The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-08

Schley s ndgShlp, the Brooklyn, ad1
completed his testimony before the
Schley court of inquiry today, Captain
VIM. c. Dawson, of the marine corps
was called, and he was followed by
Lieutenant Charles d. Dyson, of he
bureau of steam engineering of the
navy department. Lieutenant Dyson
was introduced to testify concerning
the coal supply of the flying squadron.
but the court adjourned for the day
before he could be heard.
At the opening of court Lieutenant
Doyle resumed his testimony.
Mr.. Rayner asked whether the
Brooklyn had engaged in any lombard
ment during the month of June, 1898.
Judge Advocate Lemly objected, but
Admiral Dewey said that if the ques-
tion was confirmed to the Brooklyn
there would be no objection.
Mr.. Rayner modified his question and
Lieutenant Doyle replied that on June
9Th the Socapa battery had replied
spiritedly, but soon went out of bust
ness.
Mr.. Raynor asked What was Ad-
miral Schley's conduct and bearing at
any time either during the lombard
ments or during the battle of July 3rd
When his ship was under fire."
He always struck me as being just
about as we'll ~self-possessed as it was
possible for anybody to be under these
circumstances"
Mr.. Raynor then asked the witness
whether on July 2. 1898, he had OBJ
served smoke coming from Santiago
harbor over ZOcOpa hill.
Captain Lemly objected, contending
that the certain effect of such queS-
tiOns WOul be to open the gates for
interminable inquiry and that if one
side should enter upon such questions
the other must alsO be allowed to do so.
They did not object except for the rea-
son of the time involved.
Mr. RaynOr was then permitted to
ask his question which he did in the
following: WAS the smoke observed
On July 2nd by Commodore Schley
communicated to the squadron"
The reply was: Smoke was observ-
ed rising in the harbOr on July End n
my impression now is and always has
been since that night that that infor-
nation was conveyed to the command
er-in-chief."
The witness was then requested to
give a brief account of the part taken
by the Brooklyn in the battle of July
3rd which he did, repeating much that
he had said yesterday.
After stating the preliminaries, Lieu
.-lClldhI bOyl IcldIcu Ills ODSeIN dllOllS
Of the battle in the following language:
: Il fired the left gun first, and Halli-
gan shortly afterwarG fired the right
one. Then we began 20 load the guns
again. 1t was necessary then, after
loading the guns a second time to
turn the turret directly ahead as our
ship was apparently shutting the
enemy out by turning with a starboard
helm. Immediately after firing that
left gun the second time, the order was
to man the starbOard battery. l got
out of the turret through the roof, that
being the most convenient way Of get
ting out and crossed over to the star
board turret. AS / was going into the
StarbOard turret / had an opportunity
to see the Spanish ships. They were
then a little off our starboard bow. AS
soon as I had charge of the controller,
which up to this time had been in
charge of Mr.. Woodward, L swung the
turret around on the starboard DOW.
In the meantime some Of our forward
guns had fired. The volume of smoke
xwas so great that it must have come
Y from one of the eight-inch guns of the
forward turret, so l was entirely shut
out from seeing the enemy. While
the guns were in this position MI. Ma
son. our executive officer passed down
the starbOard gangway, calling, sharp
on the starboard quarter The interval
of time from the time the guns were on
lLlC SNdI OO" VI SIo1 oOo1o doAA w.
I think must have been two minutes
I swung the guns around to the star
board quarter and then we picked up
the enemy. The range at which I fired,
to the best Of my memor was about
14OO yards and from then on is was a
constant fire. training the guns until
we finally got them on the starboard
beam. The range Increased up to 1000
Yards n during the run after being
parallel with the Spanish ships the
range varied from about 5000 to 1900.
I think when the VIZcaya went into
ashore the range then was about 1880
yards. Just Immediately before she
turned in she made a sheer with her
starboard held apparently coming to-
ward US. and then Immediately put
her helm around the other way and
went in shore. From then n 1t was a
chase after the Colon
Describing the chase of the Colon,
Lieutenant Doyle said: THE Spanish
ship had secured a lead OF five or SIX
miles. The order was given to cease
firing and to come out of the turrets
End lake a SPELL during the chase OF
the Colon. The Oregon during that
chase and while we were on the top
of the turret wcs directed to try her
l3-inch guns on the chase, which she
did and the shots fell short. In a little
while they were tried again INC caine /"
little closer"
Admiral Dewey: directed oy
whom"
'By Commodore Schley, sir, by wig
wag signal. as I remember it"
Admiral Dewey: You saw that
signal?"
y Eyes. sir, 1 saw the signal being
I made"
Admiral Benham: "Did you read the
signal?''
ct did not, but I understood what ii
was, and if I am not mistaken it was
McCauley. an ensign we had on board,
who made the signal himself"
THE SIGNALS SCHLEY WAS KEPT
IGNORANCE OF.
Lieutenant Doyle during cross exam
nation said that while he mad seen the
shore lights at night at Cienfuegos he
had never suspected that they were
signals. He told Of seeing three horse.
Amen on the shore during the day time
ZEHEo rauardad than az Snanish caral