The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-10-03
DESCRIBES THE GREAT
BATTLE OF SANTIAGO
Admiral SchIeyS Watch Officer Witness Before
the Court of Inquiry
Bob Evans Explains That He Made No Boast of What He Accom-
pIished in the Conflict

could
Did you at any time suppose your
self to have discovered a torpedo boat
attempting to escape2"
one night we sighted a light run
ming apparently alongshore with a
good deal of speed. and signaled that
IT was a torpedo boat escaping. 1t
J turned out TO be a locomotive head
light on the railroad
Under those circumstances could
you have seen the train had no head
light been displayed?"
light 1 -'-
Commander Sharp said that the Vix-
[ Ell had carried Commodore Schley from
/ the Brooklyn to the Massachusetts on
May 81 before the beginning OF the
/ pom bardment of the CristObal Colon.
and that when he had asked what
/ course he should pursue in the aD-
/ preaching action. Lieutenant Sears had
/ replied for the commodore that the
I latter had directed that Commander
! Sharp keep his craft clear. as she was
vulnerable and should not assume any
/ risks. He thought the commodore had
! afterwards spoken to him to the same
/ effect
Saw the Brooklyn's Loop.
Mr. Hanna-Passing on to the battle
! Of July 3. did you see any portion OF
the loop made by the Brooklyn?
When I first saw the Brooklyn
think she was headed about south and
swinging very rapidly under her port
helm
Did you at any time have any con-
versatiOn with any person in the pres
ence of Commodore SchIey with re-
spect 10 the direction in which the
Brooklyn turned on that OCCASION"
Yes. sir
"state the circumstances Of that con-
versation."
Il took on board the Brooklyn a couy
of the notes taken by Lieutenant Har-
low, the executive officer OF the Vixen.
during the engagement, and showed
them to the commodore The commo-
dore was seated at his desk. as I re-
member ii. and at various times differ
eut officers came into the commodore's
cabin Captain Cook was there think
ats one time The navigator Of the
Brooklyn, Lieutenant Hodgson, came
in also. 1 think Commander Eaton was
in at one time and If I am not mis-
taken. Captain Parker was in
I was talking to the Commodore
about these notes. and at one pare Of
the COW ersation on the way. the helm
of the Brooklyn had been put 70 port
to form the so-called loop I stated
that the helm was put to port. Lie
tenant Hcdgson spoke up and said,
No, you are mistaken, helm was put
your helm TO port. He said, I can
prove it to YOU. Look at this chart L
said, 4 don't want to see the chart
You swung with the port helm "
Was it conceded finally asked Cap
tain Lem,y. that the helm had been
put 70 port to make the turn2"
Il am not positive was the reply.
but it is my impression that it vas
by whom was the concession
7 do not remember
''Were there any instructions at That
time 20 the navigator in regard to the
entries in the log2"
mot that remember" ~
Position of the Texas.
Did you see the Texas during the
battle off Santiago2'' asked Mr.. 28snDa
Il saw the Texas about the -st time
I saw the Brooklyn" resD9Aded the
witness. She was sOuthwa5fd to west
ward of the Brooklyn. Thief Texas was
then apparently lying DEAF IN the wa
ter. I remarked TO some fofficer stand
ing near: The sSliD VIII never start
and those fellows will get away The
Brooklyn was then swiR ging around to-
ward the Spanish fieeuE'' ~ ~
How near was she9t the Texas?''
Il could not give q estimate Of the
distance" =
On cross-examiHatton Commander
Sharp was questioned IN great detail
by Captain Parl9er in regard to an
tries in the log OF the BROOKLYN for the
period covering the Cuban campaign
He referred to the entries concerning
the Vixens firing upon a locomotive
engine on shore near Santiago. taking
it for a gunbOat- He elected from the
witness the statement that at the time
the Vixen must have been very near
the shore.
Captain Parker then questioned
Commander Sharp concerning the notes
made of the battle Of July 3. by Lieu
tenant Harlow on board the Vixen
~ rrmH
controversy. it being claimed by some
of Admiral Schley's friends that after !
copy Of the notes was delivered to Z
the admiral (then commOdOre) by Conn
ma nder Sharr ney were changed some
what The witness said that he had
taken a carbon copy to the commodore
after the battle.
DO these notes state the truth OF
the battle as you saw it?' asked Cap
tain Parker, and the witness replied
These are Lieutenant Harlow's
notes. He took them and 1 am 7ot
prepared to say yes or no whether they
are absolutely correct in every particu-
Haven't you read them over several
times2''
I have"
Would Not Vouch For Notes.
Now. are you not prepared to say
to the best OF your knowledge and be-
lief that they contain a true statement
Il cannot tell what Lieutenant Har-
low saw
you do not know whether they (the
notes. are true or not from having
read them over several times and from
your own knowledge of the battle?"
In the main essentials / should say
that they are true, but there may be
mistakes and probably are mistakes in
them
Did you furnish copy Of these par
ucuiar notes to any one else, any other
rf er in that squadron %
Not that I remember. There vera
several copies printed but what bs.
came of all of them 7 do not know.
Did YOU take a copy or send "A q
to any other other commanding
or STAFF officer OF that fleet1.
Commodore Schley?"
Not that ] remember
will YOU say that YOU
mo. sir 7 viii not s
not. To the best %
and belief I did not
notes.
CONTINUED