The sun., 1901-09-13

was no restriction upon the occupancy
of the public sents In the session room,
and those who We're the first to arrive
secured their choice of places from
which to view the proceedings.
The early arrivals found the tool
shop, in which the court Is to sit, in
some confusion. The building is new,
and, while the lnborers had completed
their preparations for the court, the
cleaners We're engaged in their work
up to almost the hour for the arrival
of the court. The man with the dust
broom and cleaning cloth had scarcely
disappeared when Admiral Dewey ana
his fellow members of the court ar
rived. The building itself is large
oblong structure and looks more like
the workshop which it is intended To
he than a courthouse.
Captain LemIcy First on Hand.
Captain Lernly. judge advocate gen.
eral was the first official arrival. He
came in with his assistant. T.. +.
Hanna. and they We're soon busily en-.
gagged In unpacking two or three large
boxes of books. which il is expected
Will be called into frequent use for
reference during the sitting of the
court.
The distinguished naval officers who
are to participate in the proceeding
came quietly and without any outward
demonstration of saluting guns and
marching guards of honor. Admiral
Benham. one of the members of the
court. was the first member of th,
court to arrive. He was in civilian
dress, with his incased sword i'm one
hand and an ample dress suit ease
containing his uniform In the other.
An officer of the yard escorted him to
the private quarters, where the full
dress of those on the court was to be
donned.
Admiral Dewey drove up in his car
riage soon after and was greeted al
the entrance of the building by Reai
Admiral Terry, commandant of the
navy yard.
\ guard Of marines also wheeled in
to line and saluted the admiral ana
passed by Accompanying him was his
young Chinese servant, who served
MIN during the battle of Manila. Bay
and has ever since remained as his
body servant The admiral was calm
and smiling. and lie acknowledged the
salute.
Admiral Howison's arrival passed al
most unnoticed. as he has been here so
little of late that the knots of observ-
ers iid not Immediately recogize him.
SchIey Arrives In Automobile.
1t was just twenty minutes before
the court was to convene that large
automobile whirled up to the building
with Admiral Schley. the central fig
ure of the proceedings, accompanied by
his counsel, Messrs. Jere Wilson, Isl
dor Rayner and Captain James Parker,
and the witnesses who were to be of
fered in connection with the challenge
of Admiral Iiowison as to his eIigbii-
ty to serve rs member of the court
As the automobile circled around and
the counsel began to alight one of them
cheerily called out to Representative
Wachter of Baltimore, who happened
to he near:
did you see lis make that loop?"
Admiral Schley was the last to alight.
He was cordially greeted by Rear Ad-
mifal Terry, commandant of the yard.
and in return Admiral Schley clasped
both Shoulders of the commandant and
gave him a hearty return to his well
come. Admiral Schley wore suit of
navy blue of civilian cut, with straw
sailor hat. His eyeglasses dangled
from his breast Although he gave
smiling response to all greetings his
face was calm. AS he passed along to
the dressing room he was apparently
0blivious to the fact that every eve
was centered on him.
The Court Convenes.
The scene within the courtroom Of
the moment the court convened was
one of impressive dignity. The distin-
guished participants had laid aside
their civilian dress and appeared In tho
brilliant full uniforms or the navni
service. The confusion that had pre-
vailed through the great hall subsidized
to an awelike hush, and the uniformed
guard of marines hurried strangers in
to their seats.
"Boom, boom! came from a great
gun Just outside the building.
1t was both salute and a signal that
the court had opened. The first crash
of the gun startled the spectators. Then
they waited as the seventeen guns, the
number given in honor of the admiral
of the navy had been fired, when every
ear was strained for the first word OF
the proceedings.
At tho instant That thu 6rinu began