Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-10-16
0IIY ONE NEW WITNESS
HEARD IN Detail
nEFoRE THE sGHLEY COURT OF
INQUIRY At YESTERDAYS
SESSION.
LIEUT.. COMMANDER SEARS,
.nutR.L sCHLEY,s FLAG LIEUTEN-
ANT DURING THE WAR,
Detailed Account of the En-
tire Cuban Campaign. Including
the Battle of Santiago. Where Ger
ycra's Fleet Was Destroyed-An
Intere..ing Days Session.

Intere.ting Days Session.
WASHINGTON, October 15.AOnly
one new witness was heard in detail
liz the schley court of inquiry to-day.
This was Lieut.. Commander James
"a Sears. who was Admiral Schley's
rag lieutenant during the Spanish war.
lie gave a detailed account of the en-
tire Cuban campaign, including the
t-ief siege of Cienfuegos, the retro
Grade movement of the flying squadron
I'm search. of coal, the blockade of San
,ago, the reconnaissance of the Sant-
ago shore batteries and the bombarS-
ment of the Cristobal Colon May 31st,
and the battle off Santiago, July Bird.
when Cervera's fleet was destroyed.
lie placed the distance out of the block
aiding line at Cienfuegos at from one
10 four miles and at Santiago at from
three to six miles. He expressed the
9pinion that in the battle of July 3rd.
t had been the Viscaya's intention to
ram the Brooklyn.
While Commander Sears was on the
stand Captain Lemly asked his age, but
the court after quite prolonged con-
sItation in retirement, decided that
the question was not admissible. 1t
held. however. that the time of SER
vice could be inquired into.
he iy,-
reduction of brief report of the bat
tie of July 3rd, which Commodore
Schley prepared for transmission to the
secretary of the Navy. 1t was stated
that Commander Sears had taken this
despatch ashore to be eabled to the
secretary, but that it never had reached
that official The dispatch was ruled
ont on the ground that as it was not
received, it was not an oficiel commu-
ncation. 1t was not read in the court
room but the following is a copy of it.:
The Secretary of the Navy. Washing
ton .. c.
Spanish squadron came out of San
go harbor this morning. July 3. at $3.50
aud We're all captured or destroyed in d
rInning fight to the westward of about
'aree and one-half hours. Very few cas-
lilies in our fleet; Ellis. chief yoemau
Killed. and one man wounded on the
irooklyn. Reports from other ships moi
H yet The COMMUNICATIVE chief now SUI
intending transfer of prisoners from
Ic Cristobal Colon. which SURRENDERED
. the Brooklyn and Oregon at 1:15 p. m
ABOUT 1000 prisoners in all. including
Spanish admiral. Victory complete; de
tolls later.
Signed "SCHLEY."
Captain Cook was recalled during the
lay and in response to question by
Nptain Lemly, made an additional
statement concerning the retrogradt
movement of the flying squadron, May
~ TO May %. He said also in answer
~ question by the court that Com.
modore Sch.ey, during the battle oi
July 3, was cool, brave and enthusi-
asuc ! can not imagine any conduct
ii battle more admirable
When the court concluded its ques-
Toms, Captain Cook withdrew ant
Lieut.. Commander Sears continued hi,
recital of the details of the Santiago
'ampaign, being under cross-examina
ton. The examination was conducted
oy Mr.. Hanna, who asked especially
'oncerning the meeting of the fyins
a'uadron with Captain McCalla. wheI
'4e squadron was on its way to Cienfue
soS' but the witness could not recall
any conversation with Commodor,
9'hIey relative to that occurrence
speaking of the Adula. the witness sale
'ae papers of that vessel were al
ignt; he had looked into that matte
himself
speaking of the arrival OF the Hawl
d llenfuegos with dispatches on Ma!
49, the witness referred again to thu
NcCalla memoranda which stated tina
here was good landing place thirteen
niles from Cienfuegos, but he said il
reply to questions that no effort hat
o'en made prior to the arrival of Cap
'tn McCalla on the oath to find thi
landing place.
continuing the witness said that in
srnctions were given Immediately af
yer Captain McCalla's report that thu
epaniards were not at Cienfuegos t.
proceed to Santiago. He had not heart
'Nat the Commodore had other inten
IONS than to leave forthwith, and h
anew nothing of an alleged letter writ
zen on that date by Commodore Schley
saying that he would not leave unit
ale 10Th, the next day. The witness
with reference to the alleged difficult,
VI coaling the Texas at sea, said tina
le has had the authority of Captain
Fhiilp for that statement.
speaking of the speed of the Brook
''h IN the chase of the Colon, the wit
ness said it had been increased grad
uaiiy. The record made of the revolu
IONS OF the engine showed that tn,
vessel had covered 40 miles on that oc
easion.
Mr. Hanna asked why the Yucatal