The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-10-17
ADMIRAL'S CASE MORE ENTER
TANNING.
SIMPSONS PART IN INQUIRY
Proposed Formulation of Questions to
the Court Not Deemed Necessary
Desired Points Otherwise
Covered.
(By Associated Press.)

Washington, Oct. 1.-THE first new
witness called before the Soihley court OF
inquiry today was Lieutenant Com
mander T. B. Griffin, who, as lieutenant
was senior watch officer on the Brook
lyn during the war with Spain. After
him came a number of junior officers
who served on the Brooklyn during that
campaign.
AS usual, before any of the new wit
nesses were summoned number of
former witnesses We're called for the
purpose of correcting their former testi-
mOny.
. SIMPSONS Connection.
1t had been the intention of Admiral
Schley's counsel to PROFOUND yesterday
a number Of questions to the cour,
which it was proposed to put to the wit
nesses for the purpose of determining to
what extent Admiral Sampson's connec-
tion with the present inquiry gould be
gone into, and it was not decided until
the beginning Of the afternoon session
to withhold the questions. This decision
was then reached largely because the In
formation intended to be elected by the
questions could be secured in a more
direct and certain way by Lieutenant
McCauley's testimony regarding the
slSIdlS OIL July ..
The questions which had been formu-
lated for presentation previous to Nc
Cauley's taking the stand related prin-
c1pally to the movements of Admiral
SIMPSONS flagship, the New York, on
July 8, the day Of the battle off Santiago,
and especially to the signals of that dsy
directing the fleet to disregard the flag
ships movements.
1t is still the intention to present other
questions involving Admiral Simpsons
lelatlon to the inquiry before the close
or the case. 1t seems probable that their
presentation will be deferred until a time
shortly before the beginning Of Admira.
Schley's testimony.
Correct Their Testimony.
The first of yesterdays witnesses
called for the correction of testimon,
was Commodore Mason, and after him
came IN succession Lieutenant Com
mander Sears, Lieutenant McCauley an.,
Lieutenant Webster. RI
Quite number of additional questions
We're addressed to Lieutenant Webster
by Mr.. Hanna. Replying, the witness
said that he had seen signal lights at
night on the shore while lying off San
tiago. In connection with the question
of the distance off shore at Santiago.
Mr.. Hanna asked:
The Hills of Santiago,
while the vessels We're on blockade
at Santiago from May 29th to the 31st
inclusive, We're you able during the night
to distinguish points on shore readily
while you were on watch?"
The witness replied in the negative,
Gould you make out Aguideres and
Cabanas?"
Il was not familiar with the coast at
that time, and would not have known
those points under any circumstances.
but it was so dark that 1 think I could
not have seen them.''
After the Surrender.
What was the back ground?"
"The high hills back of Santiago did
give us good points later when we were
quite readily"
night?'
"Not the line of breakers, if there were
any"
Gould you see the vessels on the inner
picket" line at night?"
mot unless with searchlight"
Mr.. Raynor asked Lieutenant Webster
Texas on the morning of July g. at the
beginning of the battle. Witness said
they bore abaft the starboard beam of
the Brooklyn. the Texas being to the
right of the Iowa. The Brooklyn was
headed, he said, north or north north
west.
Commander Griffin Called.
In reply to another question by Mr..
r.
render of the Colon, July 3, he had gone
to the forecastle to look for other ships.
He had only seen the Oregon and Texas.
The smoke Of other vessels was visible,
but not the vessels themselves.
When Lieutenant Webster was ex-
cused Lieutenant Commander Griffin was
called. He gave details of the Cienfuegos
campaign, saying that the distance of
the blockading line there varied from
three to seven miles. being farther out
at night. Speaking of the voyage from
Cienfuegos to Santiago, witness said the
weather was heavy" and there was a
"short, choppy sea- which impeded the
fleet by delaying the smaller vessels, es-
pecially the Eagle.
between Commodore Schley
and the commander of the Eagle, the
witness said:
Il was present when the conversation
took place, although I cannot give the
exact words. The commodore hailed the
officer Of the Eagle and told
him in substance that he could not delay
the squadron any longer on his account,
and that he wanted him to proceed to
Jamaica for coal. The commanding ofn-
Ger of the Eagle seemed very desirous of
remaining with the squadron. and ex-
pressed sincere regrets at being obliged
to part company with the flying
squadron"
"short Choppy Sea-"
What kind of weather was the Eagle
making on May 26?"
"As I expressed 1t, heavy weather.
short, choppy sea. and the Eagle and
Vixen were both pitching considerably"