Waterbury Democrat., 1901-09-26
HEARING THE EVIDENCE.
Court of Inquiry Trying to Throw
 Blame on Admiral Schley.

Washington, Sept 26.-Thc Schley court of inquiry began it's session to- day with the intention of holding one sitting, having decided to forego the afternoon session i'll order to permit the members of the court and counsel to attend the funeral of Judge Wilson,
 Counsel for the navy department to- day continued their efforts to show that Admiral Schley had information of the presence of Admiral Cervera and his fleet in the harbor at Santiago, and introduced for this purpose ad- ditional officers of the auxiliary cruis- CTS which were at the time doing duty as scout boats in West Indian waters Admiral Schley's counsel on the other hand maintained their purpose of try ing to hold the testimony down to the requirements of civil courts.
 Captain Wise, commander of the scout boat Yale, continued his narra- tive of the retrograde movement of the flying squadron toward Key West The admiral signalled upon starting to ask if there was coal enough to carry him to Key West, and the answer was that there was. The next day he re- ported coal enough to carry him for
 
 moderate steaming. He told Admiral Sampson that the flying squadron was thirty miles west of Santiago and in response to q question of the admiral, he replied that he did not know what 1t was doing there. In the details of the trip he told of the breaking of the hawser between the Yale and the Merrimac He said the break was caused by improper fastening on the Merrimac and not because of the weather. At this point he was cross examined by Attorney Rayner
 At 3:25 yesterday afternoon Adm- ral A. Cotton was excused and Cap tain William C.. Wise, who was in command of the auxiliary cruiser Yale was called to the witness stand He told of his reconnoitering about san tiago harbor on May 9, previous to the arrival of the flying squadron. He said he had not been able to see any, thing of the Spanish fleet.
 Captain Wise said that when on May 27 he approached the flying squadron 21 miles off Santiago. the fleet had started upon its retrograde movement. He come up with the Texas and exchanged signals with Captain Philip, telling him that he be- lieyed the Spanish squadron to be in- side the harbor there.
 MT Rayner objected to this testi- mony as conversation between Cap tains Wise and Philip affecting Admi- ral Schley.
 The court sustained the objection and then put some questions of it's own, which together with the answers were as follows:
 "What information had you that led you to believe the Spanish squadron to be at Santiago May 27?'
 ''The same information that was re- ceived from the navy department will state that if they were there on the 2oth they did not leave. I am per- fectly satisfied they did not leave while we were there."
 Judge advocate: "I am reminded by the court that this refers particularly to information that you have.''
 HI received my dispatch from the navy department in the 20th that the Spanish squadron had arrived on the 18th in Santiago"
 Had you any personal knowledge?
 "No."
 By the court: Did you report to the senior officer present the informa- tion upon which you based your belief regarding the location Of the spanish squadron on that dateT
 As stated first, I was intercepted by the order from Commodore Schley from the Vixen to take the Merrimac in tow Captain Sigsbee of the St Paul immediately went on board. The Brooklyn was mile and half ahead. I immediately went to the Merrimac and made preparations to take her in tow and, so far as my communicating with Commodore Schley, no.''
 Washington, May 20, 1898. Yale, care American consul, Cape Hay tien:
 Inform every vessel off Santiago de Cuba flying squadron is off Cienfuegos and that orders have been sent to-day to proceed with all possible dispatch for Santiago de Cuba.
 Long.
 "The court asks why that order was not carried out?'
 Captain Wise said in reply that he informed the St Paul. the Harvard and the Minneapolis, and notified Captain Phillip.