New-York tribune., 1901-09-27
DID NOT TELL SCHLEY.
CAPT WISE THOUGHT SIG.S-
BEE WOULD DO IT.
MIGHT HAVE SIGNALLED HIS KNOWI.
EDGE OF THE SPANISH FLEET IN
SANTIAGO HARBOR, But NEG
LECTED TO Do THAT EITHER
cTED TO DO THAT, EITHER.
tBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !

tBY TELEGRAPH THE rRIBUNEl
Washington Sept. 26.-The Schley Court of
inquiry had brief and rather unimportant ses-
sion to-day adjourning for the afternoon to at
tend the funeral of Judge Jere NJ. Wilson The
effect OF his death upon the court and Rear
Admiral Schley and his counsel marked by
the lack of interest they manifested in the testi-
Inony and their disposition hurry the session
10 a close There was practically no interference
with the Judge Advocates free questioning of
witnesses, even upon matters of opinion, and the
cross-examination mostly perfunctory. The
evidence was trivial affecting the great points
of the controversy.
Captain Wise, of the Yale, extended his state
ments Of yesterday regarding his failure to
vey dispatches to Commodore Schley by explain
ing that ne had communicated them to Captain
Sigsbee who visited the flagship and presum-
ably delivered them Admiral Benham elected
the admission that Wise did not direct Sigsbee
his Junior, 10 tell Schley of his conviction that
the Spaniards We're inside the harbor, as we'll as
the assertion that Schley never asked Wise what
information he had. Captain Wise denied, as
far as he was concerned. Schley's statement to
the Senate Committee that the retrograde move
ment only ordered after having been in
formed by the scouts. commanded by such Off
GERS as Sigsbee. Jewell ana Wise. that although
they had all been off Santiago de Cuba for
squadron and knew nothing of its movements" :"
He added that he had not been off Santiago for
q week.
AS showing that coal might have been taken
by means of boats. Captain Wise explained that
the hawser with which he towed the collier
conveyed by boats several times Admiral
Sampson, in report the Navy Department
dated May 30. said: Captain Wise informs
that from his observation he thinks Santiago is
that though he cruised past the entrance a mile
mile and a half off several times, he
not fired on. but saw the batteries. There was
nothing damaging about Captain Wise's evil
dence.
WOOD GOOD WITNESS
machinist named Gray, who was in the en-
gne room Of the Texas. corroborated previous
evidence that the vessel was stopped and backed
soon after the battle began. He said the engines
going at the rate of about sixty turns a
minute, and We're reversed about hundred
turns. The Texas incident is not thought to be
important as affecting the defence. Lieutenant
Spencer Wood. who in command of the Dupont.
took dispatches from Key West to Schley at
Cienfuegos told how he coaled his little vessel
by using the Iowa's cutters and bags. notwith-
standing the fact that the Flying Squadron did
not coal there. The defence did not object to
this, IL being well enough known that there
collier there. and no necessity for the squad
to coal at that time
Lieutenant Wood said he never had Com
modore Schley until he delivered his dispatches.
but he impressed with his nervousness, and
with his anxiety ascertain what Sampson
going 10 do Wood did know the contents
OF the dfspa tches. but presumed them to be i'm
porfant AS a matter of fact. they Were the
orders or the Navy Department for the Flying
Squadron to proceed to Santiago, and the Dear
Schley" letter telling him not to go. Lieutenant
Wood splendid witness. typical clear
cut naval officer, frank and fearless. evidently
above petty prejudice, and, in the courts opin-
ion, clearly animated by the sole desire to an
swer questions truthfully, although. like all the
witnesses who preceded him. he well
hearsed along certain lines.
He was ouizzed by the defence to X
tent about the insurgent signals system, and
was just beginning to throw some light on the
subject when adjournment had to be taken. To-
morrow he will have opportunity to pave the
way for McCalla's exclusive familiarity with the
matter. which constituted of the unex-
planned incidents bearing heavily upon the gen
eral charges of nefficiency against Schley.