The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-18

Ensign Jno. Haligan, Jr. was the first
witness of the afternoon session of the
court. He said that on approaching
Cienfuegos May q he had heard firing
of guns Referring to the blockade of
Cienfuegos he recalled that on the 22nd
the Brooklyn steamed past the entrance
to the harbor and that the ship had gone
20 within about mile of the harbor. He
also recalled that the Adula had report
cd that the Spaniards had left, Santiago
Coming to the blockade of Santiago he
said he knew that the Marblehead and
the Vixen had been inside the blockadn
line there.
SCIILEY KINDLED ENTHUSIASM
Asked as to Commodore Schley's bear
ing in the battle of Santiago the witness
said it was "such as to inspire enthu
siagm."
do you know what vessels were in
sight at the beginning of the battle?"
asked Mr.. Rayner
JUDGE ADVOCATE OBJECTS.
Hold on there" exclaimed Capt. Lem
ly, before the witness could reply. Il
object" Captain Lemly stated that the
precept did not call for the position OF
ships except to show whether they en-
dangered the Brooklyn. Replying Mr..
Rayner said that the question was SINH
lar to other questions which had been
admitted.
Il believe that it is an invasion of the
decision of the court already rendered
with regard to going into this matter of
the positions of vessels said Captain
Lemly.
Mr.. Rayner 81 will not press this
question now. but there is stage of the
case where l will have to bring it up
will withdraw it now"
Judge Advocate: 1--WE will have to en-
ter this ON the record as another recon-
noissance."
Mr.. Rayner: at has been a very sue
cessful reconnaissance in developing
you
Mr. Rayner requested permission to
withdraw for five minutes for a consul
taticn with Admiral Schley, which the
court granted. Mr.. RayEer after his
conference with Admiral Schley an
nounced that they would withdraw the
question for the time being.
In reply to questions by the court Mr..
Haligan said that when the Viscaya
turned toward the Brooklyn, THE Span
ism ship bore on our starboard beam, a
little forward and was headed toward
us distinct from 1000 to 5000 yards.
HIS AIM A Reconnaissance.
When Mr. Haligan retired he was sue
ceeded by Ensign Macy.
Mr. Rayner asked the witness if he
had had any conversation with Commo-
dcre Schley during the night before the
engagement of May 81. He replied that he
had had such a conversation.
Il was on the signal bridge OF the
Brooklyn, after dinner he said when
the Commodore came up on the bridge and
| during the course of the conversation
stated to me. Tomorrow we are going in
with the ships not coaling to lombard
at long range to develop the exact loca-
! ton of batteries and to form an estimate
of their strength. He said he was MOI
| going in for regular bombardment as
he had instructions from the department
not to hazard the ships against the bat
| teries and that if he should disable one
of hisIships during this bombardment his
| force would then be rendered inferior tC
the Spanish forces inside the harbor
that he was going in merely for a recon
noissance and not to destroy the batteries
or the Colon"
On cross examination Mr. Macy said
that he did not know from whom the
} Commodore had received his orders not tt
endanger the ships by exposing them tC
shore batteries and that he had never
| seen the order himself.
Questions were asked by the court as
follows: Did you see any of the Span
ish ships while they were coming out OF
| .lo l,orho,. Of SANTIAGO On T11lIr Oh
Eyes When ! first saw them two o.
the vessels were out and the third was
coming in sight.
How were these ships heading while
Coming OUT of the harbor with regard tc
the position of the Brooklyn on July go
After clearing the entrance they
headed to the westward, apparently di-
rectly for the Brooklyn from the posi-
ton she was maintaining on the block
ade.''
SCHLEY ENCOURAGES THE MEN
The next witness was James A. Hand
also an ensign who testified that on the
day of the battle of July Sd he was al
the central station and received from
Commodore Schley and Captain Cook
| encouraging messages to the men and
that one of these from the Commodore
was received with a Three cheers fol
! the Commodore
Ensign Ralph N Marble said on the
| day of the battle of Santiago he had had
| charge of some of the after five-incf
Iguns. His closest range was /, 100 yards
| The orderlies had passed the range OF
| 500 yards TO him but he had not used
| that range.
| Later in the engagement the range
lad been 2,400 to $500 yards, which while
firing on the Viscaya had been extended
to $500 or 1900 yards. He said that just
| before going ashore the Viscaya star
| boarded her helm and headed for the
| Brooklyn then ported her helm and wen
ashore.
/ SAID CERVERA WASN'T THERE.
| Mr.. Marble related a controversy he
bad heard between Captain Sigsbee anc
! Commodore Schley when the latter
{, came aboard the Brooklyn May 26th of
| Santiago. The Commodore had asked the
| captain, the witness said. Have we go
| them? To this inquiry Captain Sigs-
| bee replied mo, they are not here
/ have been here for about week. They
could not have been here unless ! know
| it,"
i