The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-09-24
THE ScnLEY
INVESTIGATION.

The Court of Inquiry, appointed by |
President Mckinley, at the request of
Admiral Schley, to investigate his con-
duct at Santiago, began,its sessions at
Washington last week.
The first testimony was taken Friday
and Saturday. Admiral Higginson,
who commanded the Massachusetts,
which was one of the vessels belong
ing to Schley's "fying squadron, tes-
tilted: That their fleet arrived off Glen
fuegos on the I'D of May; that no at
tempt was made as far as he knew, to
communicate with the Cubans on shore;
that they left Cienfuegos and arrived
off Santiago, on the evening of May 26;
that they left there for Key West that
might, but after steaming west several
hours, were signalled and returned to
Santiago. They lay off the harbor at
Santiago from three to four miles in
the day time and two or, three at
might.
He said they were able to, and did
coal from the Collier, Merrimac; and
that they could have coaled in the har-
Dor of Guantanamo, 40 miles east.
He said that on the 31st of May Ad-
miral Schley came aboard his vessel and
ordered the Massachusetts, to steam in
and fire on the Colon. Other vessels had
the same orders.
The Colon had lain in sight of the
l., A. ~fC
during the 9th, 2Sth, 10Th and 30th.
The Colon was then 1000 yards inside
the mouth of the harbor.
ii The Massachusetts, opened fire at
5000 yards distance, and drew the fire
of Moro Castle; that this did not
amount to much; and that he believed
the Colon could have then been de-
stroyed. The next day the Colon had
Withdrawn within the inner harbor
This was the day before Admiral Samp
son arrived with the rest of the fleet.
During the firing at the Colon, Ad
miral Schley was on the Massachusett:
% oI-the most of the time, standing on the
open deck. After firing for a time III
ordered the Massachusetts, to return tt
y her position in the line. Admiral Hig
ginson's opinion is, that they coult
have destroyed the Colon at that time
s In answer to the question: "Was ev
cry effort made by Admiral Schley t.
destroy or capture the Spanish steamer
T. Colon, as she lay at anchor in the har
Dor of Santiago, from May 81 to 31?'
he said he did not think so.
3 Capt. Chester, of the Cincinnati, ties
10 titled that he told Schley on the Goth
that it was feasible to coal from collier
at sea, but it would be difficult.
10 Major Thomas N. Wood, who com
ID manded the marines on the Massachu
70 seets, testified that he heard Admira
Schley say to Capt Higgonson, whe
he came aboard the Massachusetts, OF
le the 3lst of May, "We are going in, bu
re will not go in sufficiently near to er
D. danger the vessels" He had been tol
70 the distance was to be 10, 900 feet. Afte
the Massachusetts stopped firing, Woo
heard some one, he thought it wa
Schley, say, "Starboard your helm an
let's get out of this"
:. Capt. G.. P. Harper, executive Office
on the Texas, testified that they coul
have coaled at sea, on the Goth; tha
while they saw Spanish works at Cier
fuegos, no attack was made on then
n' Testifying as to the relative position
in the battle of Santiago, after th
~ Brooklyn lSchley's flag ship made th
loop, he stated that the Iowa was neal
est the enemies vessels, and the fartl
d, est ahead of all our other vessels, tn
as Oregon next tapping the Iowa, an
ne outside of her, the Texas next, lappin
- the Oregon, and the Brooklyn outsid
II the Texas, little behind.
Capt. Schroeder, executive officer
the Massachusetts,, corroborated Cap
at Harber as to the ability to coal off Sal
in tiago, and said that during the frin
n on the Colon the American ships coul
ee have gone in closer. He said also tn,
be Schley gave orders to get away, afte
firing on the Colon, saying, Lets g
out of this.''
a The signals OF the Texas were read Sa
be urday, showing that the captain of tt
N, Texas signalled Schley off Santiag
to that it was unsafe to put a collier b
a tween battle ships.
nd Capt. Schroeder said Admiral Schley
first intention WAS to take the vesse
past the mouth of the harbor slowl,
be the day the Colon was fired on, in ordt
,st to give them deliberate aim, in orde
ST. to sink the Colon at her mooring
rs This intention was not carried out, /,
rs the vessels passed the mouth of tt
harbor at speed of ten knots an hou
and the firing was as rapid as it W,
MA possible to get good pointings. tt
;es fire of the Spanish batteries was lgh