Evening star., 1901-10-02

who commanded the Vixen during the
Spanish war, was called to the stand. He
said the Vixen was a converted yacht of
eight hundred tons displacement, able to
make twelve to thirteen and one-half knots
when in ordinary condition. The Vixen fell
in with Schley's squadron at Cienfuegos on
the morning of May "a, 1898.
Mr.. Hanna asked the witness in regard to
the condition of the weather on that morn
ing and he replied that he could not re-
member. He was then shown the log book
of the Vixen and read from that record
statements in regard to the weather con-
dition-
Q. tBy Mr.. Hanna): State whether any
thing occurred in connection with the Vixen
to delay the squadron going from Glen
fuegos to Santiago. A On the 2oth the
weather was squally, but there was moth
ing in the weather to cause US to slow
Down.
Q. Under the conditions existing what
speed could the Vixen make at that time?
A. I should say we MADE from eight to
nine knots usually.
Q. What was the condition of the Vixen S
coal supply at that time? A. We were not
in urgent need of coal We had coaled just
before leaving Key West-full up.
Q. How much coal did you have on the
Goth of May?
The witness examined the log book and
said there were several figures noted there,
but he did not know what they referred to.
Q. On the Goth of May were you in urgent
need of coal? A. To the best of my belief
We were not in urgent need of COAL
Q. Had you been could you have coaled
ship on the Goth of May? A. 1 should have
tried, and | think would have succeeded.
1t would have been an uncomfortable JOB
because the Vixen was a very small ship.
Asked f'he had heard at the time of the
retrograde movement the reason for it he
replied: Never
Q. Did you ever have any conference
with the commander-in-chief? A. ] was on
hoo Il 4 l.,t =
that matter.
Q. Did you discuss the question of coal
supply? A Not that l remember.
O. At what time did you arrive with your
vessel off Santiago? A. May %.
q. Before arriving there had you coaled
the Vixen from collier? A No, sir
O. After the 2jth, when did you coal? A.
l made an attempt to coal, using boats
from the collier Merrimac on the morning
of the 2sth, | think. We could get but a
small amount of coal that way, and after
ward l went alongside and remained three
hours taking coal
O. Why did you not go alongside at first ?
A | do not know what reason there was.
The Marblehead was trying to coal with
boats. McCalla suggested we might try it
with boats. but it was wearing out the men
and we could get very little coal.
q! How much coal did you have? A. I
do not think we filed the bunkers COM
pletely. l know we got all we could get in
three hours and ten minutes.
Q. How much? A. Roughly, I think,
fifty tons
O. What was the coal capacity of the
Vixen? A. In the vicinity of 10 tons.
Q. How long could you have remained on
the blockade with fifty tons? A. We al
ways kept steam in both boilers-I should
say four and half or five days.
Picket Duty OF Santiago.
Q. By Mr.. Hanna: Did you go picket
duty that night (referring to the night of
the 2sth. when the flying squadron arrived
at Santiago)? A. 1 think not. 1t was the
next night. If 1 am not mistaken, l re-
ceived instructions from Commander Nc
Gala. 1 was on the eastern end of the
squadron.
Q. How far were you from shore? A. 1t
would only be eStinate-I should say
two and a half to three miles,
q. How far from the mouth of the har-
Dor? A Also an estimate-I should say
three or three and one-half miles,
Q. Was the picket duty performed only
at night? A. 1 was generally with the
squadron in the daytime.
Q. During the night could you see YES
sells of the fleet? A. 1 do not believe
could all the time.
Q. Could you all the time see the shore?
A. could see where the shore was
.. Could you have seen vessels passing
out of the harbor? A. If they had shown
no lights and made noise do not think
I could.
The Engagement of May 81.
Q. What re your orders respecting the
bombardmei.t? Did you have any? A.
Yes; had verbal instructions. Just before
the commodore left the Vixen to go on
beard the Massachusetts l remember ask
ing leutenant Sears what should do with
the Vixen, and l understood him to say the
commodore had ordered me to keep my
craft out of fire, she was vulnerable and
that l should pass outside the range; that
1 should not run any risk with her If
am not mistaken Commodore Schley him
self said something of that kind.
Q. What did the Vixen do? A. We tailed
in back of the Iowa.
Q. Did you see the effect of any shots?
A. You cannot see unless you are right UP
to the opening of the harbor
O. Was your vessel exposed to any seri-
Gus danger in the engagement? A. Three
shots fell close to us, one striking 100 yards
ahead, one went over and one IS yards on