The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-16
Text of schIey's Report on the Mem
orsbIe Battle, which Did Not
Reach the Navy Department.
NOT ADMITTED IN EVIDENCE
NUNEZ AND COOK RECALLED TO Ex-
PLAIN FORMER TESTIMONY.
Latter Paid Tribute TO schIey by Call
ing Him "COOI, Brave and
Enthusisstfc."

WASHINGTON, Oct 15.-Only one ne"
witness was heard in detail by the Schley
court of inquiry to-day. This was Leuten-
ant Commander James III. Sears, VINO was
Admiral Schleys flag lieutenant during the
Spanish war He gave a detailed account
OF the entire Cuban campaign, including
the brief siege of Cienfuegos, the retro
grade movement Of the flying squardon IN
search of coal the blockade off Santiago
the reconnaissance of the Santiago shore
batteries and the bombardment of the Cris-
tobaI Colon May 81 and the battle off San
tiago July 3, when Cervera's fleet was de-
stroyed He placed the distance out of the
bIockading line at CienfuegOs at from one
10 four miles and at Santiago at from three
to six miles. He expressed the opinion that
in the battle of July 1t had been the Vis-
caya's intention to ram the Brooklyn
While Commander Sears was on the stand
Captain Lemly asked his age, but the court,
after quite a prolonged consultation in re-
tirement. decided that the question was not
admissible. 1t held, however, that the
time of service could be inquired into
Mr. Rayner sought to secure the introduce
ton of a brief report of the battle Of July
which Commodore Schley prepared for
transmission to the secretary of the navy.
il was stated that Commander Sears had
taken this dispatch ashore 20 be cabled to
the secretary. but that it never had reached
that official. The dispatch was ruled out
on the ground that II not received
it was not an official communication. 1t
was not read In the courtroom. but the fol-
lowing is copy OF il:
The Secretary of the Navy, Washington
Spanish squadron came out of Santiago
harbor this morning, July 3, at $3.50, and
were all captured or destroyed in run
min Gohf Uaafxxr ar1o Of hnrr thraa and one
half hours. Very few casualties in our
fleet. Chief yoeman dead and one man
wounded on the Brooklyn. Reports from
other ships not yet in The commander-in-
chief now superintending transfer OF pris-
oners from the CristObal Colon, which sur
rendered to the Brooklyn and oregon at
lis d. m About 1,OO0 prisoners I'm all, in
cluding the Spanish admiral. Victory com
plete: details later. SCHLEY."
Captain Cook was recalled during the
day. and in response to a question by Cap
tain Lemly made an additional statement
concerning the retrograde movement of the
flying squadron May &c to May %. He also
said. i'm answer to a question by the court
that Commodore Schey during the battle OF
July "cool. brave and enthusiastic
1 cannot imagine any conduct in battle
mere admirable"
When Eduardo Nunez. the Cuban pilot.
called TO-DAY 10 correct lis former
testimony, he added 10 his statement OF
hring on May 81 the day OF tIe hombari-
ment OF the Colon. whereas the records
show that that vessel at that time
coaling and did not participate Ia the en-
gegcn,ent He also made cOrrectIOE IN his
1oSnler statement concerning MA COnNcrSe-
tion with Commodore Schlev on first meet
Ing flm.
SEARS'S TESTIMONY.
Lieutenant Commander Sears followed
Nunez. Mr.. Rayner questioned him. say
ing at the beginning of the examination
that he would ask him concern
ing the points of the precept and
requesting that replies should be as
concise as possible Mr.. Sears said that
when the flying squadron arrived off
Cienfuegos he knew nothing of a code of
signals for communication with She Cuban
insurgents. Questioned concerning The Nc
Gala memoranda. he said that II had been
brought TO Commodore Schey by the Hawk
and by no other vessel To his knowledge.
Commander Sears gave detailed account
or the encounter with the British steamer
Adula. the examination on this point be-
'9Now coming to Cienfuegos. give us the
principal incidents that took place while
fhe fleet Law off CienfuegOs and esDeciaIIv
incident with which YOU familiar,
the coming In Of the Adua"
The Adula arrived off the port there
and was boarded at first under orders from
Commodore Schley by the Castine. and
maSe his report to the eommodore. the the
commodore sent one OF the officers of the
Brooklyn aboard her. After he mad re-
turned and made report the com nOdOre
directed me 10 go aboard the Aduia and
see IL I could cOntTive some manner OF
inducing the captain OF the AduIa.
Englishman, TO put himself out little TO
tell us something about what was going or
inside OF Cienfuegos- The captain said of
course he would be- very glad 10 do IL. as hc
vas coming under some authority from our
feet in Jamaica. lie suggested that when
he came out on the next da- We SHOULD
bring him TO with a shot SO that anybody
observing il from shore woulc see thHt he
was acting under force AMI that 9ny body
who could speak Spanish could md on all
they pleased from the refI.;ees she had
board
with what understanding did they go
into the port? Was there any understand
ing with yOu%
THAT he was TO come out the next day
and IL would be possible for get that
information. in fact that it would be very
easy do so.
IBID he come out the next day.
He did not.
The witness also stated that Commodore
Schley bad told him that Captain McCalla
had brought code of signals for comInu-
nicatiOn with the insurgents on shore near
Cienfuegos
Describing the blockade of rienflegos
Commander Sears said that II had been
maintained from one 10 four miles on: and
that the Dupont was stationed inside with
Instructions 10 keep close into the mouth
OF the harbOr and maintain careful watch
reporting any suspicious Incidents Tn,s
witness next gave details OF the cruise
from Cienfuegos TO Santiago.
BLOCKADE AT SANTIAGO
With reference TO the blockade at San
uago the witness said that IL had been
maintained at varying distances OF from
three TO six miles. TO suit the commander
in-chief. IN thick weather and at night