The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-17
Told Them Several Times During the
Course of the Santiago Battle to
'Give EN- He'll, BuIIies."
TESTIMONY OF HIS OFFICERS
COOK, SEARS. MASON, M'CAULEY AND
WEBSTER ON THE STAND.
Signals from the Cruiser Brooklyn
During the Memorable ngage
ment-SchIey's Bearing.

Oct. 16.-The onlcerS OF
Admiral Schley's flagship, the Brooklyn.
occupied the attention of the Schley court
of inquiry to-day. The proceedings began
with the recall of Captain Cook and Lieu
tenant Commander Sears, both of whom
made material additions to their former
testimony, and they were followed in sue
cession by Commander Newton Z. Mason,
who was the executive officer of the Brook
lyn, Lieut.. Edward McCauley, jr, who was
signal officer, and Lieut.. Charles Webster,
who had charge of the forward gun-deck
battery of the Brooklyn during the battle
off Santiago and was a watch officer on
board that ship.
Captain Cooks new testimony related TO
the ~uncOupling of the B~rooklyn's engines
and TO the voyage of the flying squadron
from Cienfuegos to Santiago, explaining in
some detail the cause of the slow progress
made on that occasion. Commander Sears
spoke again of the conversation reported
as having taken place between himself and
officers Of the Massachusetts, in the ward
room of that vessel on May 81, in which
he was alleged to have said that it had
been difficult to get Commodore Schley up to
the point of undertaking the bombardment
- OO@Ot GA0 Az 0ooAA
had said anything rejecting on his SUI
perior officer.
Commander Mason and Lieutenants Nc
Cauley and Webster all gave accounts of
the engagement of July 8. Mr.. McCauley
recited in detail the signals made in con-
nection with that historical event at the
instance of Commodore Schley. When
asked if Schley had said any
thing during the battle for the encourage
ment of the men this witness replied that
ne several times had said: GIVE 'em hell,
b%ullies!' All these witnesses testified that
the conduct of the commodore when under
fire was cool and courageous.
COOK AND EAR RE-EXAMINED.
When the court opened this morning Cap
tain Cook took the stand to correct his
previous testimony. He was followed by
Commander Sears for the same purpose.
The court questioned Commander Sears on
various points covered by his testimony of
yesterday. He said in reply to these ques-
tions that on the morning of July 3 the
Brooklyn had begun turning to s%tarboard
Immediately after the engines were s~tarteu:
that the helm of the Brooklyn had been
put aport, when the helm of the Viscaya
had been put aport. 1T was" he said, "a
practically simultaneous movement" He
also said thai when he had said to Commo-
dore Schley during the battle that he
thought the Brooklyn was about its tao
teal diameter from the NiScaya, he aid not
mean that the distance was less than had
been reported by YeOman Ellis. The tactl-
cal diameter of the Brooklyn had not then
been determined, ard he supposed IL to be
about $50 yards. The Viscaya had been
passed long after the Brooklyn's turn and
they ran along together for some time.
After the driver had passed the Viscaya
he had outfooted the Brooklyn, and IT was
then that she was 1900 yards from the
Brooklyn, as indicated by the stadimeter,
which the witness said he did not consider
an accurate Instrument. After that time
lost her speed and the Brooklyn gained
upon her.
Asked how much time had been consumed
in the Brooklyn's turn Commander Sears
said he had never been able TO reach a
satisfactory conclusion on that point. The
time had seemed very short to him; it
might have been fifteen or twenty minutes.
On the morning of July 3, but previous TO
the battle, he had, he said, noticed that
all the ships were near the positions as
ship was outside her assigned place and
was at the time headed to the eastward
about as much as the Brooklyn was to the
northward. The official chart putting the
Texas we'll inside the Brooklyn and the
Iowa. he said, was contrary TO his observa-
tons.
The last of the courts questions was con-
corning the relative positions of the Brook
Ign and the Oregon during chase of the
Spanish ships up the Cuban coast. The
Oregon was ahead. he said, so near the Wis
caya as Was the Brooklyn, but might have
been nearer the Oquendo. 1--WE were al
ways nearer the Colon during the chase"
he said. nearer during the chase and at
the surrender" Lieutenant Commander
Sears was then excused.
MASON'S TESTIMONY.
Commander Mason was next called as
the first new witness of the day. Detailing
the siege of Cienfuegos. he said that on the
first day of their arrived the vessels were
kept in column and about SHUTDOWN steamed
in slowly to within 1900 or 5000 yards of the
entrance and then sheared out. After that
the blockade was between three and seven
miles. He said the squadron was kept
steaming slowly at all times, but that it
occasionally drifted in at night. The tor
pedo boat Dupont arrived the morning Of
the first day and that night performed
picket duty inside the squadron. The Cas-
tine was on picket duty the next night.
Referring to the blockade of Santiago, the
witness stated that the vessels were in col
umn, steaming slowly, perpendicular to the
north and south line of the harbor at a dis
lance of from four TO six miles.
THE custom was" he said, Ito steam n
certain distance to the eastward, turning
in toward the shore or out, and then TO
the westward, the total run being about
two hours. AS the Brooklyn could not
steam slower IMAM three k0OlS, i SnOulQ
say that the length of the line would be
from six to six and a half miles, that is,
three miles each side of the entrance
Rayner asked the witness how many
times he had seen Commodore Schley I'M
der fire, to which he replied: During all
the engagements
What was his general conduct. manner
and bearing on these occasions Mr.. Ray
ner asked.
Excellent in every particular. He was
calm. collected and brave" Asked 10 give
a brief account of the battle Of July 3.
liminaries, said: "When l saw the leading
ship of the enemy coming out / gave the
order, Clear ship for action What was
done to the engines l do not know. al
though my impression Is they were started
at once. As soon as l reported the battery
10 Captain Cook i'm the coming tower /
asked him if we should firing.
He replied: Fire as soon as you are ready
/ Immediately gave the order 10 Lieutenant
Simpson, the senior officer of the forward
him a range of $500 yards. I think the
first gun was fired within five minutes or
very close 10 five minute after the first
alarm The rest of the battery took 10
the fire at once and continued TO fire on
the port bow until the range commenced
TO get down 10 $500 and 1000 yards. I
asked Captain Cook as TO which way he
was going round. IL being necessary for
me TO know on account Of changing the
battery below, shifting from one side to
witt port helm. l gave the necessary
orders on deck and went below.
WHEN iii TURN WAS MADE.
LAS 1 arrived in the after cabin the after
eight-inch gun was fired for the last time
on the port side and the starboard gun
took up the fire Immediately. The star