The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-01
ADMIRAL EVANS
GIVES TESTIMONY.
Positions Of the American and Spanish
Fleets Off Santiago Just Before the
Battle vividIy Recalled.

Washington, Oct. i.-when the sohley
court Of inquiry met today much sym
pathy was expressed on the part OF the
members OF the court and those In at
tendance with Judge Advocate Lemly be-
cause OF the death of his sister. which
occurred yesterday. Captain Lemly was
present when the court convened but
Immediately withdrew.
Capt Miller, who commanded the collier
Merrimac. was called for the purpose OF
correcting the official record OF his tes-
timony given yesterday,
Admiral Evans was then recalled
Mr.. Rayner began his interrogations by
asking the witness concerning the secret
code ~ signals for communicating with
the Cuban insurgents near Cienfuegos.
The admiral said that when Captain
Chadwick communicated this code 10 him
he did not instruct him 10 give the In
formation to Commodore Schley Mr..
Rayner then questioned the witness es-
pecially as to his interviews with Com
modore schley after the battle OF San
tiago.
Mr. Raynor asked. did you have a
conversation with Commodore Schley on
July 4. some time during the morning
between and II o'clock on his flagship
at Santiago In the course of which you
used language as follows:
did you know that Jack Philip started
20 run away a, the beginning OF the bat
tie ard 10 which Commodore Schley re-
Piled, You are mistaken about that
Exams. saw nothing of the kind The
BROOKLYN made a turn and you must see
the tactical situation that made II neces-
ssry.'
81 DO not renSmber being on board the
-, .L. y..i.. Y l,ks.ly fs
was the bth at Guantanamo i am quite
positive l was not on board the Brook
lyn of Santiago but once and that was
q long time before that.
TEXAS POSITION OFF SANTIAGO.
AS TO the conversation never said
anything 10 the effect that Capt. Philip
had run away or attempted TO run away.
On the thinking over last night. what did
occur with reference 10 tie Texas, |
think Commodore Sehley and discussed
the position of the Texas when the fight
began.
THE Texas was lying with her head to
the east when the engagement began and
she turned with starboard helm and
headed off in the same direction as the
rest OF us She fired first with her port
battery and then put her helmn To star
beard and headed I'm the same direction
with the rest of the ships | think that
question discussed with Commodore
Schiey. I cannot be sure OF IL but that
I ever intmated that Captain Philip
attempted 10 run away with the Texas Is
preposterous on the face of it,
Ibid you have a conversation with him
on the same day, At the same place and
at the same hour or AT any other place In
which you used substantially the follow
ing language:
~ shot the bow of the Pluton, the
stern on the Furor; put my helm 70
starboard and raked the Teresa and
knocked out the vlscaya
OK BOARD THE FLAGSHIP.
ITO the best OF my knowledge and belief
never used such language"
Were not the commanding officers
called on board the nagship Brooklyn by
signal on the morning OF May 2a after
the Colon was discovered?
They were"
r'Can you tell me or 10 you recall what
took place at the conference OF the com.
manding officers az that timeg"
Commodore Schley was I'm the cabin n
the BROOKLYN when We assembled ant
there was a general talk scout the Span
feh fleet having been located at last al
Santiago. I do not recollect any specla
conference. DO not think Il was in th,
nature. of a conference. / do not recollec
now that the officers were asked to ex
press any opinion.
IL remember having a conversation witt
Commodore Schley about the effect o.
the fightnf batteries on the shlps N
which ] told him OF the experience W,
had had a San Juan ana expressed tn,
opinion to him that II was not wortl
while 10 risk ships lighting batteries OF
the shore alone. that did not think any
thing would be gained by It.
sUsTAINs scHLEY's ACTION.
'1n the case under consideration tn
Spanish ships were present IN the harbor
The conditions were changed and VI
would have 10 take the risk OF the hr
from the batteries IN order to get a
them. ] remember Commodore Schlcy 70
marking before we left that he felt tina
the country held him responsible tha
tLe ships should not be risked under IN
IRE Of the shore batteries until the Span
ish feet was destroyed"
"Commodore Schley answered Certain
~ and added words indicative OF his IN
tention 10 attack them as they came ou
OF the narrow dehle"
II recollect IL perfect"
.'1s that a correct statement"
That is correct"
SO thcrr was p plan ~ battle arrange
b. Commodore schley. was there note
There Is nothing there 10 indicate
from what YOU have read
WAS not that The same order that wa
afterward given by tho spmmander-in
chief. substantially. close " toward har
bor entrance and attack them
You have noi read anything about in
dicstirg any rar ~ battle
~ paynsr--ff want to read you w
repo\ your report n the cugagcmsn
e'f the Sf.eniei' --sfsstt-f''' md 7 would Tx