Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-26
Attorney Rayner is Now
Chief Counsel, Vice Judge
Wilson. Deceased.
THE COURT AGAIN SITS
Machinist cIaxton, Of the Texas, Is
Placed on Witness Stand-charts
Showing Plan of Battle Adorn Walls
OF Court Room.

Washington, Sept. 25.-The bust
ness of the Schley court of inquiry
was resumed today at the usual hour.
Charts on a large scale adorned the
walls of the court today showing the
ground site of the battle of Santiago
and also indicating the points where
the Spanish ships went down or
ashore. They were prepared with the
view of expediting the work of the
court. Schley today stated since the
death of Judge Wilson, Attorney Ray
ner would be the leading counsel in
his case, assisted by Captain Parker
of New Jersey and M. A. league of
Baltimore.
Machinist Claxton of the Texas, who
was testifying yesterday when the
court adjourned on account of the
death of Judge Wilson, resumed the
stand.
Evidence Shows Danger of Collision.
Claxton said on July 8 he was on
duty in the engine room of the Texas.
The engine indicator had called for
full speed ahead early in the morning,
which had, within an hour after the
beginning of the action been changed
to full speed astern." To his knowl-
edge there had been no signal for a re-
versal of the engines He said he had
been excused from service in the en-
I,,t oil bn
were reversed for about two minutes.
Contradicts SchIey.
Rear Admiral Cotton, who COM
manded the auxiliary cruiser Harvard
during the Spanish war was the next
witness. He told of meeting the fly
ing squadron under Schley off Santi
ago May o.. He said on that date he
delivered dispatches to Schley from
Sampson and the. navy department
The weather was then moderate, and
he had no difficulty in going aboard
the Brooklyn from his boat.
Detailing the conversation he had
with Schley after the delivery of the
dispatches in relation to coaling ships,
Cotton said Schley told him it had
been almost impossible to get coal
aboard on account of the weather.
Questioning the witness as to the
practicability of coaling the ships at
St. Nicholas, the Mole and Gonaives
channel, Cotton told Schley small
ships could coal at the Mole. but not
the large ones. He knew of no reason
why they could not at Gonaives.
Schley had related the difficulty he
had in getting coal aboard at Cienfue-
gus and said he could see only one re
sort and that was to return to Key
West Schley appeared very apDre-
hensive, especially regarding the
Texas, saying he didn't know at that
moment whether she had sufficient
coal to enable her to return to Key
West
During Cotton's visit Schley signall-
ed the ships to report whether they
had supply of coal sufficient to reach
Key West and received an affirmative
reply from all. Schley appeared to be
greatly relieved at the information and
soon afterwards signalled the ships to
prepare to return to Key West.
Record Changed.
The dispatch to Cotton from Secre-
tary Long to inform Schley and sen
2 Tor officers that the departments in
formation indicated that the Spanish
division was at Santiago; that 1.-The
department looks to you to ascertain
If the enemy is there and doesn't leave
without decisive action" was read.
Rayner called attention to the fact
there was some material changes in
the dispatches as printed in the Off
cial reports by the navy department.
A Discrepancy.
Schley's reply to dispatches dated
Nav 20, in which he said he could not
obey the orders of the department be-
cause he could not coal his vessels ow-
ing to boisterous weather was then
read. Rayner pointed out various
changes in the language of the dis
patch as printed in the official report.
He said Schley had spoken of the
weather as "boisterous" and the word
had been omitted from the printed
copy of the dispatch. He also stated
whereas the admiral had said that
$500 tons of coal would be necessary,
the printed copy made it 10000 tons.
Also as stated in the original, the
Harvard was going to Port Royal
whereas Kingston had been inserted in
the printed copy. Also other changes
Cotton then related the conversation
he had with Schley concerning the
proposition of Lieutenant Beall, of the
Harvard, to go ashore and put him
self in communication with the Cuban
Insurgents. He could not recall the
exact words, but at all events Beall
was not ordered ashore.
Schley Was Passive.
In reply to questions by Lemly, Cot
ton said he had no knowledge of any
efforts made by Schley, to locate Ger
vera's fleet or any action on Schley's
part to obey the order of the navy de
partment. Lemly then started to reat
q dispatch received by Cotton from