Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-01


or preventing the further completion
of the enemy's batteries in the vicin-
ity OF Cienfuegos?"
''On Sunday afternoon I am quite
sure it was. Commodore Schley formed
his squadron in columns and stood in
to a range of about a mile and half
from shore, made turn and stood out
again. That is the only thing l know"
Was any attack made upon the en-
envy or by the enemy at that time?"
mo. They all got up and stood on
the breastworks and looked at us. We
steamed out again. There was no
firing on either side.
Were YOU then within range of the
batteries in the vicinity of Cienfuegos
with the heavier guns of your ship"
Il did not see any batteries. There
was work they were completing
there
Were you within range of this?'
quite easy range, yes
The battery of the Iowa consisted
of WHAT"
-Four Finch. eight S-inch, and Il
finch guns
Were these embryo batteries with
in range of your S-inch guns when you
steamed in?"
They were within easy range
Were they within range Of the 4
inch guns"
Il should think so, yes.
Did the Iowa coal ship while in
Cienfuegos and if so how mucn did
she take?'
We took in 80 tons Of coal on the
NO coal from collier
alongside. the Merrimac, l think"
Admiral Evans said that he had
coaled the Iowa from the Merrimac.
May 23, while off Cienfuegos and that
he had had no difficulty in doing so.
Speaking of the condition of the
weather met by the Iowa on the oath
and 18th. the witness said that on the
evening of the oath it was squally,
that on the morning of the 25th the
sky was overcast and that the weather
was again squally; on the afternoon it
was worse, there being a good deal OF
rain with Il long sea.
He said that after leaving Cienfue-
gos the vessel had steamed to a point
about so miles south of Santiago. ar
irving there on the evening of the Goth,
and at that time the squadron was
heading to the east. The weather at
that time, he said. was not such as to
prevent the coaling Of ships at that
date. The Iowa at that time had about
S25 tons of coal aboard or sufficient
for steaming 5000 miles. On blockade
the ship used about 80 or 40 tons a
day.
Why was the retrograde movement
made?"
Il do not know" was the reply.
The witness said he could have
coaled at sea on the 27th as the sea
was smooth.
Was any effort made by the flying
squadron, on May IS, 20 and 80, TO
communicate with the insurgents on
shore near Santiago"
None to my knowledge"
Testifying that he had first seen tho
Colon on May %. Admiral Evans said
that vessel was not inside the harbor
at all but was about 1900 yards outside
the Moro.
He then detailed the particulars of
the bombardment of the Colon, May
81 saying that on the forenoon OF that
day Commodore Schley had signalled
to transfer the flag TO the Massacnu-
sets, that she was going in to engage
the Colon. Describing that engagement
the witness said:
About five minutes to one. | saw
the first shot from the Massachusetts
fall short long distance. and suppos-
ing she was firing at 1000 yard. | gave
the range to my guns 5000 yards. | saw
.hese shots fall shot and increased the
Of rHs After the Mass
| chusetts had passed the entrance to
| the harbor he turned with port helm
| and steamed back the New Orleans
| and the Iowa following. on the run
back across the harbor | again fired
| ut 10000 yards. The shot still fell short
| and the Massachusetts and New Or
| cans slowed down and stopped after
| hey got across. | slowed my engines,
| then increased the range to II 600 yards
| and fired two shots from the forward
Pinch tuIret. The first one was fired
| by Lieut.. Van Deuner at ll.C00. I saw
| that it fell short. Lieut.. Hill had the
| ,ther gun in that turrct. I gave him
| he range at 800 yards and he fired
| and that shot struck very near the
| tern OF the Colon. Both the Finch
! guns We're disa bled at the fire from
| mat extreme elevation. After that we
stood a mile and a half. possibly two
| niles. to our blockadinG station again
| That was all | saw done to injurc the
| Colon
| The witness was then asked about
the blockade off Santiago under Com
mcdore Schley. He said the squadron
| stood seven or eight miles out during
! the day time and little farther out
AZ night, with the Vixen and the Mar
| 5lehead inside at night.
Describing the battle off Santa go,
Admiral Evans said: When Cervera' S
f!eet came out of the harbor the Iowa
was at the center of the line with the
Brooklyn to the left"
Admiral Lemly-"Do you remember
| what vessels We're between them"
The only vessel between the Iowa
and the Brooklyn was the Texas"
Did you have an opportunity of OBJ
serving the movements of the Brook
| Ign on this Occasion?'
You mean during the battle?''
II mean the beginning of the bat
tle"
Il saw the Brooklyn when the fight
began. When I reached the bridge of
the Iowa and Brooklyn was still off to