The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-08
M. HANNA OPENS THE ARGUMENT IN
THE SGHLeY INQUIRY.
SGHLEY AGAIN ON THE STAND
He Makes Some Corrections in His
Sigsbee as to the Conversation on
Board the BrookIyn-Sfesbee Again
on the Stand-Testimony of Two Press
Reporters as to Sigsbee Reporting
Enemy Not I'm Santiago Ruled Out

o Of inquiry reached the argument
stage at the beginning of the afternoon
today. The morning sitting was de-
voted to listening to Admiral Schley
and Captain Sigsbee in making correc-
ton Of their testimony which had been
given previously and the introduction
by Judge Advocate Lemly of numerous
documents bearing upon different
phases of the inquiry.
Admiral Schley did not make any
material additions to his previous state
ments, but devoted himself largely to
the clearing up of ambiguous places in
his evidence.
An effort was made to introduce two
new witnesses, who were expected to
give testimony in Admiral SchIey's be-
half concerning the controversy as to
what information Captain Sigsbee COM
munlcated to Admiral Schley when he
arrived off Santiago in May 1858. One
Of these witnesses was Frank B. Rich
ards and the other Geo. Lynch, both
OF New York and both newspaper cor
respondents who were on duty in Cuba.
and in Cuban waters during the war
with Spain Mr.. Lynch was on the
press boa SomerS and Mr.. Richards on
the Premier. They were to have teSti-
fed concerning the meeting of these
vessels with the St. Paul, of which
captain Sigsbee was in command. The
court. however, decided not to hear
them.
The opening speech Of the argument
in the case was made in behalf of the
government by z. p. Hanna, assistant
to the judge advocate. He began his
presentation of the case a few minute
after the court convened at 2 o'clock,
and when h court adjourned two
hours later he had not covered more
than half of h ground involved in the
controversy.
While Captain Sigsbee was on the
stand. Mr.. Rayner asked him if he had
megaphoned or otherwise communicate
ed to the press boat Premier, while off
Santiago the fact that the Spanish fleet
was not in Santiago. The witness re-
piled that he had not lone So, although
he would have been justified in saying
so if he had thought it proper under the
circumstances of war.
When Captain Sigsbee was excused,
Captain Lemly announced that he had
no more witnesses to call.
Frank b. Richards was then sworn.
He stated that he was on the dispatch
boat Premier during the Santiago CAM
pdlSu anu THAT the DOdI was HdllSu ny
Captain SigSbee on the night of May q
or %. Captain Lemly objected to this
line of evidence and the court ruled that
las the testimony of this witness is not
considered by the court as material to
the case, the objection is sustained in
accordance with the courts previous
ruling"
Under this ruling neither Mr.. Rich
ards nor Mr.. Lynch could testify.
SCHLEY ON THE STAND.
Admiral Schley then tool the stand
for the purpose Of correcting his testi-
mOny. The admiral was suffering from
a cold and his voice vas quite hoarse.
He began his corrections with the very
first of his testimony. Most of these
corrections were of typographical err
rors or the changing of words to make
sentences read more smoothly.
Referring to his testimony regarding
the reconnaissance of May 31st, the Id
miral changed his statement that fifty,
if not more shells passed over the fleet
to req "a number of shells passed over
the fleet" He also changed his evil
dence concerning suspicious movements
in the harbOr of Santiago July End to
read before dark 1 noticed in the har-
Dor a good deal of smoke coming up"
The official report, he said, made him
say that he saw the smoke after dark.
Coming to his answer to a question
in reference to his order sent below dur
ing the early part of the battle to
stand by to RAM Admira Schley en-
phasized his former testimony by stat
ing that there was a distinct attempt
to ram on the part of the Maria Teresa,
Admiral Cevera's flagship and the Wis
caya." sSJ
He also reiterated his confidence in
the Brooklyn's speed by stating that
with one engine and all the boiler
nnVUprS Shp PnUl6 have gotten ID all
speed that was needed. AS to the
passing of the flying squadron by the
Eagle on the morning of May 18th and
the latter's conveying h information
that there was no news" Admiral
Schley corrected his testimony wherein
he said that he was not mistaken as to
this, by stating that he might have
been mistaken.
Admiral Schley also corrected his
statement regarding his visit to the
flagship New York, when he had made
his preliminary report of h battle OF
July Srd to Admiral Sampson. The re-
cord he said, did not make the matter
quite clear. THE admiral said to me,
continued the witness that / had omit
ted a very important detail which was
to state hat the New York was pres
emit"
The witness corrected but one of his
answers to the questions by the court
IL uoCSNIOAA was CS ~
should not have communicated witt
Captain NeCalla to secure information
The answer, as corrected reads: The
communication which he made to me
through the Eagle indicated that Cap
tain McCalla knew / was pound FOL
Cienfuegos and I. Of course, took 1T fol
granted if he had had anything I'm
portant he would have notified me Of
the fact without my inquiry"
At this point, Admiral Schley an
nounced hat he had no more correc.
lions to make. Captain Parker calico
the admiral's attention to the evidence
of Captain Sigsbee in which he had sale
that when he vent on board the Brook
lyn the whole question, so far as he
could remember, was coal, and nothing
but coal and that Commodore Schley
already made UP his mind to go to Key
West.
t'That was not the first question Sigs-
bee asked me at ALL" replied Adm1ra
Schley. 81 did not say to Captain Sigs'
bee that we were going to Key West,
a Q tho CiOno1 will cIo~ SioShaa WAS