The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-10-31
SCHLEY AND SAMPSON.
The Formers Movements and Conduct
Just Prior to the Battle off Santiago
Accounted fOr-WhereabOuts and
Doings of Latter Not Quite so Clear.
Washington Post.

Washington Post.
Thousands of well meaning people
today are wondering why Schley, who
"was in Cuban waters" didn't know
where Cervera was until informed by
Sampson.
Let US tell little story which will
explain many things; On May 10, 1898,
a secret agent OF the Government
tslegraphed from Havana to the Chief
Of the Signal Corps (War Department.
that the Spanish fleet had entered San
tiago harbor Naturally, Secretary
Alger received the news at once.
Within a few minutes the Secretary
OF the Navy and the President were
in possession of the facts. Sampson
was then at Key West. Schley had
already sailed, under orders, for
Cienfuegos, where, as Sampson and
the Navy Department believed Ger
vera had taken refuge. But Sampson
was notified the same day by wire.
Sampson could have overtaken Schley
within forty-eight hours-certainly
before the latter reached Cienfuegos.
Did he do so? Did he even try to do
SO? No. He sent dispatch boat to
Schley with message by
Schley on the 23rd Of May-telling
him to leave Cienfuegos, IF he was
satisfied that the enemy was not
there" and sail for Santiago. Schlev
sailed on the evening Of the oath.
He had not been provided with the
signal code by which he could com
municate with the Cubans on the
shore Every captain had the code
except Cook, who wa. commanding
Schley's flagship. An oversight per-
maps, but so it was, and strangely
enough, this omission Of which Schley
and Cook were the victims, has been
used by those who made it to discredit
Schley. However, Captain McCalla
arrived off CienfuegOs about that
time, gave Schley and Cook the code,
and so enabled them to comply with
Simpsons orders by making sure
that Cervera was not there. Then
the flying squadron steamed for San
tiago, DELAYED by the disabled condi-
ton Of the Eagle and the almost help
less plight Of the coaler Merrimac-
one of Secretary Longs purchases of
which more anon = reaching the
neighborhood on the Goth. Finding
it impossible to Goa! his ships at sea
on account Of the rough weather, he
started for Key West. The conditions
abated, however; he coaled in sort
of a way, aud by the 2Sth was off to
Santiago in blockade formation. The
next day-the 29th-he knew abso-
lutely that the Spaniards were in
side.
But where was Sampson all this
time? He had been officially inform
ed as to the facts on the 10Th. What
was he doing between that date and
the 3Oth, when he at last set out for
Santiago? Schley has been bounded
and villified by the Department be-
cause, as they allege, ''he wasted
three whole days" What, then, of
Simpsons eleven whole dayss
SIMPSONS advices from Washington
were specific and direct. Schley's
orders, filtered through Sampson,
were vague and hypothetical, full OF
ifs and ands. But Sampson did not
leave Key West until the 3Oth, al
though Cervera had been positively
located for him on the 10Th. Why?
We can wait. The country can
wait. The explanation Of this and
other mysteries cannot much longer
be delayed. SIMPSONS most gifted
literary henchmen will have their
hands full when the whole story
comes out-as it will before many
weeks. 1t is story OF reprehensibls
conduct, sure enough and the tenth
part of it has not yet been given to
the public.