Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-10-24
STILL DRAGGING ON
THE INQUIRY IN THE SCHLEY
MATTER PROGRESSING
LAWYERS MAKING MOST OF IT.
Some of the Evidence Offered from
Day to Day in the Famous Con-
troversy.

Washington Oct. 1.-THE first OF
Wednesdays witnesses called for cor
rection of testimony in the Schley court
of inquiry was Commander Ma
son. and after him came in succession
Lieutenant Commander Sears, Lieuten-
ant McCauley and Lieutenant Webster.
Quite a number of additional questions
were addressed to Webster by Hanna.
. Inc witness said he had seen signal
lights at night on shore while lying
off Santiago, but while the vessels were
on blockade at Santiago from May 20
to 31st. he was unable during the night
to distinguish points on shore readily
or to see vessels on the inner picket line
at night, without the aid OF search
lights.
Cienfuegos Campaign.
Lieutenant Commander Griffin, senior
watch officer of the Brooklyn, was the
first new witness called. He gave the
details of the Cienfuegos campaign say
ing the distance of the blockading line
there varied from three to seven miles,
being farther out at night Speaking
of the voyage from CieDfuegos to San
tago the witness said the weather was
heavy" and there was short, chop
py sea" which fmpeded the fleet by de-
laying the smaller vessels, especially
the Eagle.
At Santiago the witness said the
blockading line was mile or two closer
at night than during the day, and on
May % the fleet stood out three or four
miles There were picket boats inside
the line. but he did not see them.
Schley Encourages Fighting Men.
Referring to the battle of July 3, the
witness said he had been in charge of
the powder division, and it was his duty
to look after the lower decks, conse-
quently he had not seen great deal OF
the fight He was questioned concern
ing the sending among the men during
the fight OF cheering and encouraging
messages, which Rayner said he would
prove by Schley when upon the stand
that the admiral had personally sent to
them The witness couldn't remember
the contents, but told Of delivering
them.
Grin ia said the conduct and manner
OF Schley during the engagement inn
pressed him as being remarkably cool.
He was perfectly natural in his man
ner and bearing,
Commander Impresses Griffin.
On cross-examination Griffin said
that after the conversation with Schley
about leaving Cienhlegos on account of
the coaliug difficulties he was much ina
pressed with his wise decision
Griffin was excused, and Ensign G.
A. Ahele, junior watch officer on the
Brooklyn, was called.
Abele's testimony corroborated all the
essential points that have been given
by previous witnesses for the defense,
as did that of Ensign John Haligan,
Jr.. of the Brooklyn, The latter said
Schleys bearing in battle was such as
to inspire enthusiasm
To Develop Battery Strength
Ensign Macy told Of conversation
with Admiral Schley in which the lat
ter said he intended the next day bonn
harding at long range to develop the
batteries, Admiral Schley said he was
not going in for "A regular lombard
ment as he had instructions from the
department not to hazard the ships
against the batteries, for, if they should
disable one of his ships, his force
would be rendered Inferior to the Span
ish forces inside the harbor.
Gives Erroneous Information.
Ensign Marble said Schley asked
Captain Sigsbee when the latter board
ed the Brooklyn: Have we got them"
70 this Captain Sigsbee replied: No,
they are not here. | have been here for
about week. The could not have
been here unless | knew it,
Brooklyn the Whole Thing.
Or. Fitzsimmons was the last witness
of the day He observed the battle OF
July from the gun deck of the Brook
lyn, and said il seemed to him that
the Brooklyn was lighting the battle
entirely alone. He thought the Brook
lyn kept the Colon from getting away.