Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-01
FIGHTING BoB EVANS
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point near CienfuegOs where Nesseis
could have found protection from the
sea on May ZAP"
The witness replied: Il don't think
so, unless we had gone up to the Isle
of Pines or very far to the eastward.
The court also asked: Gould you
have coaled any of the vessels on May
IS had you been ordered to do So?
Il should judge So to the best of my
knowledge and belief. but then should
not have Coaled comfortably. For the
other ships. it was what we call mas
ty sea and squally, rainy weather. III
I had had my choice l would not nave
coaled on that day.
Capt. Miller was succeeded on the
witness stand by Capt. Theodore r.
Jewell. who commanded the cruiser
Minneapolis during the Spanish war
Can't. Jewell said he had also fallen in
with the flying squadron under com
mand of Commodore Schley on the
evening of May %.
Capt. I.emly quoted from Admiral
Schley's letter to the Senate committee
on naval affairs. dated Feb Is. 1899.
saving: After having been informed
by the scouts commanded by such Of
ticers as Sigsbee. Jewell and Wise. that
although they had been off Santiagn
Tor Il week they had seen nothing Of
Ccrvcra's fleet since it left Curacao.
and asked whether he had given to Adj
miral Schley this information or any
other information concerning the Span
ish fleet. The witness replied:
Il gave him no information with
reference to that subject whatever"
,n
time you were in signalling distance OF
the flagship of the squadron off San
tiaEo. were you at any time asked any
question by Commander Schley as to
the presence of the Spanish squadron
at Santiago?"
Not to my recollection.
Did you recollect whether you went
on board the flagship Brooklyn at this
time?"
Il did not go on board that day"
Capt. Jewell said that when he had
first seen Admiral Schley's statement
as to the information he might have
given concerning Cervera's fleet. he
had written letter to the department
denying that he had done so.
Objection was made to this line of
testimony and it was not persisted in.
The witness said in reply to question
from Mr.. Rayner that he had no knowl-
edge that Capt. Sigsbee speaking for
himself and for Captains Jewell and
Wise. had stated to Commodore Schley
on the 18th at Santiago that neither
he (witness) nor Wise, nor himself
(Sigsbee) had seen anything or knew
anything of the movements or where
abouts of the Spanish fleet. Nor did he
know whether Capt. Sigsbee wrote a
letter to Commodore Schley stating
that that was a fact.
The court here asked a question
which opened up the coaling question.
1t was as follows:
How far could the Minneapolis have
gone with her 400 tons of coal at the
time you state?"
could have made something like 1900
or 1900 miles. That would have left the
bunker empty. l was burning about IS
tons a day and on that making IA or
Is knots
Drawing from Capt. Jewell the fact
the distance from Santiago to Key
West is so miles, Mr.. Rayner asked:
In view of what you said just nov
will you explain the signals l read:
$50 p. NJ, May 26. flagship to the Min
neapolis. have you enough coal to go
to Key West?' Minneapolis to flagship.
Just enough How do you eX-
plain that
II am giving my recollection at the
time. As | said my coal supply was
reduced and | was concerned. A great
many signals We're being made and
replied to the signal without consult
ing the coal account particularly. and
| considered that three days steaming
was about the limit | could safely go.
There is an error here of about $40 to
GEO miles Eight hundred and 1866 or Ii1t
are very different.
II estimated the distance | could steam
] did not usually provide for burning cv
cry ounce of coal in the bunkers and fur
thcrmorc we have got to allow for con-
tinGencies. | was hauling the fires from
the boilers very often on account of the
leaks, starting fresh fires in other boilers
My coal expenditure was variable.
could not depend upon it,
Then at this time you had Just enough
according to these signals to go to Kcy
Vest"
Il arrived at Key West with less than
100 tons Of coal on board.
Capt. Jewell was then excused anC
Capt. McCalla was recalled for the pur-
pose of correcting his testimony While
he was on the stand the court asked hin
two questions, which together with tho
replies were as follows:
by the court: Was there any place ir
the vicinity of Cape Cruz where large yes
sells could have found protection from
westerly or sOutherly Winds"
Answer: There was no place wher.
the large ships could take protection from
westerly and southwesterly winds. Tn,
prevailing winds were from the east all,
southwesterly wind Is of short duratio:
In that vicinity and means change of d..
rectlon to the north very quickly
by the court: Had the fleet of Gerry.
ra been in the harbor of Cienfuegos, coui
1t have been seen by the vessels blockaf
ing that porto
should say not. The upper part o.
the masts might have been seen if The,
mad been in the stretch of the river whe-
II turns to the east, but l should not ex
pect to have found them there. If the,
were behind the hill they could not b.
seen in my opinion
SaP'. McCalla was then excused finall