The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-22
FLAG LIEUTENANT OF.
SCHL[Y AGAIN
TEST|F|{S
Wells Continues His Harra-
tive of the Cuban
Campaign.
STORY YET INCOMPLETE
Will Once More Take the Stand Be-
fore the Court of Inquiry
Today.
STORY YET INCOMPLETE
CROSS QUESTIONED ABOUT DISPATCHES
Wells Was Under Fire Principally From Hanna
For Two and Half Hours. State
ments by Capt Cook
ard Others.
(By the Associated Press.l


Washington, Oct. 21.--Lieut. B. w.
Wells, Jr., who was the flag lieutenant of
Admiral Schley while the latter was in
command of the Flying Squadron occu-
ried practically the entire time of the
Schley Court of Inquiry today. On his
direct examination he continued his mar
rative of the Cuban campaign. Lieuten-
ant Wells was under cross examination
for about two and half hours, largely
at the hands of Mr.. Hanna, whose ques-
tions were directed mainly to the dis
patches received and sent by Admiral,
then Commodore Schley Lieut.. Wells
was still on the stand when the court ad
journed for the day and will continue
his testimony tomorrow.
Capt Cook, who commanded the Brook
lyn during the Spanish war was the first
witness of the day. He made the fol-
lowing statement:
I'm my testimony I stated that the
Oregon on the morning of July 3rd was
under all boilers, having shifted her boil
ers from forward to aft. | stated this
from hearsay and presumed it to be cor
rect as accounting for her extraordinary
speed. | find that she had not shifted
boilers that morning, but that she had
steam on all her boilers at all times
while in the Santiago blockade"
While Capt. John l.. Hannum was on
the stand for the purpose of correcting
his testimony the court asked him the
following questions
How soon after you went on board the
Merrimac was she able to use her own
power to make from five to seven knots?"
"She was in condition to make five
give her seven knots
In reply to a question from Mr.. Rayner,
the witness said it took from the fore
noon watch of the 9th until the evening
of the 28th working day and night to
make the repairs on the Merrimac. He
did not know how long the vessel had
been totally disabled.
Lieut. Thomas F. Carter while cor
rectng his previous testimony, stated
that he desired to change that portion of
his answer to a question by the court,
in which he had said that the two after
boilers of the Brooklyn had no water in
them when the battle began on the morn
ing of July 3. AS corrected he desired
the answer to read
"The two aft boilers had little or no
water in them Their fires were not
laid until after the battle calls were
sounded"
Ensign w. P. Cronan, while on the
stand for the purpose of correcting his
testimony stated that he had measured
the distance from the initial position of
the Brooklyn to Rio Taruuino on July 3,
and found il to be 80 knots.
j. l.. Hunley, the chief machnist on the
Texas, who last week testified that on
July he was at the throttle of the port
engine of the Texas, stated in reply to
questions by Capt. Lemly that Claxton,
who had testified that he was at the port
engine on that day, and that the engine
was reversed, was stationed at the
air pumps, back of the engine.
Hunley said he kept his hand on the
throttle of the engine most of the time,
and did not think it possible that the
signal to stop or back could have been
given without his knowledge
WELLS is RECALLED
Lieut. B. w. Wells. Jr, who was on
Gay was then recalled and testified re-
garding the battle of July s. He said
he did not remember the ranges at which
the Brooklyn fired, but thought LOO
yards was the shortest. When the Wis
caya ran ashore the Colon was about
10000 yards ahead of the Brooklyn and
for a time firing ceased. He said he had
received orders to get up a quantity OF
rapid fire ammunition. Owing to the
character of the coast it was expected
that the Brooklyn and the Colon would
come TO close quarters. He was ordered
to have this ammunition ready to close
with the Colon and give her a rapid tlre
when they got close together. He said
he had not seen the Texas when the
Brooklyn made her turn. At one time
during the battle, he said, the Brooklyn
seemed TO be alone, engaging three ships.
number of dispatches were shown
to the witness and he was asked as to
their receipt by Commodore Schley. One
from Secretary Long to the American
Consul at Kingston dated Washington,
May 2S, saying that it must be delivered