The record-union., 1898-12-20
ADMIRAL SCHLEY AND TELE-
PATHY


1t came about that he was so ready for
Cervera's fleet when it poked it's nose
out Of Santiago harbor. At a dinner
given in his honor at Philadelphia the
other day, the Admiral said:
Curious how little things determine
results. 1t had been the determination
of the fleet of Admiral Cervera to have
left on the night of July I'd. By some
OF the strange emotions of telepathy
felt that an outward movement had
been determined and decided to connect
the after and forward engines OF my
ship. Yet I feared to be caught in an
operation of hardly an hour, but was
told that the full speed of four engines
and one-half boiler power was greater
than two engines and full boiler power,
SO l risked it. Much has to be risked
IN battle. 1t appeared at the very
hour L was occupying my mind with
this question Cervera had planned his
attempt to escape.
Telepathy is defined to be "the SYM
pathetic affection of ones mind by the
thought, feeling or emotions Of another
at a distance through the ordinary
channels of sensation" So here we
have a new factor in naval science, If
the AdmiraPs idea is accepted. Tele-
pathic communication is to be received
upon the testimony of Admiral Schley
as a guide and prompter.
Cervera, by his mental attitude, and
of course, without intent on his part
communicated to Schleys mind the i'm
preston that the Spanish fleet was
about to make the attempt to escape.
and Schley, trusting to this impression
as verify, prepared for pursuit with
the result we'll known. But suppose
the impression had been a mandate to
Admiral Schley to turn his ships prov
in another direction, or to do something
else which might have resulted in Ger
yera's escape-what then?
We are not disposed to question the
word Of the Admiral. He certainly did
order the engines coupled without any
visible reason, or any reason present
ing itself to the minds of others on
the ship. He may have felt an impress
sion, or fancied that he did, which led
up to that action. But he has no war
rant for concluding that it was tele-
pathic. His own testimony does not
justify that conclusion.
Every person has felt at times a
strong impulsion to do, or to refrain
from doing an act, and many a man
has yielded to that impression. But
as rule it is the result of caution in
an active and exceedingly sensitive
mind. 1t Is most likely that it is one
of the unconscious operations Of a rea-
soning process going on in the mind.
The flagship was absent; the fleet
had been given by Admiral Sampson
certain positions with a view TO pre-
venting the escape of the enemy. The
assaults of the army had endangered
the Spanish fleet, and Schley and all
the American commanders knew it.
Orders had been published what to do
in case the enemy attempts to escape
from the harbor." (See SIMPSONS Off
cial peport).
These orders and the preparations for
a probable contingency operated upon
Schley's mind-he being next in COM
nrand-to quicken it's sensibilities, to
make tense his caution and instructive
~, or rather unconsciously his mind
Suggested to him that safety and sue
cess would be promoted by having the
ship in a certain condition of prepared
ness. Hence, he ordered the engines
coupsed in anticipation of just what did
happen. But there Is no proof in his
own statement that it was the result
OF, telepathic influence. The Admiral
1S mistaken in his ascription Of cause
for the effect. That is all there is in il.
The people of Santiago de Cuba re-
joiced loudly, rang bells and fired sa-
lutes when the news arrived of the
promotion of General Wood. now in
military charge in that province. Evi-
IDENTIFY General Wood is a favorite
among our new people. They had been
so long living in the filth and neglect
OF Spanish management, that his clean
ly methods, sanitary reforms and gen.
eral cleaning up, has opened to them
the vista of a new future, in which
dirt is the least of factors.
CLEAR CUT EXPRESSION.
Ex-Minister to China Charles DENLY,