The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-21
Court of Inquiry Re-
sumes After Two Days Rest
Usual Number of Former Wit
nesses We're Recalled.
CORRECTIONS.
Lieut.. Il. w. Wells, jr., the
First New Witness.
He Was Schley's Secretary Dur
ing the Campaign.

Washington, Oct. 21.-After two days
rest the SchIey court of inquiry re-
sumed it's sessions at IL o'clock today.
The court was as usual prompt in be-
ginning the proceedings, and not only
the members of the court but counsel
were apparently in brighter and fresher
frame of mind than usual. After the
witnesses of former days had been re-
called for the purpose of correcting
their testimony, Lieut.. B. W. Wells
jr., secretary TO Commodore Schiey
during the Cuban campaign, resumed
the testimony which he had begun on
Friday. After few preliminaries he
began his narration of the battle OF
July 3, and then was questioned at
some length by Mr.. Rayner before he
was turned over to Capt Lemly and
MIR. Hanna for croSS-examination.
Other witnesses called for the day
were MIR. Edward Graham, the Associ-
ated Press correspondent, who was with
Commodore Schley on the Brooklyn
from the beginning of the campaign at
Hampton Roads until it's close; Lieut.
Edward Simpson, who served on the
Brooklyn, and Mr.. Dennis j. Cronin.
Among the former witnesses recalled
was Capt. Francis A. Cook, who re-
turned to the stand for the purpose of
making an explanation of his former
testimony regarding the boilers OF the
Oregon.
Capt Cook, who commanded the
Brooklyn during the Spanish war, was
the first witness of the day. He was
recalled at his own request, and made
the following statement:
I'm my testimony 1 stated that the
Oregon on the morning of July 3 was
under all boilers, having shifted her
boilers from forward to aft. / stated
this from hearsay, and presumed IL to
be correct, as accounting for her ex-
traordinary speed. 1 find that she had
not shifted boilers that morning, but
"a no ha ste m a
all times while in the Santiago block
ade.''
Capt. Cook then was excused, and
former witnesses We're called to correct
their testimony. While Capt John L.
Hannum was ON the stand for the pur-
pose of correcting his testimony the
court asked him the following ques-
ton:
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
knots when 1 went on board. 1 did not
give her seven knots"
In reply to a question from Mr.. Ray
ner the witness said it took from the
forenoon watch of the 27th until the
evening of the 2Sth, working day and
night, to make the repairs on the Mer-
rimac. He did not know how long the
vessel had been totally disabled. Capt
Hannum desired to make a statement
concerning the testimony of another
witness to the effect that there was
no water in two of the boilers on the
Brooklyn. AS this statement did not
concern his own testimony the court
ruled it out of order.
Lieut.. Thomas f. Carter while cor
recting his previous testimony, stated
that he desired to change that portion
of his answer to question by the
court in which he had said that the two
aft boilers of the Brooklyn had no
water in them when the battle began
on the morning of July 3. AS correct
ed he desired the answer to read:
"The two after 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 Tanquino, on
July 3. and found it to be 80 knots.
]. l. Hunley. the chief machinist on
the Texas, who last week testified that
on July he was at the throttle of the
port engine of the Texas while cor
recting his testimony was asked by
Judge Advocate Lemly as to what other
machinist was stationed in the port en-
gine room on the day of the battle. The
witness replied that as soon as general
quarters sounded he relieved Machinist
Hail. He stated in reply to queS-
tions by Captain Lemly, that Claxton,
who had testified that he was at the port
engine on that day and that the engine
was reversed, was StdllOneQ at INe ar
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
Capt. LemIy asked the witness If he
had been on the Texas when that vessel
ran aground at Newport. Mr.. Rayner
objected to this line of examination
Captain Lemly stated that he desired
to show that the witness had misunder-
stood signals then with disastrous
results and it was possible he might
have been mistaken on the day of the
battle. After a short argument the
court decided that the question was not
admissible
BROOKLYN FOUGHTTHREE SHIPS.
Lieutenant B. w. Wells, jr., who was
on the stand when the court adjourned
Friday was then recalled and testified
regarding the battle Of July g. He said
he did not remember the ranges at
which the Brooklyn fired but thought
1.100 yards was the shortest. He des-
cribed the turn of the Brooklyn and the
chase after the Spanish ships. When the
ViScaya ran ashore the Colon was about
10000 yards ahead of the Brooklyn and
for a time the firing ceased. He said
that he had received orders to get
quantity of rapid fire ammunition. Ow-
ing to the character of the coast II was
expected that the Brooklyn and the
Colon would come to close quarters he
was ordered to have this ammunition
to close. with Colon and give her a rapid
fire when they got close together. He
then described the rest of the chase and
the final surrender of the Colon. 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
of 7r1C