The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-10-08

Washington, Oct. SIN the Schley cort
Of inqiry to-day Lieutenant G. w. Dyson
of the bureau of steam engineering of the
navy department was recalled to continue
his testimony regarding the coal supply
Of Admiral Schley's flying squadron at
the time of its arrival off Santiago har-
Dor on May 28. 1885, He was brought in
this morning at the instance of Admiral
Schley's counsel for the purpose Of giving
further testimony concerning the avail
ability of the coal supply in charging the
enemy. 1t was the understanding when
court opened that Commander Richard
Wainwright would be the principal wit
ness Of the day and that after he should
be excused Messrs. Bristol, Grant and
Potts would be called in the order named
The three last mentioned were all watch
officers on various vessels of the Amer1-
can feet on July 8, when the navel en-
gagement off Santiago was fought. 1t has
been the desire of the court to secure
as much testimony as possible from the
men whose especial duty 1t was to keep
a lookout, and these three officers were
summoned to crafty this wish.
there was special interest in Com
mander Wainwright's testimony because
of his prominent Identification with the
Spanish war, and also because Of the fact
that he is now superintendent of the
naval academy at Annapolis. During the
summer of 1898 Mr.. Wainwright COM
manded the converted yacht Gloucester,
which played a conspicuous part in the
campaign against the Spaniards. In the
battle of July his vessel occupied a po-
sition on the extreme right Of the Ameri-
can column to the east OF the Indiana,
and when the Spanish torpedo boats Plu-
ton and Furor came out of the harbor,
he attacked them fearlessly and aided in
their destruction. He also was an OBJ
server of the battle between the big ships
of the two fleets.
Advised a Japanese Method.
The proceedings of the day began by
the recall Of Captain W. M. Folger for
the purpose of correcting his testimony
of yesterday. Advantage was taken OF his
presence to ask him further questions
concerning the blockade Of Santiago.
Among other questions he was asked by
Captain Lemly if he had had any con-
versation with Commodore Schley during
the blockade. He replied:
Toward the evening of the 30th there was
an extended, very severe rain storm, so Sc
we're that feared Cervera had gotten out, as
it was sufficiently long to have permitted him
to do so. l went on board the flagship the
next day, thinking it my duty to tell the COM
modore what I had seen as to the blockade
as kept by the Japanese off the port of Wei
Hei, where similarly ans enemys feet was
within a fortified harbor said to the COM
modore that the adoption of the tactics Of the
japanese, forming a circle directly in front
of the harbor, would, in my opinion, be pre-
ferable as then it would be difficult for any
thing to get out.
Judge Advocate-Was there any reply by
the commodore?
Witness-I cannot testify exactly as to his
reply. / would prefer not to DO so.
Judge Advocate-Give the substance
Witness-He did not agree with me as to
the necessity for that
Judge Advocate-Was there anything fur
ther said by him?
Witness-Nothing further that recollect.
Lieutenant Dyson was called. He was
the steaming conditions Of the Brooklyn
on July 8. The witness said:
Judging from the time it took to start fires
in these boilers after the Spanish feet came
oPt of the harbor, I should say the furnaces
were not even primed and two Of the boilers
had to be run up to the sea steaming level.
1t took from 9:35 to 10 o'clock to start fires.
In response to questions from Captain
Parker he said that the New York had
not had her engines coupled on the day
of battle and that the Brooklyn had made
all the speed necessary.
"Liar and BIackguard."
Lieutenant Commander Hodgson was re-
called for the purpose Of correcting err
rors in his testimony as printed in the
official record He took OCCASION to change
some of the language of his previous tes-
timony. One of these changes was made
in response to questions asked yesterday
as to why he had designated as "a liar
and a blackguard,'' the editor of news
paper which had originally printed the al
legged colloquy between himself and Com
modore Schley. He said he desired to al
ter the reply that he had yesterday given
to this interrogatory. He then said:
/. of course, am very sorry that ever so
far forgot myself as to write letter contain
ing such Incorporate language. 1t was not
written exactly for publication, but under
great provocation at the time. In this letter
! did not accuse the newspaper Of lying for
printing that statement. In fact 1t was to
absolve it from lying that l gave the paper