Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-11

io 1f"es 10 the effect that McCalla had
not h a,,nn with his ships and did
, ,Meu tnere when Marblehead left This
message was communicated to Scorpion
S "nro nI1ok.yn by hailing. 1 do hereby
ment. w VIC '"e s'"'e-
tSigne6 "A Marty
Commander L. S. n.
sworn and subscribed to before me
ms 18th day of August, 1891, on board
Z is + r,dnsship Brooklyn !.d!na : p
"Commander-in-Ch &. S. n. Forces.
''Asiatic Station.
MI. Rayner then presented the Scor-
ploh Jog containing the entry covering
me meeting with the Eagle and Mr.. Hol-
ms best knowledge and belief.
capt. Lemly-"l ask if YOU are quite
positive nothing else was Communicated
10 the vessel at this time which you may
bOOk?' " ~ 'Oe
sage"
Did you hear it?'
Of it, ' NO. near all OF IT. only parts
You mean you did not hear all of IT
as received on board the Scorpion?'
Il did not.
Did you hear all that was communi-
Gated to the Brooklyn"
Does mat entry in the log embOdy all
that was communicated to the Brook
lyn?'
>, ITO the best of my knowledge and be-
lief. it does
Who did receive the message?'
mander Mark"
Was there difficulty in receiving it as
lar as you know on account of the dis
tance?'
There was considerable difficulty in
account - ha-
tween the ships and the wind which was
Lowing from us towards the Eagle. The
commanding officer had the megaphone
and IN receiving the message held it up
to his ear and was thus able to hear
more than other people on the bridge
Mr.. Rayner-"How far was the Eagle
from the Scorpion when she megaphon-
The distance varied | should say the
distance ranged from 100 to 200 yards.
Mr.. kayner-"Was the Eagle so close
TO the Scorpion mat she had to back off
for fear Of IA colision?"
Il do not recollect that she was 50
close there was imminent danger Of a
collision
Lieut.. Commander Switzerland stated
IN response tn the question: DO YOU
recollect about how far your vessel was
when you mcgaphoned?" so near | had
to back off for fear of a collision. which
made a little confusion for the time be
ing
You don't think you were so near as
to be in danger of a colIision?''
No. sir
Capt Lemiy-"You remember either
vessel backing?'
II do not recollect the Scorpion back
ing
DO you recollect whether you saw the
Eagle backing?
II do not recollect seeing her back. but
she probably backed as we had to slow
down and stop more suddenly than We
ordinarily would continuing under way"
The court then adjourned until tomor-
row.
William II. Stayton, the New York at
torney who some time ago asked to he
son before the Schlcy court of inquiry
and whose request was denied by th.
court, today, presented the following let
ter to the court:
Washington. d. G.. Oct 10, 1851.
Admiral George Dewey. L. s. ~. Presi-
dent of the Naval Court OF Inquiry,
Washington, ID. c.:
Sir-l am instructed by Rear Admiral
Sampson to acknowledge for him the re-
ceipt of your letter of the 9th of Sep
TENDER. 1891. stating that the court docs
not At this time regard him Il party
TO the case now before II and is. there
fore, unable to comply with his request
that he be permitted representation by
81 am further instructed by the ad-
miral to ask that whenever the circum-
stances arise which entitle him to repre-
sentation. you will permit our admission
as counsel n his behalf.
3.-Mr. +. S. Theall of Washington. d.
G., who is my associate in this matter
and myself, have been present in the
court room nearly every day of the pro-
cedure and one or both OF US will en-
deavor to be present every day here
after.
Ave have not had facilities which
would permit us to hear the proceed
inss but We have been furnished with
copies of the court 5 record and beg leave
10 refer respectfully to certain pages of
that record. which contain attacks upon
Admiral Sampson.
Read Admiral Schley. for instance
was permitted to say (see page - that
the principal parties TO the present is
sue are Rear Admrals sampson ana
Schcy.
6.-Direct allegations have been made
against Admiral Sampson and we ask
the court to refer to pages 1872 and 156 of
the record. where counsel repeatedly ac.
cuse Admiral Sampson-first. of conuuct-
ing blockade with his vessels at dis
lance as great as that which was select
ed by Admiral schley for his blockade
and. second. of permitting the Colon to
remain for an indefinite time after his ar
rival in full SIGHT of his squadron without
making an effort to destroy her.
ON page % of the record, counsel was
allowed to declare that despite Admiral
SIMPSONS official report. in which he
states that the battle of July was
fought under his command. that as I.
matter of fact Admiral Sampson did not
command on that day. and effort was
made ~ counsel in yesterdays proceed
ings to introduce into evidence IA signal
made by Rear Admiral Sampson. which
counsel stated in his argument was in
tended to show that Rear Admiral
Schley was commander -in-chief mt that
battle. Surely these allega tons involve
the honor OF a naval officer.
S.-The courts precept states that an
officer who is interested may be permit
ted to appear and defend himself: and
Sampson Is not a party to the case. as
the court states in its letter of the eth
Of September. Yet notice has been given
that an effort will be made to deprive
him of his honors and even of his honor
and his good name. He is accused Of per
hitting an enemyS vessel to lie undis
turbed in his presence and all that as 4 |
naval officer he holds dear is involved
and we ask you to decide merely that he |
$ interested.
Sit is true that the attacks upon Ad- |
niral Sampson have been made covertly |
and under the name Of argument, but |
the statements have been. nevertheless, !
public; they have been given great cur
rency and they are embodied in the rec
)rd to remain forever on the flies of the |
navy department. 1t is at least worthy |
which such an argument has been indulg- |
d in. the question as issue has been vol |
unfairly withdrawn. after full opportu- |
nifty had been taken To accuse the adj |
nral
10.-Wcre we alone in our opinion that |
heSe arguments are improper we should !
hesitate to make such statements. but !