The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-25
AFTER EIGHTEEN MINUTES.
Session Brought to an Abrupt Ter
mination Yesterday Morning.


WASHINGTON, Sept. 24-The Schley
court of inquiry was brought to sudden
termination for the day, eighteen minutes
after conVening this morning by the an
nouncement of the sudden death of Judge
Jeremiah Wilson, senior counsel for Ad-
miral Schley. The announcement was
made to the court by Hon Isidor Ray
ner, assistant counsel, in the following
language:
i have a very sad announcement to
make to the court. l have just heard of
the death of Judge Wilson. l left him
at TO o'clock this morning, slightly in
disposed. l was with him until late last
night, l saw him this morning at 3
o'clock and left him at 10. We have con-
finmed the rumor through the telephone
that he has just died at the Shoreham
hotel, and 1 would respectfully ask the
court, if it meets with the approval of
the court, to adjourn for today"
Admiral Dewey said: II have to an
nounce that owing to the death of Judge
Wilson, of counsel the court will adjourn
for today until tomorrow morning.
Mr. Rayner said that so far as he could
now see, the counsel for Admiral Schley
VIII be able to proceed tomorrow, but he
added that there would be a desire to at
tend the funeral when it occurred. Ad-
miral Dewey and Capt Lemly agreed
that this detail could be arranged later.
The announcement of Judge Wilson s
death created CONSERVATION not only
among members of the court but among
the spectators. and some minutes elapsed
before people generally would accept the
report The judge had been present in the
court all day yesterday and while he
had not participated to any extent in the
proceedings, he had appeared physically
active and wide awake TO all that was
said and done.
The report first reached Mr. Rayner in
the shape of a rumor a minute or two
after Machinist A. b Claxton, of the
Texas, the second witness, had been put
on the stand. Capt. Parker and Mr.
league of Admiral Schley's counsel, i'm
mediately went to the telephone. They
returned in a few moments saying that
the report had been confirmed. Mr.. Ray
ner then made his announcement to the
court and asked an adjournment for the
day.
All the members of the court. including
counsel for the government and for Ad-
miral Schley, expressed the utmost sur
prise and sorrow over the news, while
Admiral Schley h'~7seIf sadd
THE news is $ shocking that l cam
not trust myself to give expression to
my estimate of the man. l can only say
that 1 have lost not only clear-headed
and brilliant counsel, but also dear and
much beloved friend. l am shocked be-
yond measure at the news and find my
self almost unable to accept the report -
The proceedings of the court were
rendered very brief by the announcement
of Judge Wilson's death. Commander.
Bates and Schroeder were recalled tC
listen to the reading of the official re
port of their testimony as given yester
day, and First-class Machinist A. 3
Claxton, of this city, who had charge
OF the port engine of the Texas on the
day Of the battle off Santiago, had ius
taken the stand when the announcement
was received.
1t had hon expected by the govern.
ment that -sil. Claxton would confirm tn,
statement CT Engineer Bates concernine
the reversal of the engines of the Texas
BATES ON THE STAND.
During the short time that he was OF
the stand, Commander Bates was asked
few questions. One of these was bI
Capt. Parker, and was in regard to the
steam log of the Texas. In reply to tht
hrst inquiry, Commander Bates said the
log had been written up the day afte,
the battle.
The other questions were by the court
and related the. first to the coal supply
OF the Texas on May 26, 1898, and tht
second to the condition of the machinery
Oh the Texas on the 31st of that month
me questions of the court and the re.
sponses- TO them were as follows:
are you positive that the Quantity OF
coal reported on hand May 26 was cor.
rcct?"
Yes, sir, as nearly as anybody can bt
positive There was no accurate means
OF weighing what was sent US, and gen.
orally there is no absolutely accurat.
means by which coal is weighed comins
aboard ship. All naval officers know thai