Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-10-18
CAPTAIN COOK OF THE BROOKLYN
TELLS STORY OF THE BATTLE

Washington. Oct. 15.-Yestertiay. in
the Schley court of inquiry. Judge Ad-
vocate Lemly concluded presentation
OF testimony for the government and
the first OF Admiral Schley's witnesses
was introduced. Captain Francis A.
Cook, who commanded Schlcy's flag
ship. the Brooklyn. during the Santi-
ago campaign, and who acted. though
unofiicinlly. In the capacity OF chief OF
stan Tor the commodore. was on the
witness stand the greater part OF the
day.
lie was followed by Lieutenant
Commander William J.. lIullnm. who
was senior watch officer oil the New
Orleans during the Spanish wnr. and
Former Lieutenant Joseph Bcalc. who,
ns mn officer ON the Harvard. trans.
lated the cipher dispatches between
Commodore Schlcy and the Navy de-
partmcnt carried by that vessel.
Among those dispatches was that sent
by Commodore Schicy. May 18th. cx-
pressing regret nj not having been able
so obey the orders OF the department
and explaining the reason why he
could not do 50. There ARE some YER
bal discrepancies between the original
draft OF this dispatch and the Official
print OF II. and these Mr.. Bcnlc cS-
plnincd.
Lieutenant Bcaic was the last of the
government witnesses. although Cap
tain I.cmly explained that lie would rc-
serve the right to call others II occas'
lon should demand, lie had no sooncr
retired than the iirst witness for Ad-
mirai Schicy was called. This proved
so be the Cuban pilot Eduardo Nuncx.
who told Sciiicy May ~. isss. that he
did no; believe the Spanish fleet under
| Ccrycra was In the hnrbor Mt Santiago.
Captain Cooks Testimony was ne
view OF the entire campaign after Ger
vcrn's fleet. beginning with the depart
urc Of tho flying squadron from Key
West May 18th aud concluding with
the hattie ofr Santiago July III. He
said that ut iirst Il had been believed
by both Sampson nni Schlcy thnt the
Spanish fleet was In the harbor Of Glen
| fucros and that no Information To the
contrary had been conveyed to Commo-
dorc Schicy until the arrival Of Captain
McCaiia May 2tth: that u WIS Conino-
dorc Sehley's expectations To meet the
Spaninfis In the Open sca. and his con.
stnnt care was To have coal enough for
such mn emergency. lie gave rariicu'
lars concerning the rcirosrudc move
| mcni. nnd explained tho Hrookiyn'r
I
count OF the engagement Of July Ri.
Asked for nm opinion as To Admiral
] Schicy's hearing ns n commnndin. OIL
Ger. he said:
Il niwny. regarded him as nm cn.
Enthusiastically brave and patriotic OIL
ccr.''
| Rcpiyinr to questions concerning the
blockade Of Santiago. Captain Cook
said Cnmosiorr Schlcy's constant Idea
was that the vessels should bc kept
we'll supplied with coal and Kept NOV
ing constantly. ms his theory was that
the Spanish fleet would come out OF the
harbor.
"why was the circular blockade no,
ndop,cdf' Mr.. Hanna asked.
There are many forms Of blockade.
and I have nothing but praise for the
circular blockade" replied the witness.
"but the idea was to get the Spaninrds
10 come out and to have Our ships NOV
Ing and ready for action"
what were your orders OF battle
from May 10Th to June 1stf"
1--WE did not have any. The fleet was
always In condition for action"
DO YOU call that battle or'lcrf'
at Is possible to have nm order for
battle II you know just what condition
you are going To- meet. The idea with
us was TO he able to fight the Spanish
fleet whenever we should meet II. ]
think that was understood by all. l 80
understood IT,"
"tf the fleet had come out Of the hnr.
Dor previous to June 1st, what would
you have done
ave would have obcyci the orders Of
the commanding officer"
Were the fighting ships always In
order for battlcT'
81 always supposed they were: the
Brooklyn was always In excellent or
der"
Were you on deck when the fleet
came on, OF Santiago hnrbor July 3rd!
/ When were they first sighicdT'
The reply was In the negative. Cap
tain Cook said he had ut that time
been In the cabin. The next question
| was.
How did you first learn the fleet was
coming outr'
The reply to this brought Captain
, Cooks story OF the engagement as fol-
| lows:
II heard the executive officer call out
| Clear ship for actionf and as I had
given directions to have the ship ready
for inspection. knew at once some
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