The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-09-25

Washington, Sept. 25.-When the Schley
court OF inquiry convened at the navy
yard to-day there was general comment
upon the fact that the seat which had been
occupied from the beginning Of the sit
t1ngs by Judge Jere Wilson, was vacant.
He had endeared himself not only to the
members of the court, but to all persons
about the court, and sorrow was shown on
every countenance. Comment upon his
sudden taking off was very general
throughout the courtroom. The business
OF the court, however, was promptly re-
sumed at the usual hour.
Schley's Counsel.
In answer to question, Admiral Schley
to-day stated that since the death of
Judge Wilson, Attorney Isidore Rayner
would be the leading counsel in his case,
and that he would be assisted by Captain
James Parker of New Jersey and M. A
league Of Baltimore as an expert asso-
ciate. Mr.. Rayner will continue to con-
duct the cross examination Of witnesses
as he has been doing, and the other gen
tlemen will continue in the same capacity
they occupied up to the time of Judge
Wilson's death. Mr. Rayner stated that
II 1t became necessary in the preparation
or abstracting of voluminous documents
in the case to employ assistant counsel,
or if he should be unavoidably absent at
any time, arrangements will be made for
that purpose.
The wall back of the court was adorned
to-day with chart of large scale show
ing the ground site of the battle off San
tiago July 8. The southern coast of Cuba
in. the vicinity of Santiago was plainly
marked and the points at which the Span
1sh ships went to the bottom or to the
shore were all Indicated in plain lettering
There also Wer number of transparent
charts which had been prepared over night
sitting about in the rear of the room and
which were intended to illustrate various
phases Of the Santiago campaign. All
these had ben prepared with a view Of
expediting the work of the court and all
were on large scale.
HeiIner Makes Changes.
Commander Heilner was recalled to
make verbal corrections in the official
copy of his testimony. He said he had
several corrections that he desired to
make. In one case he was recorded as
giving the bearing and the distance" of
the Brooklyn. He said he had given the
bearing and not the distance. He made
various other changes, but they were not
material.
The first regular witness called to-day
was A. B. Claxton, the machinist on board
the Texas, who had begun his testimony
when the sittings of the court were so
abruptly terminated yesterday morning by
the death of Judge Wilson. Mr.. Claxton
Tx.1-p
in the engine room of the Texas The in
dicator 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 knowledge there had been no signal
for the reversal Of the engines. He said
that he had been excused from service in
the engine room, but still he knew that
the engines were reversed for about two
minutes. The witness had said that the
engine was stopped.
what was the next change made in the
indicator of the port engine of the
Texas?" he was asked.
Full speed ahead"
''When was further signal received by
the indicator and what was the signal?"
within the first hour of engagement
the direction was changed to full speed
astern."
NdS dny OInO1 sl5Ahl given Uur1uR
the watch within your knowledge for the
port engines to reverse?''
There was none to my Knowledge
GAS a matter of fact were the engines
reversed?"
They were, for about two minutes"
Commander of the Harvard.
ant of the Norfolk navy yard, who cam
manded the auxiliary cruiser Harvard
during the Spanish war, was the next wit
ness. He told of meeting the flying squad
ron under Commodore Schley off Santiago
on May 27, 1898, and said that on that
late he had elivered dispatches to the then
commodore from Admiral Sampson and
the navy department. He had, he said. |
boarded the Brooklyn about 10:30 o'clock.
The weather was then moderate and he
had had no difficulty in going aboard the
Brooklyn from his boat. He had worn his !
sword
What converse tion took place between
7ourself and Admiral Schley?' asked Cap
tain Lemly
1T will be impossible for me to state
he entire conversation" the witness re-
olied. 81 was on board, generally speak
ng, about two hours. The conversation
covered a very wide range, the
most important part Of which was, of
course relative to the dispatches / had
What was said about the dispatches"
II delivered to Commodore Schley the
original cipher in which the dispatches /
lad been received by me at st. Nicholas
Mole, together with translation Of those
dispatches made by Lieut.. Beall OF the
I handed them personally to
lim in his cabin in the order Of their
late. He received them, read them and