Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1901-09-28
SCHLEY TRIAL CONTINUES
ADMIRAL COTTON TEsTIFIEs.
He Was Commanders of the Harvard
seat Formerly Occupied ny Judge
Wilson Was Nacnnt-AttOrney
RaSnor Is Now SchIcy's senior
C0unsel-Charts I'm Court.

Washington, Sept. 26-N hen the Schley
court OF inquiry convened at the navy
yard there were general comments upon
tae fact that the seat which had been oe-
cupied from the beginning OF the sitting
by Judge Wilson was vacant. lie had
endeared himself not only to the members
of the court but to ali persons about
court, and sorrow was shown ON every
countenance
In answer to il question by the Asso-
ciated Press, Admiral Schley stated that
since the death of Judge Wilson, Attor-
ney lsadore Raynor would be the lead
ing counsel III his ease, and that he would
be assisted by Captain James Parker of
New Jersey, and by NJ. a. league OF
Baltimore as an expert assistant The
business Of the court was promptly re-
sumed al the usual hour.
The wall back of the court was adorn-
cd with n large chart showing the
groundsite of the battle of Santiago on
July 3. Inc southern coast OF Cuoa in
the vicinity of Santiago was plainly
marked, and the points at which the
Spanish ships went to the bottom or to
the shore were all indicated in plain let
tering There we've also number OF
large transparent charts, sitting about in
the rear OF the room, and which were in
tended to illustrate various phases of the
Santiago campaign. All these had been
prepared with a view of eXpediting the
work OF the court.
he first witness called was A. B. ClaX-
ton the machinist ON board the Texas,
VINO had begun MS testimony when the
j sitting OF the court was so abruptly ter
minated by the death Of Judge Wilson.
! Before MIR. ClaNtor took the stand
Commander Heilner was called to make
few minor corrections in the official
copy OF MS testimony.
! Rear Admiral Cotton, now commandant
of the Norfolk navy yard, who COM
manded the auxiliary cruiser Harvard
during the Spanish war, was the next
witness. He told Of meeting the flying
squadron under Commodore Schley oil
Santiago on May u, 1898, and said that
on that date he had delivered dispatches
to the commodore from Admiral Samp-
son and the navy department. He had,
he SAID, boarded the Brooklyn about
lO:30 o'clock. The weather was then
moderate and he had had no difficulty
in going aboard the Brooklyn from his
boat. He had worn his sword.
( In response to further questions Admit
raj Cotton said that he had the original
TRANSACTIONS of the cipher dispatches adj
dressed to the Harvard. The dispatch of
May - was then read to him as follows:
washington, May 5, 1898. -Har-
ward, st. Nicholas Mole, Hayti: Pro-
coed at once and inform Schley and also
the senior officer present off Santiago as
follows:
"'All department information indicates
Spanish division is still at Santiago. The
department looks to you to ascertain the
facts, and that the enemy, if there, does
not leave without decisive action. Cubans
familiar with Santiago say that there are
landing places five or six nautical miles
west from the mouth Of the harbor, and
AIiOIc IHoui SCito Biph'b'J 49, ~ 'NN'N~
and not the Spanish. From the surround
ing heights can see every vessel in port
As soon as ascertained notify the de-
partment whether the enemy is there.
Could not squadron and also the Harvard
coal from Merrimac leeward of Cape
Cruze. Gonalyes channel or Mole Hayti2
The department will send coal immedi-
ately to Mole Report without delay the
situation at Santiago, Cuba. LONG. /"
Mr.. Raynor called attention to the fact
that there were some material changes
in the dispatches as printed in the official
reports by the navy department.
Admiral Schley's reply to these dis
patches, dated May 20, in which he said
he could not obey the orders of the de-
partment, was then read, and Mr.. haynor
pointed out various changes in the Ian
guage of the dispatch as printed in the
official report. He addressed the court
briefly concerning these changes.