Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-10-11

HeS|> NAo &OHeI
manded the battleship Maine when she
was blown up in Havana harbor, aud
who during the war was i'll command es
the scout st. Paul, was on the stand for
upward of an hour. He said that in ODE
dience to riders from Captain Wise, who
was his commanding officer, he had pro-
ceeded to the vicinity of Santiago, arriv-
ing there on May 21. He told of taking
aboard the Cuban pilot Nunez and said
that he did not have much confidence i'll
him. His instructions We're to report to
Commodore Schley that the Spanish
squadron probably was in Santiago har-
Dor.
He fell in with the flying squadron en-
the evening Of May 26, the squadron then
being twenty or twenty-five miles south
of Santiago. He had reported to Com
modore Schley that he knew nothing
positively" about the Spanish fleet. He
was then asked if he had expressed his
belief to Commodore Schley that Ger
vera's feet was not in the harbor as re-
ported later by Commodore Schley. The
witness replied:
II stated that we had seen nothing of
the Spanish fleet. I may have stated
that 1 knew nothing positively or abso-
lutely about it's movements. but l recited
certain e to show that >there was u
probability of the fleet being in Santiago
at that time"
In reply to a question as to the condi-
tion of the weather at the time he was
at Santiago Captain Sigsbee said:
During May "a, % and 26 the wealth
er was unsettled; trade conditions had
been hindered. There was more or less
rain and moderately heavy sea on those
three days. The sea on May 26 was
heavy for boats, but it was moderating
that is to say, more moderate than it
had been on two days before. I should
say. however, it would have been a very
difficult job to have coaled from ships
alongside that night"
"Did you receive a dispatch from Sec
rotary Long, dated May 90, stating The
Spanish feet arrived at Santiago on May
1872"
II am not certain, but my recollection
is that it stated it arrived on the 10Th
or 21st. 1 received the communication
Secretary of the Navy. 1t was signed
Long, but whether l got a o of it
from Captain Wise>or got the original 1
cannot now recall. 1 think l got the
original"
"Did you show this dispatch to Com.
modore Schley on May 26?"
II already said 1 cannot recollect the
act of showing it to him. I presume /
did, but that l informed him / remem-
ber."
Twelfth Day.
The proceedings of the court began
with the usual recall of former witnesses
for the correction of their testimony in
tile official record. Rear Admiral Evans
took the stand with the purpose of effec-
tually mailing the Statement that he made
Il foolish boast us to what he did at the
battle Of Santiago. Schley's counsel ask
ed him the other day if he did not tell
Schley that he Iivans). destroyed the
whole Spanish fleet. Evans at that time
denied the report, which in q way placed
him in the position of disputing Schley's
word, as the inference was plain that
Schley asserted that Evans did play the
%braggart. Fighting Bob" then came with
documentary evidence that he was guilt
less of blowing his own horn in so often
sive a way.
II have here a letter from Captain
Cook of the Brooklyn said he, shaking
it at the court. denying that / made the
boast. 1 would like to have this letter
added to my testimony regarding the mat
ter"
I'VE do not claim that you said that
to Captain Cook asserted Attorney Ray
ner. My question was: Did you make
thta remark to Commodore S%chley?'"
Captain Cook was present during all
my conversation with Commodore
Schley," answered Evans, ''and here is
his letter denying that l made so foolish
a BOAST"
Schley's counsel objected to the letter
being introduced as evidence, and Ad-
miral Evans hobbled out of the room. not
a little disgruntled.
Lieutenant Commander Alexander
| Sharp, who commanded the Vixen during
the Spanish-American war, gave Adj
miral Schley a jolt when he testified that
while on the inner patrol line during the
blockade he could not have discovered
the Spanish fleet had it attempted to
leave the harbor with no lights and with
no noise. He said the shore line at night.
was discernible, but the objects conld
not be distinguished.
U. L.: Southeast, II. l.. Mcclellan Of