Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-31


morning, there were crowds of neople
anxious to gain admittance. Tickets
for all the reserved seata had besn
issued before the court was called to
order today, ard an hour before that
time there was not an unreseryed seat
unoocupied. Persons Will out tickets
arriving after 10 o'clock were, therefore
either compelled to accept standing
room in the rear OF the hall, or to leave
the building without hearing the pro-
ceedings, as many Of them did.
Az was the case yesterday, Admiral
Schley was thoroughly self possessed
and again spoke distinctly, so that his
words were heard throughout the hall.
After several witnesses had teen re-
called for the purpose of correcting
their testimony, Admiral Schley took
the stand and resumed mis- story With
the courts permission, he said be would
go back to Cieniuegos, in order that
his narrative might be Gear. Regard
ing tine McCalla memorandum, he said
he received nut one copy. If there had
been another, he said, it should he III
the papers which were returned TO tho
Navy Department in January or Fob
ruary, 1888. He said he had not bonn
barded the earthworks al Cirnfuegos
because he was convinced that such
commandment would be unavailing.
Subsequent experience in the war, he
thought, bore out this opinion.
Washington, Oct 25.-"And that
ended the battle Of Santiago, on the
third day of July, 1893. | would like
to say that was very much Impressed
on that day with the fact that the oil
GERS and the men who we're engaged In
thar struggle fulfilled in the very
highest and the very noElcst degree the
traditions OF the American Navy.
With these words. uttered slowly,
gravely, and impressiyely, Rear admiral
Schley today concluded the most ab.
sorbing and thrilling story of the
Santiago fight that has ever been told.
The great AUDIENCE had listened to it
with breath ess intetest and in pro
found silence, strainipg to catch every
word, and as the narrator reAoned tho
climax there was deep hush which
lasted several seconds. Then applause
began, hut it was instantly suppressed
by the sharp warnings of the marines
stationed everywhere in the crowd to
be ready for just such contingency.
Tho story mad been told in u ear,
quiet voice, without strong emphasis
or any traces of feeling, except on the
many occasions when the witness
paused to praise some officer for man,
including the Spaniards. 1t began with
the day before the light. when Schley
saw suspicious movements in the harnor
ana sent the Vixen to notify Sampson.
Earlier in the day Lieut.. Harlow of the
Vixen had testified that he received the
order FROM Sphley and that the Vixen
carried the message.
When tho Spaniards came out Schey
determined to head for them and hold
them until the slower batteships could
come up. But this plan failed, and the
Spariards got away. Sch,ey instantly
determined 10 try new plan, and
hence issued the oruer to 'Close up, p"
and Follow the flag " Capt. Clark, -
he said, "knew very we'll that it WASH {
intended for him, because he was fol
lowing the flag, and SO he repeated IL
to the other ships.
At the time OF the loop the Brooklyn
was go near the Spanish ship that
Schley saw, with the naked eye,
| Spanish sailors running from the turrst
to the superstructure, land. =" he said,
II could sec the daylight between their
legs as they ran. =" During the turn he
never saw the starhoard side OF the
Texas and never crossed hor bows, and
| rever was nearer than GOO yards. She
was so distant that the thought of col.
lision never entered his head The
Hodgson oolloquy never occurred. "In
the first place., said Schley, '.he was
too good an officer to transgress one oil
the plainest duties CT an officer at ouch
times, and, secondly, IL he had under
taken it would not have permitted il
for second. 1t is fiction. There was
no oolloquy."
When they got out on the ocean and
were engaged by the four leading
Sraniards, Schley helieyed that tbs
Brooklyn would have to conduct the
hight alone because the hattleships coult
not catch up, and remarked 10 COOK
I'VE must stay with that crowd ;
Then the Oregon came up, and Schley
said no never before realized whn'
rapid gnniire meant. The ships were
sheet of flames, Smoke came out O
the matches of the Spanialds anc
Htreamed up in almost perpendicular
columns.
When the long chase for the Color
began Schley ordered that the mer
below be allowed to come into thu
cooler air and get something to eat, ant
he shouted down to them that only on,
Spaniard was left, and il depended oil
them to get her.
When the Colon surrendered he sen
Cook aboard with orders to give M
terms but unconditional surrender. III
told OF his signal TO Sampson about TIN
great victory, but did not mention
SIMPSONS curt reply.
He said that he was delighted l.
have Sampson send him and the Oregon
after what was supposed TO be Camara
:leet, because after'what those two shir
had done he felt that they could NEE
anything that carried the SpanIsl
colors. " The Oregon went back an,
Sch ey went On alone. On the way b
stopped to Cei the Texas chaplain t
perform the funeral set vice for Ellis
! he got to within l,S00 yards of th
stranger before he found that she wa
an Austrian. His starbnard batter
had been entirely disabled during tn
battle, and ne was mannuvring to re
, her with his port battery.
Without any trace of feeling Admire
! Schley denied Lieut. potts' story tina
: he 9honnu itnt ~ tne hHhlr or o. Ma
3lst Mr. Potts, y Re said slowly an
quietly, is entirely in error in thinh
: ing that | took advantage of any Pre-
. lection at that time. 1t ls cot fact.
lie paused, aud then added, I'VE wer
: going head on and there was no ere
lection for anybody As to Pottl
story that he showed fear because b
7 had on white SUIT Schley said: =
y | Wnul1 like IN iDrifa aftnnf;o,, b. Al
. fact that the selection of uniforms WI
4 L N anH i.nl. l.