Evening star., 1901-10-02
AS SEEN FROM VIXEN
Lieut.. Harl0W's Notes on Battle of
July 8,
CANE UP BEFORE COURT OF INQUIRY
Admiral Evans Presents Letter
From Capt. Cook.
COMMANDER SHARP'S STORY


made an explanation in regard to the
chart of the southern coast of Cuba in the
vicinity of the harbor of Santiago, which
had been hung on the walls of the court
room He said the chart before the court
was more accurate than the charts the
navy had during the Spanish war.
THE coast line he said lis the very
best and from most recent data. 1t is bet
ter than the chart the navy operated with
during the Spanish war, as it has been cor
rected by recent surveys made by the
Eagle and other vessels. and 1 think that
coast line Is practically correct"
Capt Parker of counsel for Admiral
Schley said if the errors of the depart
ment's chart had been corrected in the
chart presented to the court by surveys of
the Eagle he had no objection to it.
The judge advocate said it was his pur-
pose 20 introduce the testimony of the Off
Ger who located positions of vessels before
the harbor of Santiago.
Capt. Parker said that on the map for
merly used by the navy some of the points
along the coast of Cuba west of the harbor
or Santiago were five or six miles too far
away. and if that had been corrected he
was satisfied to accept the map.
Evans Denies Roasting as Reported
Admiral Evans was then called to the
stand to certify to the correctness of the
printed report of his testimony after which
he said he had statement to make con-
cerning matter that was brought before
the court yesterday in question asked him
by counsel of Admiral Schley.
In connection with one of the questions
asked me yesterday" he said, Il should
like to introduce this letter. If there is
any objection by Admiral Schley or his
counsel l will withdraw it."
Admiral Evans produced letter and Mr..
RaEner asked TO look il As he
examining the letter the witness continued
1t IS matter entirely personal to me.
A question was asked of me here yester-
day which put me in the position of brag
ging of destroying the whole Spanish fleet"
He explained that after the battle of San
tiago Washington newspaper published
letter in which the same language was used
that was employed in the question asked
him yesterday purpOrting to be a remark
by him about his exploits in fighting the
Spanish ships. He had at once gone to
the editor of the paper publishing this let
ter and found that the letter was written
by woman, or a woman had given the
information on which it was written. At
the same time he wrote letter to Captain
Cook of the Brooklyn, asking what he
knew about his having made such a re-
mark and the letter he had handed to Mr..
Rayner was the reply of Captain Cook.
The question asked him yesterday, he said,
was identical in its language with the state
ment made in the newspaper.
There is Captain Cooks letter. he said,
denying that any such conversation took
place
Mr.. Rayner: 1.-The question is whether
that conversation took place with the COM
mOdore."
Admiral Evans; Captain Cook was pres
ent all the time
Mr.. Rayner: 81 do not object to 1t. but I
DO not think this is the proper time to in
troduce 1t l have never seen that publica-
tion.''
The judge advocate began addressing the
court, but Mr.. Rayner continued to say:
Il do not think ii is the proper time now
to read letter from Captain Cook to Ad-
miral Evans denying that conversation.
The question was whether he had that con-
yersation with the commodore 1t appears
that Captain Cook denies a statement made
in Washington How could | ask the ad-
mtral without having the newspaper? 1
shall not object to the admiral making this
explanation.
admiral Evans then withdrew the letter.
The judge advocate: Admiral Evans
rested his request to introduce this letter
upon the generosity of counsel. / think 1t
is proper, and all military authorities will
agree that it is right, that he should make
his statement"
Mr.. Rayner: 'I deny that statement /
object to II now because I have not seen the
article before. and 1 would like an oppor-
tunity to look at 1t before this letter goes
IN. do not want to be put in any such
position as you have unintentionally put
me-
The judge. advocate: What 1 said was
Intentional"
Mr.. Thomas NJ. Dieuaide, the newspaper
correspondent who was on board the Texas
during the battle off Santiago, was recall
ed to the stand to approve the printed copy
of his testimony. In doing so he said that
yesterday when he was on the stand he re-
piled to question whether he had said that
the result of the Santiago battle was a
victory for Schley that he had not done so.
he had since examined the report he made
In the New York paper referred to at that
time and he found that that language was
used. but he had no remembrance of hav-
Ing written such statement.
The McCalIa Memorandum
Gustave E Becker was recalled in order
to fix the date on which the McCalle MEM
orandum and Admiral SIMPSONS letter to
schley. beginning Dear Schley," were
sent from Key West He testified yester-
day that these letters were sent on the
10Th of May The record press books con-
tanning copies Of both letters were placed
before him IN order to refresh his MEM
ory and he said that he remembered that
these letters were enclosed In envelopes
TO be forwarded on the both of May, and ii
was the custom to send such letters at the
nrst opportunity and for that reason he
was satisfied that they were actually for
Warded from Key West on May %.
u tBy the judge advocate) When dis
patches are ready Is il the practice to send
them on the next vessels or not? A. Yes,
sir.
@ Were these dispatches. forwarded by
lILc next heSStl Iildt lSIl Key west. "A.
That | cannot say, because l merely put
them in envelopes.
O., Did you know of any cause why they
should not have gone at that time. A. I
did not.
@ (By Mr. Rayner)-What you know
about sending these dispatches is from
your own knowledge, your memory? A.
l think they left Key West May 20. I un-
day.
q On what vessel? A I think they went
py the Iowa and Dupont.
u why do you think so? A. Because
was given to understand they were to go
on those vessels. That is the best of my
recollection
MI. Hanna. showing the witness the
dear Schley letter in the press copy
pook or the New York. asked him to state
whetner, according TO his system of doing
business, letter, copied May 30 1895 could
have gone before letter he had first read
transmitting the McCalIa memorandum.
He asked which one of these letters would
nave gone first according to his way of do
Ing business. The witness replied that
they should have gone together.
Commander Sharp Testiaes.
Lieut.. Commander Alexander Sharp, tr..