The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-09-20
TRIAL UNDER WAY
SCHLEY- SAMPSON NAVAL CON-
TRoVERsY RESUMED.
MANY CHARTS INTRODUCED
Admiral Higginson, Who Commanded
the Battleship Massachusetts,
During the War, First
Witness Called.
(By Associated Press.)

w dSulISloH sept ~ w HeH Tie Hd wal
board of inquiry into the Schley-Samp-
son controversy was begun today, the
Judge advocate swore the members of
the court collectively and then in turn
was sworn as judge advocate. The court
then retired for the purpose of discussing
the methods of procedure. Before the
withdrawal, letter from Admiral Schley
tc the navy department, requesting to
be supplied with all papers bearing upon
the case and the departments reply
granting the request was read.
At 1925 the court returned from it's
consultation. Judge Advocate Lemly
addressing Admiral Schley as THE APP
plcant," asked if he had any sugges-
tons to make as to the method of pro-
ccdure, whether he had something to
offer, or desired that he Lemly) proceed.
The admiral responded with a nod of the
head and a move of the hand: go
ahead"
Mr.. Lemly then presented the report
of the bureau of navigation for 1898. a
photographic chart of the West Indies
and adjacent seas and other charts. He
explicitly said they were introduced, not
a., testimony, but as books of reference.
Originals Not Barred.
will they preclude the Introduction
OF original documents?' Judge Wilson
asked.
mot at an was the reply. ION the
contrary, we shall desire to introduce the
original document when opportunity
Offers
Captain Parker made objection to the
photographic chart when 1t was pre-
sented.
1T is grossly incorrect" said he. LAS
matter of fact, the coast line of Cuba
is six miles further south and four miles
further west than it should be-" He
withdrew his objection when assured
that the chart was not to be used as evil
dence.
mander- in chief of the North Atlantic
squadron, was the first witness called.
He said he had, as captain comma nded
the battleship Massachusetts during the
Spanish war, and that for part of the
time the Massachusetts had been a part
OF the Flying squadron" of which Adj
miral Schley had been in command.
He told of joining the fleet at Newport
News; Of going to Key West, and then,
on the 22d day of May, of going to Glen
II, 1898, and Cienfuegos reached on the
22d.
Securing of Communication.
what was then done TO secure COM
munication with the Cuban forces on
shore?" Captain Lemly asked
Nothing to my knowledge" the wit
ness replied. II did not see that any
thing was done, but I understood that
information concerning the Cubans was
received through Captain McCalla."
Admiral Higginson, in response to
questions, said that this was later. He
also told of the presence Of the Collier
Merrimac. and Of the departure from
Cienfuegos and the arrival at Santiago
on the evening of the Goth.
In reply to questions. he said that the
Massachusetts had at that time taken on
about thirteen tons of coal but that as
he weather was heavy this was done
with difficulty. This witness also told Of
the fleets leaving Santiago for Key West
on. the night of it's arrival at the former
place and how after steaming westward
for some time, the vessels. all in response
to Commodore Schley's signals, returned
and steamed to within two or three miles
OF, the mouth of the harbor.
a., "What happened to cause the decision
to return to Key West?"
. II don't know
what was the condition of the
weather at that time for coaling at
sea?"
1T was not impossible to coal, I
think
No Conferences Held.
did you have any conference with the
commanding officer in regard to return
ing to Santiago, after you had gotten on
the way to Key West?"
None; We acted under general orders
All We did was to follow the signals Of
the hagship-the signals of the COM
mander-in-chief."
Speaking of the conditions when San
tiago harbor was again reached, the adj
iniral said he could see we'll into the har-
Dor and that he saw the Spanish shin
Colon lying in the outward harbor.
He did not remember seeing other yes.
sells; but the Colon was then one thous-
and yards beyond MORO Castle.
Retires When Fired Upon.
The vessel had lain there until she
was fired upon, which was on Nav 81.
and had then retired.
DCoSiIOIhS tuIS cuSdSeHent, Arm1raI
Higginson said 1t was on the day be-
fore the arrival Of reinforcements un-
DEP Admiral Sampson. He said that
Admiral Schley had come aboard and
said that he wanted to go in and fine
on the Colon"
g $50 1--WE in and fired on her." con-
'tinued the Witness He said the shots
fell short of the Colon and that the
Spanish shore batteries had in turn fired
att the bombarding ships.
In reply to questions as to what had
been accomplished by the bombardment.
the witness replied that 1t had served
to draw the fire Of the Spanish shore
battery and to give an idea Of what it
was composed of.
What idea did you get Of its COM
positiOn?"
Il did not think it amounted to any,
thing"
Where was Admiral Schley during