Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-10-18

PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST week.


/, of comparatively little popular interest.
Lieut.. Doyle was on the stand again, but
only for the purpose of correcting his
former testimony. He made a number of
changes in phraseology. His attention
was called to an error in his former testi-
mony in stating the distance the Brook
lyn stood out from the MORO at Santi-
ago, i'll reply to a question from the court.
He had formerly placed the distance at
two or three miles, but he had errone-
ously based his statement on the log for
June 2S instead OF May IS. Looking at
the log for May % he found only one es-
innate of the distance out, placing it at
seven miles.
Si.tecut, Ray.
Rear Admiral Schley's flagship, the
Brooklyn, and Captain Clark's vessel,
the Oregon, We're largely if not entirely
responsible for the destruction of Ger
vera's fleet. This point was brought out
by Lieutenant Commander Hodgson, who
testified that these two ships were the
only ones in the vicinity of the Colon
when it surrendered, the masts of two
other American ships being visible in
the distance.
Captain William NJ. Tolger, who COM
manded the New Orleans, speaking of
the action when the Colon was fired on in
Santiago harbor, said that as a recon-
noisance it was eminently successful as
it not only developed the location of the
shore batteries at Santiago but demon
strated that these batteries were weak.
He testified. in response to a question
from Admiral Dewey, that Admiral
Schley signaled to the vessels that par
ticipated in tlIis action to engage the
forts.
This testimony is in support of the con-
tcntion of Admiral Schlcy that the pur-
pose of the bombardment of May 81 was
Il reconnaissance, and was not made with
a view to destroying the Colon.
An examination of the log of the Mas
sachusetts, which was serving tempora-
rily as the flagship, did not show that
such a signal had been made, but Captain
Folger admitted previously that the log
of the Massachusetts was not correct.
Captain Folger was called as an expert
for the Navy Department to testify as to
the strength Of the batteries at Santiago.
After saying the batteries were weak, he
swore that the flying squadron did not
approach near enough to the shore to be
endangered by the shore batteries. During
the reconnaissance one of the guns IN the
MORO hill was demolished. He said the
batteries We're of such small Importance
that he directed the principal fire of his
ship toward the Colon.
Speaking of the character of the block
AIDE, Captain Folger said the patrolling
fleet was not near enough to shore to pre-
vent the escape of the nemyi il the wealth
er was bad, which was generally the case.
He could give no reason for the retro
srade movement. No plan of battle had
been communicated to him by Admiral
Schley, but the Brooklyn had signaled
to the fleet on the day of the battle to
clear ships for action and close in on the
enemy.
Lieutenant Commander Hodgson was
subjected to a CALLING fire from both the
judge advocate and Mr.. Rayner. IIe had
been called on the stand to explain the
controversy he had with Admiral Sclley
relating to the loop of the Brooklyn and
the colloquy which is alleged to have
taken place between Schley and Hodg-
son in which the admiral is credited with
saying, ON the Texas, she must look
out for herself"
He was placed in an extremely embar-
RAISING position, as not less than three
sets of letters written by himself Were
produced, all Of which differed in some
respects.
In addition to these communications
Lieutenant Commander Hodgson told u
story upon the witness stand which was
at variance with his previous statements.
The testimony was to the effect that he
intended to deny the correctness of the
aguage of the alleged colloquy as pub
lished, but that he did not intend to de-
ny the substance Of it.
After being subjected to a most rigid
examination and cross-eNamination the
only clear point in this connection is that
Hodgson is sure Schley did say "D-n
the Texas" and this remark was not
made by Captain Cook, as Admiral
Schley's attorneys have striven to show.
Hodgson asserted the remark made by
Admiral Schley was not intended as con
demning the Texas, but merely as an evil
dence of irritation on the part of the ad-
miral.
When Hodgson was telling of the part
the Brooklyn took in the battle, 1t was
brought out that Admiral Schley himself
fought his ship and that he was stanaing
on the temporary platform erected around
the coming tower during the battle and
that Schley was in plain view. of the
enemy during the entire engagement.
During the battle the admiral's manner,
SAID, Hodgson, was in keeping with the
conduct of a commanding officer under
the circumstances. In fact, it was shown
that Admiral Schley was self-possessed
and in excellent spirits, rs after the
Brooklyn and Oregon had left the other
ships of the fleet in the rear the admiral
signaled to Captain Clark Of the Oregon
to Fire one of your railroad trains at
the Colon'-meaning a 13-inch shell.
Lieutenant Commander Hodgson's
! story of the chase of the Colon contained
came to aid. He. said that the general
government had received $5OO,OOO,OOO
Il A.4r. IL -