The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-26
INQUIRY
BECOMING
WEARIS0ME
Witnesses Believe SchIey Court
Of Inquiry Adds but Little
Evidence Of Interest.

Washington. ID. c., Sept 2s.--The schley
court OF inquiry began It's session today
with The intention of holding one sitting,
having decided 10 forego the afternoon
session, in order to permit the members
of the court and counsel 10 attend the flu
neral Of Judge Wilson.
Counsel for the navy department today
continued their efforts 10 show that Adj
,niral Schlev had information OF the
presence OF Admiral Cervera and his feet
In the harbor at Santiago, and introduced
for this purpose additional officers or the
auxiliary cruisers, which were at The
time doing duty as scout boats in West
Indian waters.
Admiral Schley's counsel on the other
hand maintained their purpose of trying
10 hold the testimony down TO the re-
quiFements OF civil courts.
CAPTAIN Wise who commanded the
scoutship Yale during the Spanish war
continued his marathon of the retrograde
movement 81 the flying squadron toward
Key West
lie told how the Yale had taken the
Merrimac In tow az the direction Of Ad-
miral Schley. lie said that the admiral
had signallcd upon starting 10 ask IN there
was coal enough TO carry him 10 Key
West to which he had responded in the
Affirmative.
ON the next day he had reported I'm re-
sponse TO an inquiry that he had coal
sufficient for two days of full steaming
and for four days of moderate steaming.
lie was then dispatched to Newport News
reporting 10 Admiral Sampson on the
wav
Captain Wise said he had not made such
a communication to the admiral
"Did you give Admiral Schley any in
formation respecting the Spanish squad
rom"
only through Captain sigsbee"
CaDtain Wise said he was or Santa GO
from the morning OF the 22d until the
evening Of the s6th when the flying squad
ron arrived.
Mr.. Rayner asked Captain Wise. From
the morning OF the 22d until the arrival
OF the fying squadron on the evening OF
the 26th YOU were trying 10 get in touch
with the enemy and watching the har-
bor?"
He had told Admiral Sampson. he said:
that the flying squadron was about ..
miles west OF Santiago. lie said he did
not know what il was doing there. In
detailing the trip toward Key West the
witness told OF the breaking OF the Yale $
hawser on the Merrmac. He said this
had caused delay. 1t was due to improp.
| er securing OF hawser on the Merrimac
| and not 10 tempestuous weather.
The witness had said that Capt Sigs
| bee had taken 6he dispatch beginning
| Get IN touch with the enemy.
| Admiral Dewey said: WAS IL your dut
| or that OF capt Sigsbee 20 convey th'
! Information IN the dispatch referred t'
| Commodore Schley2"
I ~ think it was Capt sigsbees"
Mr. Hsnna-"Did you receive any IN
| auiry or did the commanding officer o
| the hylpg squadron ask you for any In
! formation at any time?
| Nothing"
The witness said he was sure that OF
NAV ss when he hailed the Texas. h'
! had not uassed within hailing distance o
| the Brooklyn, being IA miles distant.
Mr.. RaNner read "A report made on MAY
| 10 by Admiral Sampson, In which ne
stated that Capt. Wise had told him thai
he believed Santiago harbor to be strong
| ly fortified.