The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-23
Their Testimony the Most Inn
pOrtant Still to Come.
Man Who Photographed Battle
Goes on the Stand.
APPLAUSE In CUORT.
Brought Forth by BOatswain
HiIl's Account of the Battle.
While Others DOdged Shells
Schley's Head Never Bent.

Washington, Oct. 23-The Schley court
of inquiry is rapidly approaching its
closing days, as was made evident by
many circumstances today One of these
was found in the fact that the court has
had removed from it's immediate vicin-
ity most of the tables which were placed
there for the press at the beginning OF
the hearings in September. Compara-
lively few of these tables were ever used
and they have been taken away to make
room for the increased attendance
. which is expected during the last days
of the inquiry and which is now made
manifest.
AT the beginning of today's proceed-
ings, Attorney Rayner, chief counsel for
Admiral Schley, said that he would not
have more than IL or Is more witnesses
to examine and that the examination of
some of these would occupy compara-
lively little time. The principal wit
nesses yet to come are Admiral Schley
and Captain Clarke. 1t is expected that
Admiral Schley's testimony will cover
at least a day or two of time. the length
depending largely upon the extent of the
cross-e examination to which he will be
subjected. Captain Clarke probably will
be the last witness before the admiral
is heard, but his statement, 1t is said,
will be comparatively brief.
There was an unusually long list or
witnesses of former days present in the
court at the beginning of today's session
for the purpose of correcting their testi-
mony and after they had been disposed
of another long list for today was pre-
sented The first of the new witnesses
called was James N. Hare, who, as
photographer for illustrated weekly
newspaper, witnessed and made photo
graphs of the battle on July 3.
He was followed by Mr.. VIM. l. Hill,
who was chief boatswain on the flagship
Brooklyn during the Cuban campaign
and who had especial charge of the
work of coaling. Other witnesses called
for the day We're: Franklin t. Apple
gate, a gunner on the Brooklyn; Major
Paul st. c. Murphy, who was in COM
mand of the marines of the flying squad
ron and whose headquarters were on the
Brooklyn; Lieutenant Commander c.. II.
Harlow, who was executive officer or
the Vixen and who wrote an account OF
the battle of July 3rd in which II is
claimed alterations were made before It
was officially published: Lieutenant E.
W. Eberle who had charge of the for
ward 13-inch turret on the Oregon Lieu
tenant A. A. Ackerman, who was in
charge of the aft 13-inch turret of the
Oregon and Lieutenant Rufus u. Johns
ton, who was signal officer on the Ore
gon and aide to Captain Clarke.
While Lieut.. Simpson was on the
stand for the purpose of correcting his
testimony of yesterday he stated in re-
ply to a question by Mr.. Hanna that
he had first seen the Oregon coming
up during the chase of the Spanish
ships July 3, when the Oquendo was
discovered to be fire. Mr.. Hanna
stated that his object in bringing out
this information was to fix the time
when the Oregon came up
Mr.. G. f. Graham made an addition
to his testimony of yesterday concern
ing the interview between Commodore
Schley and Capt Sigsbee on May 26. He
said that beyond what he had already
reported Capt. Sigsbee as saying. he
further said "he had two pilots aboard.
and that those pilots said that a fleet
of vessels of the size of the Spanish
drOr no he har s4f
Santiago"
Mr. Graham also changed his reply to
the question of the court as to whether
he had heard a conversation between
Commodore Schley and Lieut. Com
mander Hodgson during the battle of
July g. Referring to this Mr.. Graham
said:
"In answer to the question of the
court 1 said No, sir But il seems
to me that 1 should say in that rela-
tfon that there was a great deal of con-
rsation going on between three or
four officers forward, and 1 answered
mo- because I could not pick out from
that a conversation between Lieut.
Commander Hodgson and Commodore
Schley.''
Lieut. Wells was among the former
witnesses called for correction of tes-
timony. While he was on the stand his
attention was called to press copy OF
a cipher dispatch dated May "a. pre-
pared by him for Admiral Schley. The
copy was found in the commodore's
press copy book, and Lieut.. Wells said
he thought he had prepared it. He said,
however, that there was a pencil note
indicating that the dispatch had never
been sent. He was asked to translate
the copy and present it to the court
later. Capt. Lemly explaining that the
dispatch indicated a conversation be-
tween the witness and Commodore
Schley
Mr. James H. Hare was the first new
witness today. He was a press pho
tographer during the Santiago cam
paign He stated that he was the
press boat Somers N Smith on May 2b
or 27, and that they had met the St.
Paul.
did you have any megaphone COM
munication between the Somers n.
Smith and st. Paul?" Mr.. Rayner
asked.
.-Megaphone and by mouth also"
state what it was"
I'VE asked the St Paul If there was
any tidings of Cervera's fleet. Capt
Sigshee said there was not that Ger
vera's fleet was not inside Santiago, anu
that Schley had gone west"
rs there any particular incident tnat
impresses that upon your memoryf