The Washington times., 1901-11-06

of SchIey's Conduct During the
Santiago CnmpaiEn-A Trial W ith-
out Parallel in Naval History-hr'
Ham, Concludes His Summing Up
we have never before seen case
wherein the man who was victorious
and did his whole duty has been com
PEELED to answer for his coloagt .t5,l1., p,
-" The situation Is eNcepuoidl
and without parallel in all naval
history. Captain Parker, IN ms ar
gument in behalf of Admiral Schley.
Mr.. Hanna concluded his argument be
fore the Court of Enquiry yesterday al
ternoon and Captain Parker Immediately
began the opening address for the appl-
cant He painted a very different word
picture of the scene of the operations OF
the Flying Squadron during the Santiago
campaign from that drawn by MIR. Hanna
The latter could find no good in any
thing that Admiral Schley had done; even
when he reached the point of the battle
yesterday afternoon he passed it by with
a reference TO nothing except the Brook
lyns loop. This he depicted in a manner
such as to suggest the hair-breadth es-
capes witnessed in melodram In his re-
cital of the incidents of that maneuvre
It was almost possible to discern the fly
ing spllnters of the battleship and the
sunkeir hull of the man-of-war. All of
this was only happily averted." The
testimony relating to other parts of the
battle, he said, was interesting. Dut it
was not important; it did not have any
connection with the precept
Captain Parker saw the events of the
campaign and read the testimony bear
ing upon them in an entirely different
light Between his Interpretation of them
and Mr.. HaRnas conception of them
there was all the difference Of Il Allegro
and III Penseroso." Everything which
Captain Parker saw added glory to Admi-
raj schley. while all that Mr.. Hanna OBJ
served was to his detriment. Captain Par
ker's picture was bright and cheerful;
that of Mr. Hanna horrible. To the lat
ter Admiral Schley's acts were little short
OF criminal.
Some Telling Points.
There was considerable of life and spirit
and action in what Captain Parker said,
as well as many telling points which
could not have failed to make favorable
impression on the Court. He reviewed the
testimony. covering all Of the specifica-
tions Of the precept up to the reconnois-
sance at the time of the adjournment
yesterday There were no innuendoes in
what he said. He spoke plainly, clearly
and to the point; in fact, at time almost
hluntly, and he was enabled during his
remarks. in one or two instances, to pay
his respects to Admiral Sampson and Cap
tain Sigsbee. In treating of the latter
officer he scored a good point which, while
1t was developed during the proceedings,
ascaped general attention.
Captain Parker has all along insisted
that the log Of the Colon should be placed
in evidence That was one of the docu-
ments which was 'unintentionally'' omit
ted when other papers and records were
printed for the use of the Court in the
case and for Introduction in evidence Two
or three days age h. succeeded in getting
the log into evidence, and his purpose
was apparent yesterday. He showed by
this log that the Colon had taken her posi-
ton in the mouth of the harbor Of San
tiago on May Is. and that she was there
on the day when Captain Sigsbee went
in, and, as he testified. did some sketch
ing. Yet Sigsbee did not see her. He
brought this fact forcibly 10 the attention
of the Court Then he went on to show
That the Colon had remained in that posi-
hon until 1885 on the morning OF June
/. and that she was there when Sampson
steamed by the mouth Of the harbor at
$50. and yet he did not attempt TO de-
stroy her. Yet Schley was blamed for not
having "potted' her on the day before.
Regarding the signal lights which were
seen ON shore at Cienfuegos, Captain
Parker called attention to the fact that
the incident had been recorded in the log
books of all the vessels save the Iowa,
showing that they had all seen them, yet
Captain Evans of the Iowa, was the only
man WIN knew what they meant, as he
had been advised before leaving Key
West. He did not inform Schley Of their
significance.
Dispatches OF Cienfuegos.
As TO the dispatches received by Schley
off Cienfuegos, Captain Parker showed
the confusion which resulted from them,
ard pointed out SIMPSONS instruction to
Schiev TO remain there until satisfied that
Cervera was not there. Mr.. Hanna. he
declared, had handled these dispatches
very gingerly, evidently fearing to burn
his fingers
Captain Parker asserted that he pre-
ferred TO accept the Judgment OF Admiral
Schley, with his large experieace. upon
the matters which he was called upon
to decide than the opinions Of the young
officers in command OF a ship for the
first TING. BY this he said he intended
no reflection upon them. He was willing
to rest these matters with the Court. he
said. as its members We're all men Of ex-
perIence. and had in their varied careers
been called upon to exercise their own
Judgment
At one time during his argument, Cap
tain Parker illustrated his point by quot
Ing from the Scriptures. At another time
he drew q humorous picture Of the un-
happy plight Of Admiral Cervera.
"ComnIodore Schley was instructed TO
ascertain facts" said Captain Parker.
'.IIe did ascertain facts. He was instruct
I'd not to allow the Spanish feet to es-
cape without decisive action. The Span
ish feet did have decisive action. Why.
we can plAdIre poor old Admiral Ger
vera, hatless and bootless. clad only in
his underciothes. rescued from his burn
Ing ship ami received on board one Of the
ships of the victorious feet.
'Deciaive action!" exclaimed Captain
Parker, with emphasis. could anything
have been moro decisive?"
Captain Parker VIII conclude this morn
Ing. and will be followed by MI Rayner.
who will probably speak the greater part
Of tomorrow. Captain Lemly will then
the argument
Captain Parker Begins.
In beginning his address in behalf OF
the applicant, Captain Parker commented
upon the extraordinary character OF the
case, which he said was more remark
able than that Of Commander oliver
Hazard Perry. for he said: "Tho-e never
was a man who without contro,,ar-s,,
was regarded as victorious over an
enemy's feet who was compelled TO apply
for a court Of enquiry; and" he added,