The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-12
rHE RRooKLYNs o

I ed the ninth Sp~eclucatlOn. WHICH QedfL
with the loop of the Brooklyn on July
3rd and the possibility OF colliding with
the Texas. He said he stood upon the
testimony of Captain Cook, who, all
things taken together, had the best OPP
~portunity TO give all the information
about the loop. What might have hap
pened had the Brooklyn turned to port
was purely a matter of conjecture. The
turn in the other direction was COM
pletely successful 1t was intimated
that the turn to the southwark had
been to get away from the enemy, yet
it was an indisputable fact that the
turn had brought the Brooklyn closer
to the Spanish fleet and she received
90 OF the 43 shots which struck the
American ships. Captain Cooks testi-
mony. he said, Illuminated this maneu-
yer, and he planted himself upon this
testimony.
CHART OF THE BATTLE RIDI-
CULED.
Mr.. Rayner then discussed the testi-
mony Of Heilner and Hodgson and in
this connection ridiculed the chart pre-
pared by the navigators of the ships in
the battle.
That nayigator's chart" said he. lis
a thing of joy oreve 1t is like the
obHterated epitaph upon an ~antiquated
tombstone. Six ~natigatorS met and
after three months of ~unremitting la
Dor they resolved to give the world a
chart of the battle of Santiago, which,
for all purposes of historical accuracy,
might as well be a chart of the battle
of Thermopylae or the field of Water
loo. AS a disastrous failure the chart
Is a magnificent success"
In his evidence, aid Mr.. Rayner,
Lieutenant Commander Heilner said
the Brooklyn passed across the bows
of the y less than $50 yards away
while nn the chant rrh;oh h. bo1rzl
prepare the distance between the two
ships Is given as 2,400 feet. Whether
the engines of the Texas were stopped
or backed, Mr.. Rayner said mattered
little. This whole controversy about
the loop seemed to have been started
to prove that the Brooklyn ran away
When this failed an attempt was made
to drag in the alleged danger TO the
Texas. The testimony of Captain Cook,
he declared. exploded both.
THE HODGSON CONTROVERSY
Mr.. Rayner then too up speciica-
ton No. 10 concerning the HOdgson
controversy He said he would not I'M
dertake the task Of eXtricating Lieu
tenant Commander Hodgson from his
predicament. He read portions of Hodg-
sons testimony and again fell back
upon Captain Cook' testimony as de-
c1SiVe of the point at ISSUE. Captain
Cook had said, Mr.. Rayner stated, that
the danger of collision had never en-
tered mis- head
No one. he said, had intended to at
tack Lieutenant Commander Hodgson,
but the entire controversy was Hodg-
sons W fault. Imagine such a con-
verSatiOn between the commanding Of
fcer Of a great fleet and a subordinate
officer at such a time, Even if Com
modore Schley had said Damn the
Texas it would not have been such
| n H-arV SariOnS m1ttar &c III noTl1H NOT
have been meant seriously. Down in
Anne Arundel county, Maryland, he
said they use such language in saluta-
ton, saying: Damn you, how are you
this morning."
MIR. WOOD AND MIR. POTTS.
Mr.. Rayner then returned and took
up the first Observation-Disclosures
Schley's conduct during the campaign.
Now we come to Mr.. Wood and Mr..
Potts he Said. Mr.. Potts and Mr..
Wood; Mr.. Wood and Mr.. Potts"
daughter in the court).
After reading the testimony OF sew
eral officers as to the splendid bearing
of Admiral Schley, Mr.. Rayner read
the testimony of Mr.. Potts to the effect
that the Admiral appeared
that he got up and sat down.
Lieutenant Potts" went on Mr.. Ray
His name will echo through the ages
of undying fame. When Manila shall
be forgotten and Santiago buried in
oblivion. the name of Potts shall live.
Whenever an admiral or q commodore
or q captain is engaged in the carnage
of mortal conflict, beware of Potts. Be
ware of your looks. Be careful how you
walk. Be careful To- You sit down,
Be reserved and reticent in your speech.
Nod your entire course and conduct
of action according to Potts, that pre-
ciouS child of the kindergarten, who
confesses that he was always scared
when he was in battle, but who, unfor-
tunately. was never engaged in any
battle sufficient enough to arouse his
timidity."
A TILT WITH LEMLY.
AT this point Captain Lemly protest
ed and his protest led to a dramatic
scene in the court room.
MIR. president" said Captain Lemly
Lieutenant Commander Potts ha
never said that he was always scared
when he was in battle. Many instances
have occurred in which counsel has a
soluiely misstated the evidence and
think he should be compelled to abide
absolutely by the facts, particularly
when he is attempting to traduce the
reputation of an officer. He has nc
right to speak in this n of an Of
fcer who is above any such ssault.'
Mr.. Rayner: "And you have no right
to traduce the reputation of Admira
Schley."
Captain Lemly: Counsel gets up ant
says that we are, in the discharge OF
a most painful duty, trying to traducs
Admiral Schley."
Mr.. Rayner: "I have borne willing
testimony to the impartiality witt
which he has tried his case and thu
delicate position he occupies; but 1 de
ask my brother not to get up n con
tradict me and say that 1 am unreliable
when I read the testimony that sus
tainS me-"
Admiral Dewey: THE court of cours,
will read all the testimony that ha:
been given. We will be governed by tn
testimony. We know exactly wha
Lieutenant Commander Potts said. H
said he was scared. but counse did en-
large 2 little on it."
Mr.. Rayner: Yes, 1 probably die
enlarge"
Captain Lemly: And that said,
am sorry 1 made the remark"
Admiral Dewey: "It is only one da!
more and I think we ought to get alOn: