The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-10-19
TRIBUTE or COOK
SCHLEY AN ENTHUSIASTICALLY
BRAVE AND PATRIOTIC Of
FICIsR.
CASE AGAINST SCHlEY A Flzzlf
COOK FI.ATLY CONTRADICTs TES-
TIMONY OF OTHER WIT
NESSE:S. ....
CASE AGAINST sCmltY A FIzzlt
GOVERNMENT RESTS ITS CASE
CUBAN PILOT IS THE FIRST OF
ADMIRAL SCHLEI'S WIT.
NESSES.

Washington, Oct. 16, Yesterday IN
the Schley court Of inquiry Judge Al
vocate. Lemley concluded presentation
of testimony for the government ana
the first of Admiral Schley's witnesses
was introduced. This proved to ne tne
Cuban pilot, Eduardo Nunez, who tolu
Schley on May 26, 1898, that he did not
believe the Spanish fleet under Cervera
was in the harbor at Santiago.
Capt. Francis A. Cook, commander OF
the Brooklyn, Schley's flagship during
the battle of Santiago, occupied the
greater part of the time of the
of inquiry yesterday. He was called py
the navy department. His
for Schley is we'll known. and the rea-
son the department called him Is be-
cause of reports that Cook disagreed
with his superior officer as to the ne"
cessity for making the r~etrograde
movement in search Of coal.
Told q Plain story.
Cant. Cook told a plain story on the
stand. answering all the questions OF
Solicitor Hanna frankly and to the best
of his knowledge. Admirals Dewey
Renham and Ramsey paid close atten-
tion to all Cook said, and several times
the first named, as president OF the
court. asked questions. Capt. COOKS
description of the B%rooklyn's loop ana
the battle with Cervera's fleet was the
most graphic story yet told In the IN
ouiry. He said he himself gave the
first order to port the helm, and then
schley repeated it after h course had
been changed. This in a measure re-
lieyes Schley Of the responsibility OF
endangering the Texas by collision.
CHOW near did the Brooklyn come 10
the ?" asked Admiral Dewey.
"About 400 yards" answered COOK.
1T am positive this is quite accurate, as
I was used to Judging distances be-
tween ships. I never expected a coll1s-
ion with the Texas. Such a thought did
not enter my mind. We were not close
enough to make this likely"
Flatly Contradicted.
This statement fatty ~contradicts the
testimony of other witnesses summoned
by the department, who said the Texas
barely escaped being sunk by the
Brooklyn. Some gave the distance be-
tween the two ships as low as 100
Yards. Another instance in which Capt.
Cook gave the lie to previous witnesses
way when he was asked to describe Ad-
miral Schley's conduct n bearing
while under fire.
ST have always regarded hin an en-
Enthusiastically brave and patriotic Of
icer," said the witness, quietly but
with evident conviction.
There was a stir in h court room as
Schlcy's friends turned to each other to
express their delight at this opinion,
and The admiral himself could not sup
press a smile of satisfaction. Capt.
Cook also helped Schley's case by de-
claring that the reason the flying
squadron did not leave Cienfuegos and
go to Santiago HAY 81 was because the
c~ommodore-as he called ~Schley-be-
lieved the enemy was in the former
port.
I'VE were sent to C~ienfuegos," said
Capt. Cook, ito anticipate the Spanish
fleet, 1t having been determined that
they would make that their objective
point"
schley Did Not Delay.
Continuing, he said when the word
did come from Sampson stating with
more certainty that the enemy was at
Santiago, the squadron moved eastward
to Santiago. He made 1t plain that
Schley did not delay after assuring
himself Cervera was not at ~Cienfuegos.
Capt. Cook also brought out the fact
that schley was bent on keeping his
ships in fighting trim, and that the
reason he vas worried about the coal
supply was his belief that warships
without coal were little better than
lumber hookers.
Capt. Cook made a good impression.
He evaded no questions and spoke
as frankly about the ~retrograde move
nent AS about the points in Schley's
favor. The members Of the court
seemed favorably impressed with his
story, and Schley's attorneys did not
conceal their satisfaction at the drift
Of his testimony. So pleased are the
attorneys for Admiral Schley with the
effect of Capt. Cooks testimony that
they are considering the ~advisability Of
closing their case after putting Schley
o. the stand and having him tell his
own story.