The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-26
PUSHING SCHLEY.
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he said. heard afterward that the re-
versal was because they were passing
the Brooklyn Lieut.. Spencer S. Wood,
who commanded the dispatch boat Du-
pont during the Spanish war, was the
next witness
Lieut.. Wood related the particulars
of his mission as a dispatch carrier
from Admiral Sampson lying at Key
West to Admiral Schley who was off
Clenfuegos. He had left Key West on
May 20, carrying dispatches of which
the Iowa carried duplicates. and had
reached CienfuegOs several hours in
advance of the Iowa
On my arrival the witness said, II
went aboard and personally delivered
the dispatch which I carried from Ad-
niral Sampson to Commodore SchIey IN
his cabin at 3 O'Clock. He asked me Adj
nliral SIMPSONS idea about where the
Spanish squadron was I told him I
did not know he asked me of Admiral
SIMPSONS intention / told him did
not know them. lie told me he thought
the Spanish squadron We're there. He
had heard firing and was almost con-
WINGED that they were there. The con-
versation was on the line to endeavor
to find out from me what Admiral
SIMPSONS plans were. could give him
no information
How long were you on board the
hagship?"
Until just before luncheon
Have you anything further to state
with respect to this interview that
would bear upon the subject of this in
quiry?'
The commodore hesitated some about
giving me coal. He did not think he
could spare coal at first said it was
absolutely necessary; that we were al
most out OF coal. having made the run
from Key West. He said: Very web,
go below and I will think it over
I went below to the ward room and
was afterward called up and informed
that they would give me coal had
never before met the admiral He inn
pressed me as being very nervous. He
would get up and walk around and
come back and sit down, and a number
Of questions he asked me about Admir-
al SIMPSONS intention 1 was unable to
answer
IF I understand you clearly you had
no knowledge Of the contents of the
dispatches which you delivered2' %
Admiral Sampson did not tell me
what was in them. He simply told me
these We're duplicate dispatches he was
sending by the Iowa. These duplicates.
he said, he gave to me because he
thought the Dupont could make better
speed. I left after the Iowa passed her
off Cape San Antonio and arrived in
Cienfuegos some three or four hours
before she did. left Key West at 11:30
a. m.
During the interview you made
some statements with respect to the
admirals manner. Had he read the
dispatches. Did he read them in your
presence2"
ooh, yes"
Did he advise you of their contents
then2"
He did not tell me positively what
they were I gathered while I was
aboard the flagship what they contain
ed, but whether that was while I was
in the cabin or later in the ward room
/ do not know. never saw their con-
tents, and Admiral Sampson never told
me what they were"
7 wish to ascertain exactly the par
ticulars of this interview
tAll the dispatches seemed to be of
an important nature, judging from the
admiraIs manner on receiving them.
AS l stated he was very nervous
Asked by Mr.. Rayner if Admiral
Sampson or any one else had informed
him before he left Key West for Glen
fuegos that a code of signals had been
agreed upon between the Americans
and the Cuban insurgents. Lieut. Wood
replied in the negative. He had not. he
said, received such information official
" but he added that it was current talk
at Key West that the Marblehead on
previous trip had established commun-
ieation with the Cubans. If however,
code had been arranged he did not
know of the fact. Before Lieut.. Wood
had concluded his testimony the court
at 12.45 adjourned for the day to per-
nit attendance at Judge Wilson's fun