The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-10-03
EV ANS STORY ENDED
he Gives Further Evidence in the
Schley Inquiry.

Washington, Oct. 2.-There were
FIVE admirals of the United States
navy congregated Tuesday within the
railing Of the gunners' shop in the
navy yard where the Schley court of
inquiry meets. Admiral Dewey and
his associates, Admirals BenhaIn and
Ramsay, occupied their usual seats as
members of the court, and Rear Adj
miral Schley his customary place at
the table set apart for the "the appli-
cant" in the witness stand. Rear Ad-
miral Evans, who had been called
Monday, still occupied his position
and continued to tell his story of the
part taken by him as captain of the
low during the historic period of
the Santiago campaign.
withheld Code from SchIey.
Mr.. Rayner began his interroga-
tions by asking the witness concern
ing the secret code of signals for
communicating with the Cuban insur-
gents near Cenfuegos. The admiral
said that when Capt. Chadwick COM
municated this code to him he did
not instruct him to give the infor-
nation to Commodore Schley. Mr..
Rayner then questioned the witness
especially as to his interviews with
Commodore Schley after the battle of
Santiago.
Evans Denies Conversation.
"Did you have a conversation with Com
modore Schley on July 4, some time dur
ing the morning between eight and twelve
o'clock on his flagship at Santiago In the
course of which you used language as fol-
lows: Did you know that Jack Philip
started to run away at the beginning of
the battle and to which Commodore
Schley replied: You are mistaken about
that, Evans; I saw nothing of the kind.
The Brooklyn made a turn and you must
see the tactical situation that made it
necessary?'
"I do not remember being on board the
Brooklyn on the 4th of July. I think IT
was the 5th at Guantanamo I am quite
positive I was not on board the Brooklyn
off Santiago but once and that was long
time before that. AS to the conversation,
! never said anything to the effect that
Capt. Philip had run away or attempted to
run away. On thinking over last night
what did occur with reference to the Tex
as ! think Commodore SChley and | dis
cussed the position of the Texas when the
fight began. The Texas was lying with her
head to the east when the engagement be-
gan and she turned with starboard helm
ard headed Off in the same direction as
the rest of us. She fired first with her port
battery, and then put her helm to starboard
and headed in the same direction with the
rest of the ships. l think that question
discussed with Commodore Schley. ! can
not be sure of II, but that ever intimated
that Capt. Philip attempted TO run away
with the Texas is preposterous on the face
OF it,"
Did you have a conversation with him
on the same day, al the same place and at
the same hour, or at any other place in
which you used substantially the following
language: 4 shot the bow off the Pluton,
the stern off the Juror put my helm to
starboard and raked the Teresa and
knocked out the Yiscaya%"
ITO the best of my knowledge and belief
never used such language"
SchIey Called n Conference.
"Were not the commanding officers called
on board the flagship Brooklyn by signal
on the morning of May % after the Colon
was discovered?"
'They were"
"Can you tell me or do you recollect what
took place at the conference of the COM
handing officers at that timer"
Commodore Schley was in the cabin of
the Brooklyn when we assembled, and
there was general talk about the Spanish
fleet having been located at last at San
tiago l do not recollect any special con-
ference. do not think 1t was in the nature
of a conference. I do not recollect now that
the officers were asked to express any opin-
ion. | remember having a conversation
with Commodore Schley about the effect
of the fighting batteries on the ships, in
which told him of the experience we had
had at San Juan, and expressed the opin-
ion to him that 1t was not worth while to
risk ships fighting shore batteries alone +;
that l did not think anything would be
gained by 1t. In the case under considera-
ton the Spanish ships were present in the
harbor. The conditions were changed, and
we would have to take the risk of the fire
from the batteries in order to get at them.
l remember Commodore Schley remarking
before we left that he felt that the country
held him responsible; that the ships should
not be risked under the fire of the shore
batteries until the Spanish fleet was de-
strOyed."
SchIey Had Plan of Battle.
81 want to call your attention to the re-
port of Capt. McCalla, of the MarbleheaG
| on page 426, of the appendix, which says;
Commodore Schley explained to the COM
handing officers that in case the Spanish
ships came out he wished to concentrate
| the batteries of all our ships on portion
of those of the enemy. This was not ex-
| planned as tactical concentration of our
whole torCe on part OF the enemy, out as
| a division of our whole fire on several of
| the enemy's ships. During the time the
commanding officers were on board the
\ flagship Capt. Evans asked Commodore
| Schley II it were his intention to steam at
the enemys ships in case they should start
! to come out. Commodore Schley answered
| Certainly and added words indicative OF
| his intention to attack them as they came
out of the narrow defle?"
Il recolleCt it perfectly"
'Is that correct statement"
| THAT is correct"
80 there was plan of battle arranged
| nv Commodore EcblEy WAS fhara mot