The sun., 1901-10-24
INQUIRY NEARLY OVER
|dmiral Sehley Has Only Fifteen
More Witnesses.
HILL ON STAND
tescribes Cruise to Santiago, BIock-
5nde md Naya1 Hattie - Captain
Clarke of the Oregon to BE Last
to Testify For Defense.

W Clarke of the Oregon to BE Last
# to Testify For Defense.
Oct. 23.-That the
|Rehley court of inquiry is rapidly ap-
toaching its closing days was made
jdent by many circumstances. One
these was found In the fact that the
hrt has had removed from Its i'm
Z Sediate vicinity most of the tables
fhich were placed there for the press
~ the beginning of the hearings in
'8eptember. Comparatively few of
$hese tables We're ever used, and they
have been taken away to make room
Tor the increased attendance which is
expected the last days of the inquiry,
and which is now made manifest.
At the beginning of the proceedings
Mr.. Rayner, chief counsel for Rear
Admiral Schley, said that he would
Yiot have more than twelve or fifteen
more witnesses to examine, and that
g<he examination of some of these
krould require comparatively little
Hme. The principal witnesses yet to
N&EIlC lit htdI totllltl anu
captain Clarke. 1t is expected that
admiral Scllley's testimony will cover
At least day or two of time, the
dength depending largely upon the ex-
xent of the cross examination to which
he will be subjected. Captain Clarke,
sprobably, will be the last witness Le
fore the admiral is heard, but his
ata tatenent, it is expected, will be COM
pAratiyely brief.
Long List of witnesses.
fThere was an unusually long list of
witnesses present in court at the be-
ginning Of the session for the purpose
$of correcting their testimony, and after
lfhey had been disposed of another long
Hist was presented. The first new wit
ness called was James S. Hare, who,
hs photographer for an illustrated
sNyeekly newspaper, took photographs
3pf the battle of July 3. He was fol
Aowed by William l.. Hill. who was
ling the Cuban campaign, and who had
Especial charge of the work of coaling.
Other witnesses called for the day
swere: Franklin I. Applegate, a gunner
BON the Brooklyn; Major Paul st. c.
$M,apliy, who was in command of the
SAmarines of the flying squadron and
iwhose headquarters We're on the Brook
Elyn; Lieutenant Commander G. Fl. Har-
low, who was executive officer of the
I Vixen and who wrote an account of the
8battle of July 3 in which it is alleged
CELEBRATIONS We're made before it was
POLITICALLY published; Lieutenant Il. w.
&Eberls, who had charge of the forward
#13 inch turret on the Oregon; Lieuten-
&ant A. A. Ackerman, who was in
charge of the aft IL inch turret of the
Oregon, and Lieutenant Rufus u. John
ston. who was signal officer on the
4Dregon and aid to Captain Clarke.
& Mr. Hare, the first witness, was sue
needed by Chief Boatswain William l..
Hill, who was u boatswain on the
Brooklyn during the summer of 1893.
He testified to hearing guns on ap-
proaching Cienfuegos and said thar
while there a blockading line was
maintained three or four miles out. He
ssaid that he had written letters to his
iwife during the campaign and had
from these made journal covering the
4l1eriod. He said in reply to question
.Fby Mr.. Rayner concerning the weather
!snf the cruise between Cienfuegos and
&SSaDtiago:
III Difficulty of Coalins.
"a "rhe weather was rough. 1t was
$worSe than that. | should say 1t was
1$blowing reef topsail breeze. and at
s8pne time the seas We're breaking com
s3pletely over the Massachusetts. made
hn entry to that effect
# Mr.. Hill also stated that he had had
5sdirect charge, under the executive off
Ger of the Brooklyn, of the coalng OF
that vessel. "'fhe Brooklyn he sai,i
twas the best ship in the fleet to coal
but only with constant watcnfulnesS
in the calmest weather could we Goa
SNthout having an accident"
# The witness said in reply to ques.
ton that the derrick beams of the col
1er We're hot long enough TO throw
&he coal on to the Brooklyn and that
pther and supplementary devices were
neccssary for that purpose. EIe also
aid that he had personal knowledge
IN the Texas and knew that the pro
l4Aecting sponsons of thai ship made i
i hard vessel to corl, and on moro
pan one occasion Permission had beer
sked and receH ed for the ship to e
1R GuantanaDio for coal.
'Sa IN Inc Course of his description O1
pe battte of July the witness said:
The Battle.
3SX Probably fifteen minutes after wt
parted the Spanish ships had nearly
got out. There were three OF them
stood near enough to touch Commo
aofe Schley at that time. within fiy,
4eet OF him, and | saw that we wer,
into Il pocket. The Spansl
Fps had got oGt, and the Nizcaya, tho
econd ship, had turned toward us, ant
We're about to cross the line of fir,
M our own Ships. At that time The
gaer was given to port the helm.
ssHSard commodore Schley say, Port!
*an the ship started to swing to star
fd' The helm was put over hart
rt' and she swung around on he
ne hre from our batteries neve
SSFseu from the time we started t,
hufn until the end of the battle whe,
tne Colon went ashore. The guns wcr,
\ Instantly being fired. The Taya,
on our starboard hand and I'll,
Ps fully third of a mile FROM ns
wa