New-York tribune., 1901-10-19
INQUIRY NEARING END.
'sCHLEY.S SIDE NAY BE CON-
PLETED NEXT WEEK.
NINE NEW WITNESSES TESTIFY FOR
THE DEFENCE-sTORY OF THE
oREGoNs NAVIGATOR.
Isr rsuEsRAra 70 rHE rHEsusE }

IBY TsuEsRAPH TO The TRIBUNE
Washington. Oct. ls.-such rapid progress
Was made by the court OF inquiry to-day nine
rev witnesses testifying. that Admiral schley
Through his counsel announced just before ad-
Journnent that he expected TO complete his side
OF the case next week. Al his request the court,
with expressions Of pleased relief. agreed 70 ad-
5ourn until Monday morning.
The first ofioer ~ the Oregon 10 take the
stand appeared to-day. He Lieutenant
Commander Reginald r. Nicholson. navigator Of
that vessel in her famous voyage around the
Horn and in the battle of July g. when. accord
ing 70 his story. she divided the honors rather
evenly with the Brooklyn When the Spanierds
dashed out OF Santiago Harbor the oregon
passed rapidly 10 the northward and astern Of
the Texas, blsnketing that vessels fire for 4
brief period. showing that the Texas, instead OF
heading toward the enemy az the critical point
OF the battle. was bearing directly away from
the harbor entrance. The New-York al that
time was seven or eight miles 10 the eastward
OF the Oregon. He saw the Tizcaya start tow
ard the Brooklyn as II TO ram shortly before
the Tizcaya went ashore. the oregon soon after
ward passing empty cartridge cases thrown
over from the Spanish ship. The Brooklyn and
the OREGON were alone with the Spaniards tor
most Of the chase, the other American vessels
being hidden by smoke astern.
Passed Assistant Surgeon Charles II. De
Valin, who stood on the foreoastle of the Brook
E lyn next 10 schley in the battle. had an indis-
tinct recollection that Schley and Hodgson had
. a conversation about the Texas during the loop,
bur was unable 20 repeat il. He had heard
4 schley order the helm aport. but could not tes-
E tify 10 what else was said.
At this point the Judge Advocate and Schley's
counsel had a sharp colloQuy. and manifested
much feeling. which was revived with increased
acerbity several times in the day.
Captain John l. Hannum and Lieutenant
F Thomas F. Garter. chief engineer and passed
4 assistant engineer of the Brooklyn. testified
4 briefly. the former as 70 the breakdown OF the
4 collier Merrrnac. and the latter 10 the speed
4 Of the Brooklyn i'm the battle.
Ensign William P. Cronan. who was a naval
cadet on the Brooklyn. and acting signal officer
10 the Commodore. gave his recoIlections of the
4 campaign. They were comprehensive and were
uttered with confidence that was enjoyed by
the court and the audience The Santiago
blockade was close enough al night for him 10
see the blinking signal lights on the Colon. he
had ranges pat and when the loop was COM
pleted ne was fring al the Spanish ships. which
we're only one thousand yards abearn.
Carpenter George H. Warheld who was be-
tween decks Of the Brooklyn. obeyed the order
nassed soon after the battle began TO stand by
that the Commodore in the heat OF action was
fearless"
J. L Hanley. formerly chief rachinist of the
Texas. who had been brought 70 Washington by
the Judge Advocate, but not called 70 the stand,
was then produced by schley's counsel 10 i'm
peach the evidence Of A. B. Claxton. who some
weeks ago testified that he was al the throttle
OF the port engine Of the Texas and stopped and
reversed il during the loop. Hanley declared
= ~r7-- 1--r-1lz he
engine. as he was ordered 10 DO and never
STOPPED il, He said Claxton had charge of the
air pump that day
Lieutenant John p. J. Ryan. assistant engi-
'neer who had charge q the auxiliary engines
on the gundeck of the Brooklyn. said he was
iscrat tched and bruised by the shell that killed
Ellis. by whose side ne stood he passed along
10 the gunners the last range given by Ellis,
taken just as the loop was completed, raistaking
.it at first for seven hundred yards though il
really was eleven hundred yards. To him
iSchley's manner and bearing were admirable"
an through the fight.
The last witness of The day vas Lieutenant
Benjamin W Wells. jr SchIey's secretary.
Whose examination was not completed al ad-
sournment. He went over the general details Of
the cruise and the reconnaissance on the Colon.
Declaring that Schley showed perturbation
under fire on May 81. bur joked the officers
around him for lodging. He said Schley Al the
tirne in his natural frame OF mind, though
lieutenant Commander Potts recently testified
rhat the Commodore thought his white uniform
too conspicuous. Wells said il was Potts who
set the column on much longer range than the
Commodore had ordered. The chief part of
Lieutenant Wellss evidence related 20 the dis
patches received from Admiral Sampson He
identified his marks and stamp original pa
pers. which proved 10 him that the Dear
schley" letter reached the Brooklyn by the
Hawk on May %. and a duplicate came by the
iowa May -. The only copy OF the McCalla
memorandum ever received came a. SIS a. n,
May %. This must have been brought BY the
Hawk. With the McCaIIa memorandum came
also the first copy of No. : dated May u, an
bouncing that the Spaniards were probably
fed they were not AT CienfuegOs 70 proceed
with all dispatch. but cautiously 10 Santiago
1e Cuba and i the enemy is there blockade him
ia port" A duplicate OF No. also came on
Nay "a. but the records did not show whether
2 was brought BY The Marblehea6 the Eagle or
the Vixen. The Iowa apparently brought no
dispatches whatever. Lieutenant Wells eaid the
frst definite knowledge Schley had that the
spaniaros were in Santiago was when the Colon
was sighted.
From the line of the examination relating 10
the night OF july already pursued. y i evident
that Il Is the intention of Mr Rayner 20 have
Lieutenant Wells give q complete history % Ad-
1l.ral Schleys actions IN the war.