The times., 1899-05-05
THE STORY OF THE CAPTAINS.
The Last Werd I'm the schIey-samp-
son Controversy.
(From the Chicago Tribune. J

son Controversy
From the Chicago Trbune)
The Story OF the Captains" in the
Century Magazine for May, throws di-
rect light upon the merits of the contro-
versy between the friends of Admirals
Schley and Sampson, and settles once for
all who fought the battle, won the victory
and deserves the credit. The narratives
of Captain Cook of the Brooklyn and Lieu
tenant Eberle of the Oregon, whose story
is approved by Captain Clark, bear more
Intimately upon the part played by Ad-
miral Schley than those of the others, for
obvious reasons, though they are strength
ened by references both in the stories of
Captain Evans of the Iowa and Captain
Taylor of the Indiana.
The gist of this testimony shows Schley
was in command of the feet, gave the or
ders by signals, was in the lead from the
time Cervera's vessels came out until the
Colon surrendered and the battle was end
ed, and that the Brooklyn did its full share
in the destruction OF every vessel except
the torpedo boats, with which it did not
concern itself, because Ii was after bigger
game. 1t is due to Admiral Sampson to
say that the disposition of the vessels off
the entrance was his, and that the order,
If the enemy tries to escape the ships
must close and engage as soon as possible,
and endeavor TO sink his vessels or force
them to run ashore was his also, and
with this his connection with the battle
ends. The man who fought the battle and
won it was Schley
The flagship New York left its station
at a. m. July 8, Admiral Sampson having
an engagement with General Shafter at
siboney, flying the signal Disregard the
movements Of the Commander in Chief,
and it did not return until the Colon sur
rendered and the crews were cheering for
the victory. 1t made the signal to return
and guard the harbor entrance, and that
was its only signal. After the New York
left Schley was in command, with the
Brooklyn flying his flag. At 9:30 a. III. the
Iowa signaled the enemy coming out.
Schley was at once in his place by the
coming tower, "as the best position for
communication and from which he could
observe the movements of the fleet end
direct the signaling" The Spaniards came
out in the following order: Maria Teresa
(hag), ViZcaya, Colon, and Oquendo. the
later. Within five minutes from the dis
covery the Brooklyn opened fire upon the
Teresa. 1t has been charged both meanly
and falsely that Schley showed by his
movements he was trying to get out OF an
exposed position, when the truth was he
was maneuvering to head off the enemy
Captain Cook of the Brooklyn explains
this. In his own words: THE Brooklyn
was turning rapidly with port helm and
continued to turn, firing all the time with
the port battery, and following around
until the starboard battery was brought
into action. Our 'tumbling in sides en-
abled us to maintain a continual fire While
turning" As one observer expresses 1t,
''The Brooklyn was splitting fire When
the Brooklyn was through turning and
splitting fire it was in its proper place,
the lead and it was followed by the Texas,
Iowa Oregon, Indiana, and Gloucester. 1t
was in the lead at the start and IN the
lead at the finish. 1t did its part IN the
destruction of the Teresa. 1t was engaged
| with the other three Spanish vessels when
the Oregon shot out from among the bat
| tleships like a racehorse, came up to
within about 600 yards of the Brooklyn,
and maintained a position from that to
within about 1000 yards until the end OF
the battle At no time was the Brooklyn
| anywhere but in the lead
After the Vizcaya and 0quendo had haul
| Ion began. 1t was 1900 yards away. and
| a swift vessel, but both the Brooklyn and
| Oregon steadily gained upon 1t. The Ore
! gon was running at top speed, win lorceu
| draft. but the Brooklyn did not have all
| its steam as one main and one auxiliary
| boiler were not in readiness. After running
| about fifty miles from the entrance the Co
| lon was within range. The S-inch sneiis
| of the Brooklyn passed over its stern at
1 4 -ar1c nd
| the Oregon at 5000 yards whistled near IT
| the Colon turned to the beach and hauled
| down its colors. The Oregon had the
| heaviest guns, but the Brooklyn at the
| finish was 22oO yards nearer. The
! Brooklyn was in the lead at the close
| of the battle that morning, as 1t was wnen
the first gun was fired 1t assisted in the
| destruction of every one of the Spanish
vessels, and that it was in the thick of the
| action is shown by the fact that it was
| struck twenty times by whole shots, while
| the rigging flags. and halyards were cut
by flying proiectiles high above decks.
Captain Cook, of the Brooklyn, says:
| Every officer and man knew his duty in
| battle and did it. II was my simple duty
to push the button and their work was
DONE The man who pushed the button
for the whole fleet was Schley, and the man
who led the way and kept the lead was
| Schley II was Schley who gave the sig
nails for movement and action. 1t was
| Schley who so handsomely congratulated
Captain Clark with the signal, We'll DONE
brave Oregon" after his 1S-inch shot had
| brought down the Colon's colors. 1t was
| Schley who afterward modestly said:
There is glory enough for all of u.s."
How much ill-feeling and needless con-
troversy might have been saved If Admiral
Sampson had taken the same generous
| view of the situation.
The STORY of the Captains" should now
end the controversy. The friends of Samp-
son have boasted that when the fleet cap
tains told their story it would show that
the credit of the battle would belong to
Sampson. They have told it, and no one
can read its stirring details without the
conviction that the credit belongs to
Schley.
Area of the Philippines.
(Prof Davidson to the Geographical Society Of
| the Pacfc.)