New-York tribune., 1901-09-26
THE TESTIMONY IN DETAIL.
REAR-ADMIRAL COTTON, CAPTAIN W.
c WISE AND A. B. CLAYTON
THE WITNESSES.
IRv The Associated Press. ]

Washington. Sept. 25.-When the Schley Court OF
Inquiry convened at the navy yard at II O'Clock
to-day there general comment upon the fact
that the seat which had been occupied from the
beginning of the sittings by Judge Jere NJ Wilson
was vacant He had endeared himself not only to
the members OF the court, but 10 most persons
about the court, and sorrow was shown on almost
every countenance. Comment upon his sudden
death was general throughout the courtroom. The
business of the court, however, was promptly re-
suned the usual hour.
Rear-Admiral Schley said that henceforth Isidor
Rayner would be the leading counsel in his case
and would be assisted by Captain James Parker of
New-Jersey. and by II. A. league. of Baltimore.
a expert assistant. Mr.. Rayner will continue
to conduct the cross-examination of witnesses. as
he has been doing. and the others will continue in
the capacity they occupied up TO the time of Judge
Wilson'S death Mr. Rayner said that if it became
necessary in the preparation abstractng of the
Voprninous documents in the case TO employ as
sistant counsel If he should be unavoidably sb-
sent et any time, proper arrangements would he
made
The wall behind the tribunal was adorned to-day
with = chart a large scale, showing the ground
site OF the battle off Santa July The
ern coast Of Cuba in the neighborhood Of Santiago
vas plainly marked, and the points which the
spanish ships went TO the bottom or on the shore
we're all Indicated in plain lettering There were
elso number of transparent charts which had
been prepared over night and which were intended
70 Illustrate various phases Of the Santiago cam
pssn. All these had been prepared with view
q expeditng the work of the court. and all were
on a large scale
The first witness called was A c-lax+or .bs
mschinist on board the Texas, who had begun his
tesrnony when the sittngs of the court were in
OerFDpted by the death Of Judge Wilson
pefore Mr. Claxton took the stand Commander
ieiiher was recalled make verbal corrections in
lhs omcial copy of his testimony. In one case he
vas recorded giving the bearing and distance
" - ehe Brooklyn He said he had given the bear
ihs sno not the distance He made various other
manages. bur they not material
ENGINES OF THE TEXAS REVERSED
Mr. caxton said that July 3. 1888 he had been
on DUTY in the engine room of the Texas The
Nsihe indicator had called for full speed ahead
early in the morning. which had. within an hour
alier the beginning OF the action been changed to
i"il speed astern." To his knowledge there had
eeh no signal for the reversal OF the engines. He
~ sou mat he had been excused from service in the
'ehhe room but stil he knew that the engines
were reversed for about two minutes.
stopped
What was the next change made in the indica-
'or of the port engine of the Texas" he was
asked
Full speed ahead"
What was the next after tbat7p
mere was no other order given for some time
sfterward"
Wnen was further signal received by the indi-
NAsor and what the signalg
Within the first hour Of encaeer,.,, 81. a,ra.
non was changed 20 fun speed as,a-r
. an YOU not give an estimate of the time whom
sasnsi was given for fun speed astern and hor
t after The beginning Of the sctfon2
should say within m. FIRST hour
- <s mere any Other signal given during that
Seatnued ON fourth