The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-02

Continued From First Page.)

said that he dld not nave great confluence
in that Individual. His instructions We're
to report to Commodore Schley that the
Spanish squadron probably was In San
tiago harbor. He fell in with the lying
squadron on the evening Of May &C. The
squadron then being % or % miles south
of Santiago He had reported to Com
modore Schley that he knew nothing
positively about the Spanish fleet
NOT EXPLICIT.
He was then asked if he had expressed
his belief TO Commodore Schley that Ger
veras fleet was not in the harbor, as re-
ported later by Commodore Schiey. The
witness replied:
..I stated that we had seen nothing of
the Spanish fleet. l may have stated
that l knew nothing positive or absolute
~ about its movements, but recited Ger
tain events to show that there was
probability of the fleet being IN Santiago
at that time
Mr.. Hanna: 1.-THE portion of the ques-
ton to which should like to have %ou
give an explicit answer is, whether YOU
assured Commodore Schley that you be-
lieved the Spanish fleet was not IN san
tiago.''
Il did not say that I believed that it
was not there I said / had not seen
it.
did you give him any. assurance which
would point in that direction
Il made known first my orders from
the Navy Department. which stated that
the Spanish fleet was reported to have
arrived there
DO AS YOU ARE DOING.
Mr. Hanna read a number OF letters,
among them being one from Captain
Sissbee to Commodore Schley, written
from Mole ST. Nicholas, May 29th, in
which he said to the Commodore, DO as
YOU are doing and you will do right
He told the Commodore that the depart
ment expected him to exercise great ef-
forts to keep in coal.
Mr.. Hanna: Il wish to ask your at
tention to the clause do as you are do
ing, and You will do right What was
the flying squadron doing at the time
YOU wrote that letter."
That was based on the tenor Of the
cipner kilograms i found at the Mole
from the Commander-in-Chief and from
the Navy Department urging that the
Spanish squadron be held and that every
effort be made to coal ship. l had twice
urged on Commodore schley the inn
portance of taking advantage of that
particular kind of weather, stating that
1T was better than anything we had dur
ing my stay off the port
MIR. Rayner then questioned the wit
ness. bringing out the statement that the
purpose of his ship being sent to the vi
clnlty OF Santiago was to. if possible.
locate the Spanish fleet He said that
he had first seen the Spanish vessels in
the h1rbor at Santiago, but that when he
reported the fact he found the squadron
mad already made the discovery
SAMPSON KEPT OUT OF. IT.
Mr. Rayner attempted to quote a state
ment from Admiral Sampson to the cf-
feet that Captain Sigsbee had said on
May 18TH the flying squadron was
plockading Santiago twenty-five miles out
, at sea, but objection was made to bring.
ing Admiral Sampson in and Mr.. Raw
ner asked Captain Sissbee whether he
mad made that report to anyone at that
cate The witness replied in the mega
tive.
In reply to a question as to the condi-
ton of the weather at the time he was at
Santiago. Captain Sigsbee said: ..During
the oath. 18th and 18th of May the wealth
er was unsettled. The trade conditions
had been hindered There was more or
less rain and moderately heavy sea en-
those three days.
The court asked a number of questions
Of Captain Sissbee. These with the re-
plies We're as follows:
What was the state of the sea on the
afternoon and evening of May ajth, when
YOU communicated with the flying squad.
ron 10 the SOuthWaruz O1@th port OF San
tiago?"
DIFFICULT TO COAL.
THE sea was heavy for boats. but it
was moderating; that is to say, more
moderate than t had been on two days
before. T should say, however. it would
have been a very difficult job to have
coaled from ships alongside that night
BY the. Court: Did you make any ef-
fort to ascertain If the Spanish squadron
was at Santiago prior to May 2sth ~
Only by extreme watchfulness. That
Is all.
What information had you commun-
Gated to Commodore Schley5 on May Goth
regarding the wherea bouts of the Span
ish squadron ~
The departments order to me order
ed me to state that the Spanish squad
ron was there, or had been reported
there, and again the circumstantial evil
.dencc afforded by the capture of The
Rcstornal after hersvery peculiar cruise
PRESUMES so.
Did you show this dispatch to Com
modore Schley on May 18th r
cannot recollec the act OF showing
It TO him. presume die, but that
Informed him, sremem Der. :
Chief Yoeman Becker q Identified the
memorandum from Captain McCalla, say-
ing there wns "a good landing place near
sCienfuesds which Admiral Sampson