The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-27
brief SESSION OF
THE NAVAL COURT
The Testimony Of Captain
Wise Continued.
LIEUT.. WOOD TESTIFIES
he Delivered Dispatches to Schley
From Sampson.
SCHLtY EAGER 70 KNOW SIMPSONS AIN
LIEUT.. WOOD TESTIFIES
sCHLEY EAGER 70 KNOW SIMPSONS AIM
Wise Says That He Did Not Communicate
Direc Iy to SchIey the Results Of His
Reconnaissance Of The Harbr
at Santiago.
at Santiago.
(By the Associated Press }

Washington, Sept. 26-The Schlcy
court of inquiry was in session for only
an hour and three quarters today, ad-
| journing at 12:45 in order to permit its
| members and others engaged there to
attend the funeral of Judge Wilson, late
of counsel for Admiral Schley Captain
Wise concluded his testimony Admiral
| Cotton made a brief statement on re-
call and Lieutenant Spencer S. Wood,
who commanded the dispatch boat Du
| pont during the Spanish war began his
! testimony. Machinist Gray, who was in
charge of the starboard engines of the
Texas on the day of the battle off San
tago testified that on the day of the
battle the starboard engines were stop
| ped and the machinery reversed.
| Captain Wise was questioned at con
| siderable length as to what he had done
| before the arrival of the flying squadron
off Santiago towards locating Cervera's 5
| fleet in the harbor. He said that while
he had satisfied himself of the presence
of the Spaniards, be had been content to
| communicate his knowledge to Admiral
Schley through Captain Sigsbee, not con-
| sidering it necessary to make direct
| communication with the commanderin
| chief
Lieutenant Wood gave the particulars
| of his delivery of dispatches from Ad.
i miral Sampson to Admiral Schley on the
22nd of May, while the Admiral lay off
| Cienfuegos He said that Schley seemed
very nervous and especially anxious TO
| know what SIMPSONS intentions were.
He had not concluded his testimony when
the court adjourned for the day.
CAPTAIN WISE TEsTIFIES.
Captain Wise, who commanded the
scout ship Yale during the Spanish War,
continued his narration of the retro
grade movement of the flying squadron
toward Key West on May q. On the
next day he was dispatched to Newport
| News reporting to Admiral Sampson on
| the way He had told Admiral Sampson,
| he said, that the flying squadron was
about 30 miles west of Santiago. In re-
sponse to a question from the Admiral
he had said he did not know what it was
doing there.
Mr.. Hanna read the following extract
from Admiral Schley's report of February
18th to the Committee on Naval Affairs,
| beginning: after having been informed
by the scouts commanded by such officers
as Sigsbee Jewell and Wise, that al
though they had all been off Santiago
de Cuba for week they had seen moth
ing of it (the Spanish fieeD and knew
nothing of it's movements or it's where
abouts" etc.
He then asked Captain Wise if he had
made such communication to the Ad-
miral
Il did not" was the response.
did you give Admiral Schey any in
formation respecting the Spanish squad
ROM"
4 DID NOT SEE SCHLEY.
"Only through Captain Sigsbee. I did
not go on board the Brooklyn at all.
gave Captain Sigsbee all the informa-
tion I had"
Captain Wise was cross examined on
this point by Mr.. Rayner. He asked:
,.From the morning of the 22nd until
the arrival of the flying squadron on the
evening of the 26th you were trying to
get in touch with the enemy and watch
ing the harbor?"
"Yes"
"You saw nothing in there?"
81 could not sec any harbor at all.
Isb&"You sent no one on shore to try to
establish communication?
mot at ALL.
SAW NOTHING IN THE HARBOR.
Isn't the natural condition of the har-
Dor such that it is impossible to see
considerably up the harbor?"
"You can only see short distance uI
the harbor.'
And there was nothing in sight what
ever, was there?'
Nothing at ALL"
I The witness had said that Captain Sigs-
bee had taken the dispatch beginning
"get in touch with the enemy" The court
through Admiral Dewey asked: WAS il
your duty or that of Captain Sigsbee tc
convey the information in the dispatch
referred TO to Commodore Schley?'
Il think it was Captain Sigsbees, as
he went Immediately on duty and | was
intercepted by orders from the Commo
dore to take the Merrimac in tow
Mr.. Hanna: did you receive any in
quiry, or did the commanding officer o
the flying squadron ask you for any in
formation at any time?''
Nothing
| Mr.. Rayner continued his questions
devoting himself especially to the signal
L L