Evening star., 1901-09-25
ORDERS TO SCHLEY
CONTINUED from First Page,

have all striven to that end. I am forced
to return to Key West via Yucatan chan
mel for coal. Can ascertain nothing con-
corning enemy. Was obliged to send Eagle
to Port Antonio Jamaica, yesterday, as
she had only q tons of coal on board. Will
leave ST. Paul here. VIII require $500 tons
Of coal al Key West"
Changes In the Dispatches.
He addressed the court briefly concern
ing changes in the language of the dis
patch, as printed in the official report.
He said that Admiral Schley had spoken
of the weather as 'boisterous." and that
that word had been omitted from the
printed copy of the dispatch. He also
stated that whereas the admiral had said
that $500 tons of coal would be necessary
the printed copy made it 10000 tons. 1t
was also stated IN the original that the
Harvard was going to Port Royal whereas
Kingston had been inserted in the printed
copy. There also were other changes
Lieut.. BealIs Offer.
Admiral Cotton then related a conversa-
ton he had had with Admiral Schley con-
corning proposition of Lieutenant Beal1
of the Harvard to go ashore and put him
self in communication with the Cuban in
surgents. He could not, he said, recall
the exact words of the conversation, but at
all events Mr. Beall had not been ordered
ashore.
Judge Advocate Lemly asked: After you
delivered the order and prior to the dis
patch which he delivered to You to be sent
locate Cervera's fleet to your knowledge?"
None to my knowledge"
Did he with his squadron at that time
approach Santiago?''
He did not. 1 will qualify that to this
extent. The vessels, of course, were not
at anchor; they were moving about and
there We're no directions for movement to-
ward the harbor of Santiago"
Referring to that phrase in the dispatch
the department looks to you to ascertain
the facts that the enemy If therein does
within your knowledge, did Commodore
Schley do in obedience to these instruc-
tions?' Nothing to my knowledge" "On
the departure of the flying squadron sup
Gated by the signal for Key West, and the
leaving OF your own vessel for Kingston,
what OF the American force was left off
Santiago to prevent the exit Of Cervera's
fleet from that harbor?'
fact"
Judge Advocate Lemly then started to
read dispatches received by Admiral Cot
ton from Admiral Schley, delivered by the
Scorpion.
Mr.. Rayner objected to the reading of
these dispatches unless Admiral Simpsons
dispatch number to Admiral Schley,
should also be read, "as," he said, "Ad-
miral Schley's orders were based upon
that"
AT this point Captain Parker remarked
that this dispatch would not be found.
To this remark Captain Lemly took ex-
ception saying that it was out of place for
counsel to make such comment
Admiral Dewey sustained the objection.
Admiral Cotton said In response to
question from Captain Lemly that vessels
of the fleet could have coaled where they
were on the 27th-at some time during that
day, he said AS indicative of the condi
tion of the sea he said he had used a
cookie shell boat In going from the Har-
ward to the Brooklyn and had worn white
uniform.
The "Dear Schley Letter. Read.
The order Of Admiral Sampson which is
the letter known as the Dear Schley" let
ter was then read.
On cross examination, Admiral Cotton
said that while he had delivered four or five
dispatches to Admiral Schley he had had
the original only Of the one dispatch which
he had given. They had all been translated
by Lieutenant Beall and he had not seen
the originals of any but that one. He had
no record of any other dispatches.
Mr.. Rayner. II think, may be, I can help
you if you will let me. Will see If can
not refresh your memory. Are you not
mistaken about dates and Is not the date
Of the delivery Of these dispatches the 3lst
instead of the 9th Of May? You did deliver
the dispatches. there Is no doubt"
.'All the dispatches received at st. Mich
olas Mole were delivered to Commodore
Scnley on tne morning Oh May ~, 1888.
There Is no mistake about that. The Gis-
patches received at Kingston for Com
modore Schley, were delivered on the
morning Of May 81. There is no mistake
about that"
Mr.. Rayner. Then we will go ahead and
see If you can find any more. I know you
delivered them as fast as you got them"
Il desire to inform counsel that have
record Of the dispatches that were received
by me or that came addressed to the Harv-
ard or addressed to the senior officer at ST.
Nicholas Mole or Kingston. Jamaica. l
have not a record Of the dispatches that
dore Schley except one."
Mr.. Rayner. You spoke Of four or five
dispatches'?'
THE dispatches to which have reference
are those that were received by the Har-
ward by me-"
Have you record of those?"
Il have record of the dispatches that
were intended for the Harvard and were
received by me as the commanding officer of
the Harvard. I have not a record of all
dispatches that were addressed to in
tended for Commodore Schley or the senior
The witness identified one dispatch printed
in the appendix to the report of the bureau
Of navigation, May q, 1S9S The court at
this point adjourned for luncheon.
Positive About Two Messages.
At 2 o'clock the court reassembled and
Admiral Cotton was again questioned by
Mr. Rayner as to his statement that at
Santiago on the 9th Of May he had de-
livered four or five dispatches to Commo-
dore Schley. The witness had testified
specifically as to two dispatches he remem-
bered having given to Commodore Schley
and Mr.. Rayner wanted to know whether
he was not mistaken about having deliv-
cred others which the counsel said he
thought were delivered on the 31st
Admiral Cotton finally modified his
statement in effect that he was positive of
having delivered two messages, but he
said that perhaps the other messages that
were in his mind were messages addressed
to himself, which he showed Commodore
Schley for his information. He said that
any message dated Washington, the 9th,
would not have been delivered by him on
the 9th.
II think said the witness, 'it is prob
able that among the dispatches of which
| spoke Of having delivered on the 9th,
l may have referred to copies of some
dispatches sent to me and not to him.
So far as l know delivered to Commodore
Schley on that morning two dispatches,
one from the Navy Department and one
from the commander-in-chief of the North
Atlantic squadron"
Q. Then when you in your answer to
Capt. Lemly said that you delivered four