Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-27

| men. yesterday. All Of those who attended
yesterday were present including the four
white-garbed, Jersey-capped jackies Of the
| wrecked steamer, who are waiting from day to
day to be asked to tell their account of the ac-
| cident. They were sent for from the Dale just
before the court met.
The first thing done this morning was the
reading of the minutes of yesterdays session.
There was q slight objection made By Lieut..
Cowles, who preferred that Commander Davis
should be officially designated az his friend, "
as the regulations permit, rather than as his
counsel" as the judge advocate had entered
him.
A letter from the Secretary of the Navy was
read granting the services Of q stenographer
for the court. Mr.. Fl. c. Tanner received the
appointment and was sworn by the judge advo-
cate.
TO 90 on WITH THE TESTIMONY.
1t was decided after brief discussion that
the court should go on and take as much testi-
mony as possible, but the hardness of the men
Of the Despatch. who did not arrive quite on
time from the wharf. caused q delay in the
proceedings. The mon came in about five
| minutes. and they were ushered into The court
room, headed by a petty officer of the Dale.
These men were rapidly asked their names
and rates and, rising promptly they replied.
always ending with a sort of elided ''sir" that
| somewhat confused their names and the rates.
LIEUT. COWLES REPORT.
Lieut.. Cowles first wanted to read his narrative
of the wreck, a large, closely written document.
which Com. Davis explained was tho first story
of the disaster produced. as his, official report
to the department contained no details and was
but n brief statement of tho casualty. Tho
court. however. decided that this first report
| should not be read before the other was pro-
dUced and the judge advocate thereupon read
it aloud. 1t was short account, stating that
tnb loft charQ
for Washipgton; that the wind was variable
| and finally changed 80 that northeaster re-
suited. At am. Saturday, October 10, the
Despatch grounded on Assateague Shoals,
Chesapeake bay.
The commander added that he had used his
best efforts 10 get the slip OFF but failed There
had been no mishap and he desired to testify
to the coolnoss, bravery and steadiness of the
officers and men of tine vessel. He asked for a
court of .nqTiry.
When this document had been read the Off
| GERS and men were sworn in separate patches
to give true testimony when they might be
| called upon.
AN UNEXPECTED QUESTION AND REPLY.
The judge advocate asked Lieut. Cowles if
the narrative just read was correct. and the
reply was affirmative. The next question was:
Have you any complaint to make agains. any
officer member Of the crew of the vessel in
connection with this accidentY'
MOI alter tne HeSsel GROUNDED, was the
some what unexpected reply.
This caused the court to make inquiries as to
what was meant, and the officer explained that
from the time the vessel grounded every one
had acted most admirably, but he did not want
to extend the reply, if it was to be negative,
to the charges made in his night
orders after they were issued. The court
seemed to desire time to consider the scope Of
this answer, and SO the room was cleared.
This hint at q possible issue in the case border
ing on reflection upon some one, caused a
When the court was opened again DR.. J. B.
Gatewood, passed assistant surgeon, having ap-
peared, was presented to the court and the re-
port of the captain was read again that he
might hear it. He was then sworn.
LIEUT.. CowLEs AS A WITNESS.
Lieut. Cowles was called as a Witness and he
read his longer narrative of the wreck to which
reference was previously made. The weather
reports had be Ell favorable when the Despatch
left New York. He had been somewhat anxious
about the weather in view Of the well-known
condition Of the ship.
His story OF the wreck was graphic He had
laid his course before turning in, heading for
the winter quarter shoal light, and he was doz-
ing. expecting to be called at any moment when
| the light should show, when he felt the shock.
His first thought was Of collision,
but he ran out. he felt another
stroke and knew that 1t was bottom. He met
Lieut.. Mulligan, who "had the deck" and
asked him why he was not called. The reply
was that he was about to do SO, as the course
had been changed. When asked why, Lieut..
| Mulligan said that he had been sure he
| saw the winter quarter light and that there
had been no reason for keeping the old course.
why was l not calledy" exclaimed the COM
mander.
He was told that all seemed well and there
| had been no apparent necessity for calling him.
WHY THE COURSE WAS CHANGED
Lieut.. Noel, the ships executive, Was seen
next and lie affirmed the statements about
sighting the light. which ''made red" He was
certain that it was Winter Quarter light, and
| had ordered the course changed.
Then the narrative went on with the account
| of the wreck. the efforts to save the ship her
| final abandonment, the aid given by the life
saving crew and the camp on the shore.
| Lieut. Cowies said that when the ships car
| penter had reported that The vessel was "com-
planning" and her back was broken / said
Nonsense" but felt that it was only too true.
| The officer became visibly affected as he went
| on and when he said, 81 left the vessel with her
color and her pennant flying" he broke down,
his voice quavered and his eyes filled with tears.
1t was some moments before he could 60 on.
AID OF THE LIrE-sAvING MEN.
| He told Of the immense service rendered BY
Capt. Tracy Of the life-saving station and paid
the highest tribute to the zeal Of the men and
| their unwilliugnesa to abandon the ship. In
conclusion he said: 1.-The gale increased in fury
and when it had finally subsidized there was
| nothing left of the Despatch" and he sat down
| with great sob.
| Then the men and officers were sent out OF
the room and recalled. one by one. and asked
if they had any objections to make to the
| commanders statement anything to lay to
the charge IF any officer or man on the YES
sci. In every case this query was met with
q negative reply
This formalIty over the room was again filed
with the officers and men, and Lieut. Cowles
| was recalled to the witness stand and examined
by the judge advocate
He read from the ships log, which showed
the barometer rising soon after leaving New
York. The course in the night orders was
''the usual one and the best one." The
only other course was taken once be-
fore, but slightly different The
Despatch had been up and down the coast O
good many times and the one selected ON her
last trip had been found to be the easiest.
now HE KEPT RECORD.
Lieut. Cowles explained his method of keep.
ing a record Of his various courses, and said
that the book containing it had been lost. Al
the request Of the court he read his night orders
for the 9Th. They directed that the ship
be steered south "a west; that the officer Of the
deck keep a sharp lookout for collisions and &c
call him (Cowles) il nything unusual happened.
I'D like to state to the court, he went on,
"that these were safe night orders.
chart was produced and on this Lieut..
Cowles explained to the court the course be
sailed on the eventful night, which, he de.