid that the chart
was a compromise OF opinions.
In response TO further questions the
witness said he did not see the Brook
tago.
QUESTIONS BY THE COURT.
Questions were put by the court and
answered as follows:
Were the positions Of the ships as
shown on the chart in question obtain
ed from testimony by the board or from
n general discussion by the members
OF the board?"
Almost entirely b. general discus
sion by the members of the board.
Captain Chadwick and Captain o
appeared and discussed the matter with
the board"
From the position Of the Gloucester
at the commencement OF the battle OF
July 3rd could you see both the Brook
Ign and the Texas?"
Il do not remember seeing the Brook
lyn and Texas at the commencement
Of the battle"
What orders if any were signalled
by the Brooklyn to the fleet during the
engagement of July 3rd?"
Il saw none"
Mr.. Rayner-"This does not mean
that no signals We're displayed does it?'
mo, it does not"
By the court-"Did anyone of the
Spanish vessels change her course 10
the starboard as if intending TO ran
n of the fleet?"
Il saw nc signs of it"
LIEUTENANT BRISTOL TESTIFIES.
! Lieutenant Bristol, speaking Of the
blockade of Cienfuegos said that during
the day the ships lay from five TO ten
miles from the shore, steaming in near
er at night; then going farther out
and returning nearer at daybreak. He
had . he said, observed the signal lights
on the shore near Cienfuegos, but had
not understood their significance.
The witness also described the bloc,
ade of Santiago, saying that it was
maintained by steaming back and forth
in front of the mouth of the harbor al
as slow rate Of speed as the ships could
travel, Cat 500 yards of double distance
apart. The line was about one and
a half miles long. The vessels gener.
ally steamed from three and one-half tC
five miles to either side of the harbor
going and coming practically over the
same line. The Marblehead and Nixen
were or the inside, but could only be
seen at certain times even when the
weather conditions were favorable
Frequently. in fact, only the vessel
next ahead could be seen.
Mr.. Hanna here asked the witness:
IF the vessels of the Spanish squadron
had suddenly appeared, what orders
had you to meet such a contingency
n orders were turned over TO me in
regard to a contingency of that kind
replied the witness.
Lieutenant Bristol stated that the
fleet lay outside of the Moro from six
to eight miles during the day. He spoke
of the Spanish shore batteries, saying;
Il personally examined them the day
we arrived there and satisfied myself
that the batteries amounted to moth
ing"
Lieutenant Bristol said that on the
morning Of July 3fd he had fixed the
position of the Texas and also general.
ly of the other ships of the fleet and
had prepared a chart showing these
positions. He considered the initial pc.
sitions assigned to the Texas. the
Brooklyn and the Iowa as accurate.
The witness described the engage
ment of July 3rd, saying that the Span
ish fleet had come out only sufficiently
far enough to clear the shoal neal the
mouth of the harbor before turning &c
the westward. He did not think this
was to exceed 1,500 yards out from CaJ
Smith which is inside of the harbor.
Lieutenant Bristol IA he did 80
see the loop made by the Brooklyn.
Lieutenant Bristol then detailed the
part the Texas played in the battle
giving the details of the chase up the
Cuban coast. AS to the relative posi-.
ton of the ships at the close of the
chase, he said: The Brooklyn and
Oregon were considerably closer 10 us
han the Colon. The Oregon was closer
han the Brooklyn, SO that the Brook
lyn was leading as regards the distance
from us that she was out on our bow
In response tos questions from Mr.
Rayner Lieutenant Bristol said that
AN AA~N iAoo 49, NA~A NON &NA
interest in the battle and that he haC
prepared it a few days after the bat
tie. He had started the work the day
after the engagement and had depend
ed partly upon memory for its prepare
ton.
Mr.. Rayner asked the witness if hi:
chart was not wrong except in the frs
positions assigned.
The witness-'"To the best Of my
knowledge and belief it is right"
Mr.. Rayner called attention TO th'
fact that the witness had said hat a
the beginning of the battle the Brook
Ign was heading north and east. while
Lieutenant Commander Hodgson wht
had been aboard the Brooklyn had sal.
the vessel was heading north and west
(Which is right? " he asked.
"I believe I am right" the witnes.
replied
At Mr.. Rayner's request the witness
made measurements showing that, &C
cording to his chart, at the beginnin,
of the fight off Santiago the neares
| CnaniSh shin tn the Rr0nk1yr Was 2 IN