Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1901-10-10
SAYS SCHLEY WAS
GREATLY EXCITED
Navigator of The MaSSaCbu.
sets 50 TeStifieS
Sampson Invited Captain TAYLOR to
Accompany Him to SibOnCy-Sig-
nails Of the DaV

Mark l.. I&istol completed his testi-
mony. begun Tuesday and three new
witnesses were introduced They
were Rear Admiral Henry G. Taylor,
who as captain commanded the battle
ship Indiana during the war with
Spain. Lieutenant Commander Tenn
plin Potts, who as navigator of the
battleship Massachusetts during that
period, and Lieutenant Edward f. Lei
per, who was on the New Orleans
during the war. the last-named being
still on the stand when the court ad-
iournod for the day.
Admiral Taylor related incidents Of
The battle off Santiago on July 3, in
Guiding the Brooklyn's famous turn
He said that none Of the Spanish ships
had made any effort to ram the Ameri-
can vessels when they came out of the
harbor at Santiago.
When the judge advocate had con-
cluded his interrogations Of Admiral
Taylor Mr. Rayner began his cross
examination with an effort to intro
duce signals which had passed between
the Indiana and Admiral SIMPSONS
lagship, the New York, in the early
morning of July 3, 1898. Captain Lem
ly made immediate objection, and Mr.
Rayner presented an earnest plea to
be allowed to read the sinals. He was
not permitted at that time to do so,
but it is understood that the signals
which he desired to introduce as hav-
ing been sent from the New York to
the Indiana were dated at SIS a. m.
Of that day and we're an invitation
from the flagship to accompany her
to Siboney. while the response was a
declination to do so. The Admirals
invitation was wigwagged by Captain
Chadwick, and was as follows:
1.-THE Admiral wishes to know IL you
will join him this morning in going
to see General Shafter?"
To this Captain Taylor replied at
S.S7: Work aboard ship previously
going on prevents me from going with
you today"
Mr.. Rayner contended that the sig
nails were among the most import
ant occurrences Of the day prior to the
time that the command Of the fleet
devolved upon Commodore Schley
Captain Lemly replied that under
previous rulings Of the court the read
ing Of the signals was clearly inadmis-
sible, He, however. agreed that he
would consult with Mr. Rayner and
that, II after this consultation the Ques-
ton including the reading of the sig
nails should appear proper, Admiral
Taylor could be recalled and the ques-
tion asked To this Mr.. Raynor con-
sented.
Commander Potts testimony dealt
especially with the bombardment Of
the Colon. Answering a question from
Judge Advocate Lemly as to the con-
duct of Commodore Schley during that
engagement. he said Il was that of a
man laboring under great mental ex-
element and of a man who was anN-
ious to discharge as soon as possible
disagreeablS duty
Mr. Rayner asked the witness:
Suppose you were made aware of
the fact that when he entered into
that engagement he was under the
regulations of the navy not to engage
shore batteries II there was any danger
of the shore batteries Gripping the
ships would you say, If you knew Of
that that he was still laboring under
great mental excitement
Il cannot answer that, replied Potts.
Lieutenant Leiper expressed the
opinion that the Spanish shore batter
les at Santiago had not been at any
time formidable.
During Commander Potts examina-
ton Mr.. Rayner secured permission
from the court to introduce as evil
dence the order of Secretary Long 10
Admiral Sampson dated April 6, in
which he was admonished against the
exposure of the American vessels 10
the fire of strongly fortified ports. The
paragraph in that order which he es
pecially wished to have considered
reads as follows:
THE department does not wish the
vessels of your squadron 10 be ex
/ posed to the FIRE OF the batteries al
Havana. Santiago De Cuba OF other
strongly fortified ports in Cuba. unless
the more formidable Spanish vessels
should take refuge within those har
bors. Even in this case the depart
ment would suggest that a rigid block
ade and employment Of our torpedo
boats might accomplish the desired
object viz. the destruction of th,
enemys vessels. without subiectinl
unnecessarily our own men Of war {,
the fire Of the land batteries"
This dispatch also contains the fol
lowing order.
n The department further desire
B that in case Of war you will maintain
! a strict blockade of Cuba. particular!
+ at the ports of Havana Matanzas. and
! If possible, Of Santiago De Cuba. Man
zanillo and Cienfuegos"
r Cartwright Still Leads Walkers.