New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-12
ELEVEN MEN TO FACE.
THE MCCALLA INVESTIGATION BEGUN.
yIRsT SESSION OF THE COURT ciF INQUIRY
HIGHT SAILORS, ONE MARINE AND TWO
OFFICERS RESPOND TO AN INvI.
TATnOtN TO TESTIFY

TATlCN TO TESTIFY.
The court Of inquiry ordered to investigate Com
mander Bowman ii. McCaa's administration of
affairs on board the United States sloopofwar Enter
prise met in Building No. at the Navy Yard.
Brooklyn, yesterday. The court met at in a
room on the third floor of the building The room
was hung with banners Of different nations, which
completely hid the walls and long pcnnants concealed
from view the ceiling. A table was placed at the
eastern end Of the room, at which sat the members
Of the court Rear Admiral Louis A. Kimberly com
modorc n =. Mccain, and Captain oscar +. stanton
with Lieutenant Perry Garst Judge Advocate.
Commander McCalla, with his counsel, Joseph H.
Choate, Of NewYork, and Gustavus MehAcS VI
Indiana occupied table at the left. All the officers
in undresS uniform and carried swords, excepting
Captain McCalla and the Judge Advocate WHO "eic
without their swords. The court having been cai'eo
10 order Admiral Kimberly read the order OF the
Secretary calling it, and swore in the different epers
and the two official stenographerS, the Admii"i MN
self being in by the Judge Advocate. lie
order of Secretary Tracy convening the court required
il 10 make thorough Investigation OF the system o.
discipline on board the Enterprise during her recent
c,uise TO inouirc as to the existence of any cruelty
or oppression exercised against officers or men. and
thoroughly 10 investigate all complaints. fhe court
was then cleared of all except members OF the court
and buecoated corporal of marines took ms post ~
the door After twenty minutes delibcration the court
decided to hold open sessions aad the doors were
opened.
Admiral Kimberly then announced that the court
would adjourn aboard the Enterprise The Enterprise
is moocd to the Cobb Dock and tither the court went
All hands then piped TO muster On the quarter
deck. The petty officers were drawn up near the
main mast on the starboard side. the sailors ranged
Themselves in ranks on the port side. and tie marine
guard mustered on the poop The officers mustered
on the starbosd side Of the quarter deck Even the
men from the sick bay brought deck and placed
under the break of the poop. 1t was scene whch
seldom. If before. has been witnessed on board
American man-of-war. The day was dark ana
lowering. There perfect silence everywhere and
on the faces of officers and serious and solemn
expression. The judge advocate stepped forward and
read the order OF the Secretary Of the Navy converting
the court in a clear voice. Admiral Kimberly stepped
forward and in low but distinct voice addressed the
ships company as follows. reading from slip Of paper
what he had prepared
To the officers and men Of the United states steamer
Enterprise here assembled iou have heard read the
precept ordering court OF inquiry itn0 the manage
ment of This vessel from october l. 1857. to March
4 1880 IL any officer or man here present has
any complaint 20 cruel punishment or any M
necessary punishments inflicted any undue severity
exercised in enforcing discipline on board during the
period specified ne VIII step On .ne u ,p INDIE igc
Advocate of the court
For second no stirred. There was silence
throughout the ship perfect that the sound OF
the clnk of hammers from the ship house where the
great war vessel Maine i building came distinctly
a gun on the starboard side gazcd anXiouoly down
the lines Of his officers and men. Then tail,
stawart blucjacket left the ranks crossed over 10
the starloard side Of the quarterback. and sau:inS
the officers, turned and stood facing inboaId lie
was quickly followed by others. \ marine left
his ranks and coming down from the poop placed
himself beside the sailors. some officer In low
tone gave the order right about and the line of
accusers turned like ClOCkwOrk and stood facing
the officers, the marine bringing his piece TO al.
order arms. The men stood like statues with I'M
movable faces while the Judge Advocate took ;heir
names. Two officers. Chief Engineer hntwlstle ana
Ensign Kline then stepped forward and gave Their
names This being done the muster was dismissed
and the officers of the court retired 10 the cabin
Presently the word passed that Admiral Kimberly
was about to leave the ship. The marine guard was
paradcd the drums RULED and thg bugles blew and
the court returned 10 Building No. :.
When the court assembled there again Admiral
Kimberly announced that II would adjourn 10 meet
again at 10 O'Clock this morning BESIDES the
counsel allowed han by the court, Captain Mc'alla
was Yesterday ACCOMPANIED by Lewis Cass Ledyard
Of tho law firm OF Carter q Ledyard, VINO l. Il
personal friend Of the captain
Of the officers composing The court the president
Admiral Kimberly. is too well known to peed ex
tended mention His gallantry at Mobile BAY and
elsewhere during the war is part Of history. He
S looked ysssqay picture fS Saer Anea a Mo VIII
Farraeut7 Commodore Mccain has fine war
command OF the steamer Hunclback at the battle
of Newbernc. Captain stanton also has fine war
record. lie for some time captain of the United
States steamship Tennessee. D., ldlng that ONCE
when Admiral Jouelt took the North Atlantic fleet
10 Colon in 1888, tire outbreak Of the rebellion on
the Isthmus i it understood that Captain Met ALA
will be the first witness examined before the court
when it meets today.
In addition to the McCalia Court of Inquiry there
was a general courInartial convened Yesterday for
the trial of marines and sailor, against whom minor
charges have been made. The court consists Of Cap
tain Henry Erbcn Commanders ". II. Whiting and
I. A. Lyon Lieutenant Commander George VI Book
iprfn 7. Norton.
tains f. p Mecicr and T. b. Robinson aud Lieutenant
ID. r BENSON of the Marine Corps.