The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1901-10-18
TRIBUTE OF COOK
SCHLEY AN ENTHUSIASTICALLY
BRAVE AND PATRIOTIC Of
FICER
CASE AGAINST SCnlEY A Flzzlf
COOK FLATLY CONTRADICTS TES-
TIMONY OF OTHER WIT
NESSES.
CASE AGAINST SCHlfY A FIZZlE
GOVERNMENT RESTS ITS CASE
CUBAN PILOT is THE FIRST OF
ADMIRAL SCHLEN'S WITT
NESSES.

Washington, Oct. 16. - Yesterday In
the Schley court of inquiry Judge Ad-
vocate Lemley concluded presentation
Of testimony for the government n
the first Of Admiral Schley's witnesses
was introduced. This proved to be the
Cuban pilot, Eduardo Nunez, who told
Schley on May rs, 1898, that he did not
believe the Spanish fleet under Cervera
was in the arbor 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 court
Of inquiry yesterday. He was called by
the navy department. His friendship
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 retrograde
movement in search of coal.
Told n Plain story.
Cant. Cook told a plain story on the
stand, answering all the questions or
Solicitor Hanna frankly and to the best
of his knowledge. Admirals Dewey,
Benham and Ramsey paid close atten-
ton to all Cook said, and several times
the first named, as president OF the
court. asked questions. Capt. COOK 8
description of the Brooklyn's loop and
the battle with Cervera's fleet was the
most graphic story yet told In the IN
uuiry. He said he himself gave the
first order to port the helm, and then
Schley repeated it after the course had
been changed. This in a measure re-
lieves Schley of the responsibility OF
endangering the Texas by collision.
"How near did the Brooklyn come to
the Texas?" asked Admiral Dewey.
about 400 yards" answered Cook.
II am positive this is quite accurate, as
I was used to judging distances be-
tween ships. 1 never expected a coils,
ion with the Texas. such a thought did
not enter my mind. We were not close
enough to lnake this likely
FIatIy Contrndicted.
This statement fatty c~ontradicts the
testimony of other witnesses summoned
by the department, who said the Texas
barely escaped being sun 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
was when he was asked to describe Ad-
miral Schley's conduct and bearing
while under fire.
Il have always regarded him an en-
Enthusiastically brave and patriotic Of
ficer," said the witness, quietly but
with evident conviction.
Their was a stir in the 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 May 81 was because the
commandments he called S~chley-be-
lieved the enemy was in the former
port.
I'VE were sent to Cienfuegos,' said
Capt. Cook, ito anticipate the Spanish
fleet, 1t having Deer determined hat
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 m2de it plain that
Schley did not delay after assuring
himself Cervera was not at C~ienfuegos.
Capt. Cook also brought out the fact
that Schley was bent on keeping his
ships In fighting trim, and that the
reason he was 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
ment 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 thai
they are considering the ACCESSIBILITY Of
closing their cas- after putting Schley
on the stand and having him tell his
w story.
SUMMER COTTAGE RIIRNNup