Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-26

Washington, Sept. 25.-When tie
Schley court CT inquiry convened at
the navy yard at II O'Clock Wednes-
cay, there was genuine comment upon
the facts that the seat which had been
occupied from the beginning of the Sit
tings by Judge Jere Wilson was va
mt. He had endeared himself not only
to the members of the court but to all
persons about the court and sorrow
was shown upon every countenance.
Comment uron his sudden taking off
was very general throughout the court
room. The business of the court. how
ever. was promptly resumed at the
usual hour.
The wall back of the court was
adorned, Wednesday. by 4 chart on =
large scale showing the ground site Of
battle off Santiago on July 3. The
southern coast of Cuba in the vicinity
OF Santiago was plainly marked and
the points at which the Spanish ships
went to the bottom or to the shore
were all indicated in plain lettering.
There were also on hand a number of
transparent charts which had been
prepared over night and which We're
intended to illustrate various pha -cs OF
the Santiago campaign.
The first witness called. Wednc sday,
was A. Il. ClaXton. the machiniSt on
board the Texas who had begun his
testimony when the sitting of the court
was 50 abruptly terminated. Tue sday
morning. ny the death OF Judge WI
SON.
Before Mr.. Claxton took the stand
4. cd tn
make various verbal corrections in the
official copy Of his testimony.
Mir Claxton said on July 3. 1898. he
mad been on duty in the engine room
Of the Texas. The engine indicator
had called for full speed ahead early
i'll the morning which had within an
nour after the beginning of the action
been changed to full speed astern.
To his knowledge there had been no
signal for the reversal OF the engines.
II said that he had been excused from
service in the engine room but Stlll
he knew that the engines were re-
Nersed for about two minutes.
What was the next change made in
the indicator of the port engine Of the
Texas" ne was asked.
Full speed ahead.
What was the next after that
There was no other order given fC.'
some time afterward.
when was further signal received
on the Indicator and what was the
signal?'
Within the first hour of engage
ment the direction was changed to tull
speed astern.
Can you not give an estimate of the
time when the signal was given for
full sreed astern and how long after
the beginning of the action?
Il could say within the first hour.
WAS there any other signal given
during that watch within your knowi-
edge for the port engines TO reverse?
There was none to my knowledge.
YOU were on duty in the port en-
CINE room throughout that day were
you not:
loft and on, sir.
Where else were you on duty If
anywhere at the time?''
II was excused for a time on ac-
count of the heat.
LAS matter of fact were the en-
gines reversed"
They were for about two minutes.
Rear Admiral Cotton, now command
ant Of the Norfolk navy yard and who
the auxiliary cruiser Har-
ward during the Spanish war. was the
next witness. He told of meeting the
flying squadron under Commodore
Schlcy OFF Santiago on May p. 1888.
and said that on that dat" he had de-
Iivered dispatches to the then commo-
dore from Admiral Sampson and the
navy department.. He had. he said.
boarded the brooklyn. about 1870
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