Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-09-27
THE scHLsY COURT.
10 Resumes Its Sessions and the TAKE
Ing of Testimony Begins.

washington, sept. Sl.-l ne ocnley
court of inquiry reconvened yester-
day and before adjournment exam
ined four witnesses. The most i'm
portant incident of the day was the
decision of the court withdrawing n
question, put by the court itself, ask
ing witness to give his opinion
concerning a point in controversy.
The witness was Rear Admiral Hig-
gison, who participated in the Santi-
ago campaign as captain OF the bat
tleship Massachusetts,. This vessel
at one time was part of the flying
squadron commanded by Commodore
Schley, and the court asked him to
state whether all possible measures
were taken to capture or destroy the
Spanish vessel Cristobal Colon as it
lay in Santiago harbor from May 81
to June 1, 1898.
Counsel for Admiral Schley object
ed to the question on the ground
that a reply would involve an opin-
ion and not statement of facts.
Judge Advocate Lemly admitted that
the precedents were against questions
of this character and the court with
drew his interroga tory.
1t is generally admitted that this
decision of the court will have the
effect of materially shortening the
term of the court, as will also the
courts manifest intention to cut out
irrelevant questions and all hearsay
testimony.
Washington, Sept. 24.-The part
played by the battleship Texas in the
naval battle off Santiago, July 3,
1898, in which the famous Spanish
fleet under Admiral Cervera was
sunk, was the basis OF the greater
part of Mondays proceedings in the
Schley court of inquiry. Of the four
witnesses examined during the day,
three had been officers on board the
Texas during the battle and two of
them were new witnesses. These
were Commander Gorge C. Heilner,
who was navigator on the Texas, and
Commander Alexander b. Bates, who
was the chief engineer on that bat
tleship. Commander Harder. execu-
tive officer and the chief surviving Of
ficer of the ship since the death of
Capt. Philip, was recalled. The
fourth witness was Commander Sea-
ton Schroeder, executive officer on
the Massachusetts and now governor
OF une lSllnu OF buam.
The testimony several times during
the day was somewhat exciting and
it was especially so when Command
er Heilner described the battle and
the part the Texas had taken in it.
He said that when the Brooklyn
made its loop at the beginning of
the battle it had passed across the
Texas bow at n distance not to eX-
ceed 100 or $50 yards and that at the
command of Capt. Philip the Texas
had been brought TO dead stop.
Engineer Bates testified that the
starboard engines had been stopped
and said he thought this also had
happened to the port engines. Com
mander Heilner expressed the opin-
ion that three miles had been lost by
this lnaneuver and the fact that part
of the machinery was deranged. He
said he considered that the Texas
Was in greater danger when the
Brooklyn crossed her bow than at
any other time during the battle.
On cross-eXamination Commander
Heilner admitted having taken part
in the preparation of the official
navy department chart showing the
position at different times of the
ships which participated in the bat
tie. He said that, according to this
chart, the two ships never were near
er than 600 yards of each other. But,
he contended, the chart was inaccu-
rate, and he said he had only con-
sented to it as a compromise.
Washington, Sept. 25.-The Schley
court of inquiry was brought to a
sudden termination for the day 1s
minutes after convening yesterday
by the announcement of the sudden
death of jeremiah Wilson, senior
counsel for Admiral Schley.