The Irish standard., 1901-10-19
HEAR SCHLEY,s SIDE.

More Witnesses for the Admiral
Testify at Inquiry.
Flag Oniccr of the brooklyn Tells
of the Battle, and Designates
Schley's Conduct Under Fire
as Worthy of Praise.
Washington, Oct. 16-The presenta-
tion of the Schley side of the case
was continued in the Schley court of
inquiry Tuesday. When Mondays
witnesses had been recalled and had
made the verbal corrections necessary
in their testimony, they were prompt
ly dismissed and, at the instance
of Mr.. Rayner, the judge advocate
summoned Lieutenant Commander
James H. Sears, who as lieutenant
was Admiral Schley's flag officer on
board the. Brooklyn during the war
with Spain. He testified to many de-
tails connected with the campaign
and was promptly succeeded by a
number of other naval officers who
served on the Brooklyn.
The Meeting with the Adula.
Commander Sears gave a detailed ac-
count of the encounter with the British
steamer Adula. He said the commodore
directed him to go aboard the Adula and
see If he could contrive some manner of
inducing the captain of the Adula, an Eng
lishman. to put himself out a little to tell
hfocr ho,, .x,1,,
inside Of Cienfuegos. The captain said of
course he would be very glad to do it, as
he was coming under some authority from
our fleet in jamaica
He suggested that when he came out
on the next day we should bring him to
with shot, SO that anybody observing it
from shore would see that he was acting
under force and that anybody who could
speak Spanish could find out all they
pleased from the refugees she had on
board"
With what understanding did they go
Ing with you?"
That he was to come out the next day
and 1t would be possible for us to get that
information, in fact that 1t would be very
easy TO do so.'
did he come out the next day?"
''He did not"
blockade at Santiago.
VAIN AeAe1S1CS " l1le DlOCkdQe at san.
tiago the witness said that 1t had been
maintained at varying distances of from
three to six miles, to suit the commander
IN chief. In thick weather and at night
the distance was less than in fair weather
and in the daytime.
The witness also described the recon-
natssance of May 81, when the Colon was
nred upon, and giving his conclusions with
reference to that event, he said it had de-
veloped the strength of the land batteries
and they had proved stronger than he had
supposed they WERE
The Battle of July 3,
The witness described the engagement
Of July 8. After stating the preliminary
incidents, he said:
Il was in my room when heard the cry
OF the executive officer: Clear ship for ac-
tlon knew what that meant and ran to
the quarter deck. 1 looked aloft to see IL
the prescribed signal: Enemy is escaping.'
was up, and saw that 1t was. l met the
commodore on the quarter deck. He d.
rected the signal: Clear ship for action
followed by the signal to close in, ali of
which were made.
Just about the time the Viscaya turned,
1eoman Ellis, who was trained observer
WIN the stadimeter, came to me on the
platform and said that his stadimeter
showed 9oo yards to the Viscaya.
The Loop.
wv men the order was given hard aport,'
looked at the next vessel in our fleet
the IeXas-and in my judgment we were
completely clear of her, and as we turned
we passed well clear of her. After the turn
was completed we found ourselves abreast
or perhaps Il little abaft the beam of the
leading Spanish ship, with slowly con-
verging course toward the leading ship
After about 10 TO 20 minutes we were
very hotly engaged with these three yes-
SGlS. Inc OREGON of =
me Texas astern Of her. The Viscaya be.
gan TO blaze up, flames would rise and
subside and she turned in toward shore.
Surrender of Colon,
After we began to gain upon the Colon
me commodore directed the Oregon to trv
ner guns at her. Then the Oregon and the
brooklyn fired deliberately at the Colon.
~. hlter our iira she began to waver in toward
the shore. Her coarse was unsettled, and
the commodore said he thought she had
enough OF it and was looking for soft SPOT
10 lie upon, which proved to be the case.
she tired occasionally at US, rather rapidly
at hrst. and then it became weaker She
was close into shore at that time and at
l:l5 hauled down her flag. Capt Cook and
Lieut.. Wells were sent on board the Colon
TO receive the surrender"
schley's Report Never Sent.
When Mr.. Sears had concluded his de-
scrlption of the battle. Mr.. Rayner asked
him If Commodore Schley had given him a
dispatch to be sent to the navy department
making report Of the battle. The witness
replied In the affirmative. Admiral Dewey.
then asked II this dispatch had been sent.
and was informed by Mr.. Rayner that II
mad not been forwarded to the depart
ment although 1t had been taken to tho
cable office. The court decided that as the
aispatch had not reached the department
It could not appear.
suppose 1t was not Commodore Schley's
tau!t that the dispatch was not forward
ed?" asked Mr.. Rayner.
Dewey Rebukes Rayner.
To this inquiry Admiral Dewey responds
ed: You can't ask questions of the court.
We are not in the witness box. Commodore.
schley's report is in evidence and that Ia
sufficient"
said ne had been with Commodore
Schley in five engagements, all told. He
was then asked as to the bearing of that
officer under fire. and replied:
His bearing to mo was a model for any.
body, worthy, Of emulation at all times.
Under fire his faculties, II 1t was possible,
seemed to be clearer and more in possess
sion OF them than at any other time"
was he In any state Of excitement?"
mot the slightest"
Was he cool and calm?"
Absolutely"
How about points Of danger. would hs
get away from them, or did he expose him.
self to them?"
HE was always putting himself In ex-
posed positions. requested him many
times not to expose himself, az 1t was use.
less to do So"