Evening journal., 1901-10-18
NCHLEY WAS
RAGER TO FIGHT
Preferred Blockade Duty H.
stead Of Going to Coal
Me-. RaVRer'S Attempts TO Show The
Absence Of the New York On
july 3 interrupted


controversy was continued before the
schley court Of inquiry yesterday, eight
witnesses being examined. OF these
five were ensigns, and the entire eight
had served on board the Brooklyn with
Admiral (then commodore) Schley.
The first Of the days witnesses was
Lieutenant Charles Webster, who had
begun his testimony Wednesday. He
was followed by Lieutenant-Co Command
er r. d. Griffin, who had charge Of the
powder division on the Brooklyn dur
ing the fight off Santiago, and he was
succeeded by Ensigns c. A. Adele, John
Haligan, Jr., Ulysses S. Macy James
NJ. Hand and Ralph N. Marble. The
last witness Of the day was Medical
Director Paul Fitzsimmons, who was
chief surgeon of the Flying Squadron.
While Ensign Haligan was on the
stand, Mr.. Rayner sought to bring out
information as to the American ships
in sight at the beginning of the battle
Of July 3, but Judge Advocate Lemly
objected on the ground that the ques-
tion was intended to show the absence
Of the New York and the interrogatory
was withdrawn. Ensign Marble stated
that he had heard Captain sigsbee tell
Commodore Schley when he came
aboard the Brooklyn on May 26 that
the Spaniards were not at Santiago.
Lieutenant Webster spoke of seeing
lights at Cienfuegos, but could not re
member anything that looked like at
tempts by the Spaniards to lay mines
in the harbor.
"The high points of the land at San
tiago gave us good bases for bearings
later, but from May 20 to 81 it was
impossible for us to distinguish places
on shore"
In reply to a question by Mr. Ray
ner: "The Iowa seemed to me on July
to the north of the Texas. No YES
sci passed through the blockade at
Cienfuegos or Santiago without our
permission. The only vessel in sight
when the Colon surrendered to the
Brooklyn was the Oregon"
sehley Wanted to Fight.
Commander Griffin was questioned
by Mr.. Rayner:
"Did you have any conversation
with Commodore Schley in regard to
going to Guantanamo to coal prior to
July 80"
Il mentioned the fact that other
ships of the squadron were in the
habit of going to Guantanamo for coal
and that we had had difficulty in coal
ing in the open. The commodore said
he had been asked repeatedly to send
the ship to Guantanamo for coal in
order to give the men a rest and per-
NIT them to coal quietly. He had an
swered, he said, that he preferred to
have the Brooklyn stay on blockade
until the Spanish squadron came out a"
Referring to the battle of July 8, he
said he had been in charge of the
powder division and that it also was
his duty to look after the lower decks.
Consequently he had not seen a great
deal of the fight.
He said that he had seen the Wis
caya go ashore and that. looking
abaft the Brooklyn's beam, along the
coast. he had seen two other ships on
FIRE, with tho Colon some distance
ahead on the starboard side and firing
occasionally. Then he went into the
forecastle where Commodore Schley,
Captain Cook and Commander Mason
were standing, remaining there until
the Colon surrendered. The Oregon
was, he said then following very close
to the Brooklyn.
"Were there any cheering or en-
couraging messages sent among the
men that you know of, by whom and
what were they?"
81 had a messenger who made fire.
quent trips TO the gun deck and re-
ported to me what was happening.
conveyed this information to the men
hof my division in the different hand
ling rooms"
"Were any of these messages of
sufficient Importance that you would
like to speak of them?"
Sent Messages to Men Below.
zone message which seemed tc
cheer the men below very much was
that there were three Spanish ships
on our starboard beam, all firing al
us
"You don't know who sent these
messages, who gave them, do you?"
81 took it for granted"
Judge Advocate Lemly here inter
rupted the witness by stating that 4
did not appear that Commodore
Schley sent these messages, whicl
brought a statement from Mr.. Raynei
that he would prove, when Admira
Schley went on the stand, that thu
T admiral sent these messages of en-
T couragement to the men.
Commander Griffin said that whel
: the Colon gave up the conflict, tn
I Oregon was close on the Brooklyn
starboard quarter, and that the Texa
: and Vixen were within sight astern.
{, "Can you speak Of tho conduct
\ bearing and manner OF Commodor
Schley during the engagement 4
4 which you saw him?"
4 "He impressed me as being n
marlably cool considering what ha
n Just occurred. He was perfectly ma
ural I'm manner and bearing"