Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-10-31
NEWS in GENERAL
scnLEY COURT OF INQUIRY


court of inquiry opened yesterday
with Lieutenant B. w. Wells, Jr., who
was Commodore Schley's flag lieu
tenant during the Spanish war, still
on the stand, but he was soon dis
placed to allow Yeoman Albert v.
Mason, who had written the Brook
lyn's log for the period covering the
Santiago campaign, to testify. Mr..
Mason explained the erasures in the
log entry referring to the Brooklyn's
turn on the day of the battle off San
tiago. He was followed by Mr..
George L. Graham, who, as an AS
ISOLATED Press correspondent, was
with Commodore Schley during the
entire campaign.
Mr.. Graham's testimony covered all
the principal events of the campaign,
and discussed especially the lombard
ment of the Spanish ship Colon on
May 81 and the battle off Santiago
on July 3. Mr.. Graham testified to
nearing a conversation between Com
modore Schley and Captain Sigsbee,
when the latter came aboard the
flagship Brooklyn off Santiago, May
20. He said he had distinctly heard
Captain Sigsbee tell the commodore
that the Spanish feet was not inside
the harbor at Santiago. Mr.. Graham
also stated that Admiral Schley had
told him that the object of the bonn
bardment of May 81 was to develop
the Spanish land batteries and he said
that the range was fixed at 1000 or
1850 yards in order to draw their
fire.
Washington, Oct. 24.-The first of
yesterdays new witnesses, James
Hare, photographer on the press
boat, stated that Captain Sigsbee of
the st. Paul had told the correspond
ent aboard the Smith on May &c or
81 that Cervera's fleet was not inside
the harbor at Santiago. Other wit
nesses in addition to Mr.. Hare who
testified were Chief Boatswain Will
liam L. Hill, Gunner +. L. Applegate
and Major Paul st. c. Murphy of the
marines, all of whom were aboard
the Brooklyn during the Cuban cam
paign; Lieutenant Commander Har-
low, who, as executive officer of the
Vixen, made notes of the battle of
July 3, and the three officers of the
Oregon, Lieutenant A. A. Alderman,
Lieutenant Z. w. Berle and Lieuten-
ant r. G. tombstone. Lieutenant Ack-
erman had charge of the after 13-
inch turret and Lieutenant Eberle of
the forward 13-inch turret of the
Oregon on July 8, and Lieutenant
tombstone was signal officer on the
Oregon at that time. Mr.. tombstone
testified that he did not receive any
signal. from the Brooklyn to fire her
| 13-inch guns at the Spanish ship
| Chrictnba1 Ca1nn aud oil tho Oranor,
officers who testified yesterday ex-
pressed the opinion that the Oregon
and Brooklyn were practically equi-
distant from the Colon when that YES
sci went ashore. Some of them, how
ever, were inclined to think that the
Brooklyn was shade nearer the
Spanish ship. While Boatswain Hill
was giving his testimony, which was
very complimentary to Admiral
| Sch,ey, there were two outbursts of
applause. These were promptly sup
| pressed by Admiral Dewey.
Washington, Oct. 25.-Admiral
Schley yesterday took the stand in
his own behalf at the court of in
quiry which is investigating his con-
duct as commander-in-chief of the
| flying squadron during the Santiago
| hC WIS y TtW
minutes after the court convened at
2 o'clock for the afternoon session,
and when the court adjourned at 4
o'clock he apparently had only gotten
well under way in his testimony.
Captain Charles f. Clark of the Ore
gon had just concluded his statement
when Mr.. Rayner, rising from his
seat, said:
| SI ubop1J HE 10 Lo.,a Do.u
Schley called"
The admiral accordingly was asked
20 take the stand. He then in answer
to question from his counsel pro-
ceeded to give careful and detailed
narrative of all the events of the
campaign up to the battle of Santi-
ago.
Washington, Oct. 26.-When the
schley court of inquiry adjourned
| yesterday Admiral Schley had not
completed his testimony in chief.
He took the stand about 1880
o'clock, and continued his statement
until the court adjourned at $40 d.
| m. The chief event of the day was
/ the admirars relation Of the events
Of July 3, when the American flee.
sent Cervera's squadron to the bot
tom of the sea or to the beach. He
told his story of this historical oc-
currence in plain words and in I'M
affected style, but the narrative was
straightforward and to the point,
indicating close familiarity with ali
the phases of that event. He said
that the Brooklyn had for a time
sustained the fire of all four of the
Spanish ships and also the fire Of the
Spanish land batteries. Explaining
the historical turn of his own flag
ship, the Brooklyn, he said that she
had not approached to within less
than six hundred yards of the Texas
and that he never had considered
that vessel in the least danger. He
also stated, in response to an in
terrogation from Mr.. Rayner, that
he had never during the battle en-
gagged in any eolloquy with Lieuten-
ant Hodgson and that he had not
used the expression attributed to
him by Hodgson. This refers to the
alleged colloquy in which The admi-
raj is charged with having said:
Damn the Texas!" Admiral Schley
also gave the details of the recon
noissance of May 81 when the Span
ish ship Christobal Colon was bonn
barded. In this connection he de-
MED the statements attributed to
him by Commander Potts of the bat