The evening times., 1898-12-03
SIMPSONS THEFT OF
HON0RS DUE TO SCHLEY
TESTIMONY OF AN EYEWITNESS
correspondent Graham, in Lee
ture, Tells of the CristobaI
Colon Incident

Albany, Dec. 3.-Correspondent George
L. Graham who was with Admiral Schlev
during the entire time of the war with
j SPAIN and who is writing a book ON the
war in conjunction with the admiral. de-
iiYered lecture here last night before the
Albany zouaye Corps. RIO
The greater part of the lecture was de-
voted to description OF the battle with
Cervera's squadron. and Mr Graham led
plainly to the inference that in the mat
ter+of the surrender OF the Cristo6al Co
ien schley was pretty badly treated bv
Sampson.
MI Graham said: As soon as the
/ Brooklyn and Oregon had reached a SPOT
about mile from the Colon they stopped.
and the signal was raised on the Brook
iyn' The enemy has surrendered
Capt. Philip. Of the Texas. 5 miles
| astern of US. noticed the signal, and. ac-
/ eordins TO his statement. finding that the
New York was too far astern TO read it,
raised 1t on mis- own ship
The New York, coming up. made no
| recognition of it,
In the meantime a boat was lowered
ifon the Brooklyn. and Capt. Cook, act
ing for Commodore Schiey started 10 OBJ
tam the surrender Of the Colon
The men had about mile to row.
lhey had covered this distance obtained
the surrender, and were returning TO the
! brooklyn when the New York came up
ran between the Brooklyn and the prize
and stopped the boat
Commodore Schiey had gone to the
bridge of the Brooklyn, and, noticing that
capt. Cook was returning, had called to
| The men who had gathered on the fore
castle.
Men, l want you to remember
when these Spanish officers come aboard
that while they Were our enemies they
are now our prisoners, and | don't want
YOU to cheer or show any exuItation over
| them; they feel badly enough
The men cheered him for this and
then he turned to Flag Lieut.. McCauIey
and said: Signal the flagship ~ glorious
victory has been achieved: details lat
err
The men had noticed the signal and
watched the New York TO see a compIi-
mentary or cGHgratulatoFy answer But
instead Of u there went up To the mast
head the signal Report your casualties =
Then Commodore Schley noticed that
| the boat which he had sent fer the sur
render WAS about 10 be intercepted pick
ed up thc megaph0He and called over to
the New York. I request the honor Of
the surrender OF the CristobaI Colon
Somebody from the New Yorks bridge
yelled back What's that?'
'Schley repeated his message. There
was no answer except that Capt Cock
was ordered 70 deliver mis- prisoners
aboard the New York a ship tina. had NJ
part in the defeat Of the Spanlards
IT was evident that Schisy was quite
rettled over this disregard of his request
and the refusal of the flagship 20 extend
any compliment 10 Ships or crews for n
raised another signal 10 the flagship say
ing, This is a great day for cur couu-
try
To this no answer was made.
That night the Brooklyn went back TO
the blockade, and for FIVE days the men
wondered why the President Of the Unit
ed States had forgotten To compliment
them upon their work OF that day.
On the sixth day the explanation came
in the form of a circular from the New
York announcing that on the day follow
ing the battle the conmaHdeT-in-chief had
received kilograms from the President Of
the United States and the Secretary Of the
Navy cOngratulating the officers and men
of the fleet for their splendid victory.
instead OF flashing this from the mast
head of the flagship. so as 10 give the men
a chance 10 jubilate on the national holi-
day. ii had been Kept five days so that II
could come out in q formal printed docu-
ment.