The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-05
SUMMON, SAMP son
BEFORE COURT
Mr.. Rayner VIII Insist on it Unless
His Point is Conceded.
DEAR scHLEY" LETTER AGAIN.
schley's Counsel Insists That There is an
Error in the Document-Brooklyn's Hits
Constitute "a Per Cent. OF Total OF
Shells That Struck Spanish Ships.
DEAR SCHLEY" LETTER AGAIN.
(By Associated Press.)


WASHINGTON. D. c., Oct. 4.-In the
Schley naval court of inquiry Mr.. Rayner,
chief counsel for Admiral Schley. asked
Judge Advocate Lemly to summon Ad-
miral Sampson as a witness in the case.
The request grew out of a difference in
the construction Of a sentence in Admiral
Sampson's letter to Commodore 1chhy,
written from Key West May Goth, while
Commodore Schley, with the Flying
Squadron, lay off Cienfuegos. This is
known as the Dear. Schley' letter, and
in it, as printed in the Navy Department
documents supplied to the Senate, the
Admiral said. after expressing his opin-
ion that Notwithstanding the report that
the Spanish squadron was at Santiago. it
would be better to continue the blockade
of Santiago and Havana: I'VE shall have
to blockade Santiago and Havana until
more definite information.
This dispatch was under discussion
when Mr.. Rayner expressed the opinion
that the word Santiago had been mad
yertentIy used by the COMMANDMENTS
Chief inferring that he meant Cie1plue-
COS as better agreeing with the text.
There was a .parenthetical note 20 which
Admiral Schley's initials were attached,
saving that evidently the wrong city had
been mentioned
Mr.. Rayner asked Judge Advocate
Lemly- to mako this concession but the
latter declined to do SO. saying that he
would produce the original of Admiral
Sanpson's dispatch to prove that he had
said Santiago.
SUMMON SAMPSON.
Then Mr. Rayner said: Il cannot take
that word Santiago to mean anything
but Cienfuegos. It is an imputation upon
Commodore schiey, and l cannot permit
it to rest without slrmmoning the author
OF that Dispatch to which Captain Lem
ly responded:
81 have told you once before you can
summon anyone you please.
Then" retorted Mr.. Rayner, summon
Admiral Sampson
This occurred only a short time before
the adjournment of the court for the day
and was the subject OF more or less con-
versation of an animated character after
the days work was over Mr.. Rayner
would only say that We would insist upon
the Adm iral being summoned unless the
correction was conceded.
Lieu Dyson, when court opened gave in
formation as to how long the supply OF
coal on hand May 18th would have held
out under forced drausht 1t showed that
on Nav eth the Brooklyns supply OF coal
was 952 tons, the Iowa's. 7S4: the Texas, 4oS
tons, and the NIarhlehead, 122 tons. He
said that on May 24tb the Brooklyn had
coal enough aboard to have remained on
blockade duty off Santiago for twenty
five DAYS and then to have returned to
Key West: the Massachusetts enough 20
remain seventeen days then to go to Key
West: the Iowa enough for eleven days:
the Texas seven days and the Marble
head one day.
TINE COAL WOULD LAST.
Mr. Rayner brought out information
concerning the time the coal on each of
the vessels would have lasted on forced
draught, in chasing the enemy's vessels.
taking the amount OF coal on each on
May 26th, and leaving sufficient coal to
return to Key West.
Mr.. Rayner read the Information from
Mr. Dyson's tabulated statement show
ing that the Iowa would have consumed
243 tons of coal q day, the Massachusetts
lSo tons the Texas 160 tens. and the
Marblehead II tens. The estimate would,
he said. give the Brooklyn % days chase.
the Iowa a chase of II days, the Mas
sachusetts is days. the Texas three
fourths OF a day, the Marbehead two
tentls of a day.
Commander Raymond P Rodgers, who
was executive officer Of the Iowa. testi-
fed that before leaving Key West on
Nav % he had a conference with Samp-
son. He was told by Admiral Sampson
that he had received information from
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