The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-05
AMP son
BEFORI; COURT
CONTINUED From First Page.)


the department at Washington that the
Spanish fleet under Cervera, was prob
ably in the harbor at Santiago. He mad,
no wever, not been Informed Of any secret
code Of communication with the Cuban
insurgents near Cienfuegos.
Commander Rodgers thought the Iowa
could have coaled May$26
captain Rodgers related two or three
instances In which the ships of the fly
ing squadron were cleared for action
upon signal from the flagship Brooklyn
before May 81, when vessels were dis
cerned in the distance. In each case the
vessels proved to be American ships. Each
time the signals were to clear for action
and make speed of 12-knots an hour. He
also told of the bombardment or recon
nolssance of the Cristobal Colon.
Describing Commodore Schley's block
ade OF the harbor at Santiago, Captaia
RODGERS said that the fleet maintained
position. of seven or eight miles out with
the. Marblehead and Vixen inside the line.
The afternoon session of the Schiey
court OF inquiry began.with Captain Rohs-&
ers still on the stand. He stated in reply
to questions that he was the senior mem
Der of the Naval Board of Survey sp-
pointed by Admiral Sampson to examine
the wrecked Spanish vessels.
Ihe purpose of this line of eXanlina-
ton was to bring out the witness knowl-
edge concerning the effect Of the Brook
lyns Sunnery in the battle off Santiago
July 3.
Captain Rodgers stated that the Brooks
iyn was the only vessel that fired ave
men Shells and Mr. Rayner said that
careful computation. based upon the re-
port OF the Board of Survey, showed that
u tEes inch shells had been found on tie
four Spanish vessels
BROOKLYN'S FINE SHOWING.
MIR. Rayner presented q statement show
ing the number of shells found on the
vessels of the Spanish fleet, and the wit
ness was asked to state the percentage
of fve-inch shells, assuming the state
ment to be correct.
Captain Rodgers replied that the total
number of hits was thtry-five and that,
therefore, the 5-inch shell hits consti-
tuted "a per cent. of all the hits.
Mr.. Rayner said that the statement had
been prepared by Admiral Schley-
Mr.. Rayner read the Dear Schley" let
ter, including the following extract: IL
later it should develop that these vessels
are at Santiago. we could then assemble
off that port the ships best suited for the
purpose and completely blockade it. I'M
til we then receive more positive infor-
nation we shall continue to hold Havana.
and Santiago
Mr. Rayner remarked that he supposed
it would be conceded that the word San
tiago,' as given above, was a mistake,
and that it should be "Cienfuegos''
Captain Lemly replied that he would
make no such concession. and tilt fol-
lowed between counsel concerning the &C
ouracy of Government publications. Tt
closed with an understanding that the
| original document should be supplied to-
morrow.
SAW no DANGER OF COLLISION.
The Court asked a number of cues
lions of Commander Rodgers, among
others being one as to whether the
Brooklyn and the Texas had been in
danger of a collision on July 3d. The
| witness replied that if there had been
any such danger he had not seen the two
ships at the time. He had' seen the two
vessels early in the engagement. but
they were then about half a mile apart.
Later he was called below, and if there
| had been such danger it was at that time.
At the conclusion of Commander Rod
gers testimony the question as to
whether the word in the Dear Schley
letter should be Santiago or Cienfuescs
again came up on a statement by CAPTAIN
I4emly. who said he would continue to
! hold to the Santiago version. Then oc-
| CURED the. collouuy narrated above. Mr..
| Rayner saving he would summon Samp-
SON.
Iieutenant-C Commander Hobson. naviaa-
| tor of the BROOKLYN. then told the story
| of the battle of Santiago as seen from
| the bridge of that vessel He SAID:
GO FOR THEM
81 heard the executive officer. Lieuten-
! ant-Commander Mason. sing out. Clear
| ship for action and the crew immedi-
| ately dispersed to quarters, | having
| sounded the general alarm previously.
| The Commodore shortly appeared on the
| bridge We were at that time headed to
| the westward or northwest. | told him
| that there was nothing doing and he
| said. Go ahead l rang six bells, and
! asked if we had not better hold her mead
! steady to see what course the SpailaroS
| proposed to pursue. L do not remember
| his reply exactly to that, because imne-
! diatelv afterwards ! told him that they
| were evidently making for US, and he
| said. Go for thems' and I rang four bells
! and put helm aport.
| "Captain Cook appeared upon the
| bridge at this time, and | tod Elm ,hat
| everything was connected up at the con-
| ming tower and that we We're already
| going ahead and in fact VIC were gong
! ahead. The Commodore took his position
| on a platform he had built around the
| coming tower where he could DC in easy
/ communication with the commanding Of
| ficer inside, and remained on the
| bridge.
HEADED FOR SPANISH.
."rhe executive officer had given pre-
/ yiously the order to man the starboard
| batteries I sang out to him we We're
| going into action with ported helm, ana
| he shifted over. to the port battery. we
| were then heading for the enemy, ana as
soon as the guns were brought to bear
| Lieutenant Simpson fired little OH the
| port bow the first gun from the forward
| S-inch turret. from that time on we went
| considerably in toward them.
II then went down to where the ooii.-
| modore was standing to get INTO the con
! ming tower when l heard him sing OUT:
! Look out, Cook. they are going to ram
| YOU Captain Cook said he would iooh
after that, and starboarded the helm
| little tic. parallel. the course of the leaolns
/ vessel, the Maria Teresa, which had maze
! a broad sheer to port. He had marry
J made that sheer. however. to port oe-
| fore he fell off again for the reason APP
| parently, that a shot was tired from the
| Brooklynss S-inch gun. The Teresa soe
| abaft our port beam and the helm was
| ported on,the Brooklyn Immediately aIter
1 that. We were swinging with port neinl.
| ~ city