The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-01
SCHLEY COURT AOJOURNS FOR JUDGE
WILSON'S FUNERAL.
TWO NEW WITNESSES TESTIFY
Chief Engineer OF the Texas Tells OF
tenant " ood Testffies as to Carrying
Dispatches to Schley-Latter Anxious
to Ascertain SIMPSONS Intentions.
mony and Admiral Cotton Recalled.

Washington, September 26.-The
| Schley court Of inquiry was in SESSION
| for only an hour and three-quartsrs
| today, adjourning at 12:45 o'clock in
order to permit its members and OH
ers engaged there TO attend the funsr-
al &c Judge Wilson, late chief counsel
for Admiral Schley.
Captain Wise, who commanded the
| scout ship Yale during the Spanish
war, continued his narration of the re-
trogade movement of the flying squad
ron toward Key West on May 9th. On
the next day he was then disatched TO
Newport News, reporting to Admiral
Sampson on the way. He had told Ad-
miral Sampson, he said, that the flying
squadron was about thirty miles west
of Santiago. In response to a question
from the admiral he had said he lid
not know what it was doing there.
Mr.. Hanna read the following extract
from Admiral Schley's report of Feb
ruary 18th to the committee on naval
affairs beginning:
after having beer informed by the
scouts commanded by such officers as
Sigsbee, Jewell and Wise, that al
though they had all been off Santiago
de Cuba for a week they had seen moth
ing Of it (the Spanish feet) and knew
nothing of its movements or it's where
abouts. ETC." He then asked Captain
Wise if he had made such a communi-
cation to the Admiral.
II did not," was the response.
"Did you give Admiral Schley any
information respecting the Spanish
squadron"
"Only through Captain Sigsbee. 1 did
not go on board the Brooklyn at all.
1 ave Captain Sigsbee ali the Informal
ton 1 had"
Captain Wise was cross examined on
this point by Mr.. Raynor. He asked:
From the morning of the End until
the arrival of the flying squadron on
the evening of the 26th, you were try
ing to get in touch with the enemy an1
watching the harbor?"
Yes"
"You saw nothing in there?"
II could not see any harbor at ALL"
you sent no one on shore to try to
establish communications"
Not at ALL"
"Is not the natural condition of the
harbor such that it is impossible TO
see considerably up the harbor?"
you can only see a short distance
up the harbor."
"And there vas nothing in sight
whatever, was there?"
Nothing at ALL"
The witness had said that Captain
Sigsbee a taken the dispatch begin
ming get in touch with the enemy"
The court through Admiral Dewey
asked:
"Was it your duty or that of Captain
Sigsbee to convey the information in
the dispatch referred to to Commodore
Schley?"
81 think it was Captain Sigsbee's, as
he went Immediately IN duty and I was
intercepted by orders from the commC-
dore to take the Merrimac in tow"
Mr.. Hanna: did you receive any
inquiry. or did the commanding officer
of the flying squadron ask you for any
information at any timer"
Nothing"
Mr.. Raynor continued his questions,
devoting himself especially to the sig
mailing between the Yale and the faS-
ship. The witness sal he was sure
that On May 26th when he hailed the
Texas, he had not passed within hail
ing distance of the Brooklyn, being one
and a half miles distant.
Mr.. Raynor read from a report made
on May 30th by Admiral Sampson in
which he stated that Captain Wise had
told him that he believed Santiago har-
Dor to be strongly fortified.
us hat true?" Mr.. Raynor asked.
cit is" was the reply.
Captain Wise said in reply to ques-
tions by Captain Parker hat he would
at any time when off Santiago have
been able to signal any information he
might a W a in regard to the situa-
ton. He had seen the maStS Of a YES
sci, and thought it to be a small mill
tary vessel. He had gone near enough
to observe the land batteries.
Captain Wise was questioned by the
court.
Did h batteries at or near Santa
go fire upon h Yale while she was
reconnoiterirg?"
Not at all"
"Who was the senior officer off Saa-
tiago prior to the arrival of the flying
squadron"
81 was senior officer Until Captain
Cotton came on the 23rd. He was there
until the oath and I was senior officer
on the 25th, and the squadron came
there on the 18th"
Ibid you not direct Captain SigsSee
to give to Commodore Schley the infor-
nav department which referred to the
whereabouts of the Spanish squadron"
81 did not"
ADMIRAL COTTON RECALLED.
AT this point Captain Wise was ex-
cused and Admiral Cotton was recall
ed to make verbal corrections in the
testimony previously given by him.
Admiral Cotton was questioned con-
corning some points Of b Santiago
campaign. He said hat on the morn
ing Of May 31st, after arriving from
@ A.
Brooklyn with dispatches for Admiral
Schley. Asked by CAPTAIN Lemly to