Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-10-04
Second Day,

1Vo SGZkI
Second Day.
Court opened with Commander Giles
Harder on the stand. Schley's counsel
cross-examined Harder on his statement
of the day before that no picket vessels
were stationed inside of the line Of
blockade, at Cienfuegos. whea the flying
squadron arrived. Port officials report
was produced in which was stated that
the vessels acted as pickets. Harder
said he would not contradict the report.
Harder testified that the Texas had
coaled at sea, near Dry Tortugas. in
weather as rough as it was at Cienfue-
gos and Santiago. but admitted that reefs
at Tortugas break the sea.
The witness maintained that his state
ment to the effect that the fleet did not
go close to the shore. at Santiago. at
night, was correct, Notwithstanding aig-
ginson's statement to the contrary.
The first sensational incident Of the in
quiry occurred when Commander HARDER
made q vigorous objection to the man
ner in which Attorney Rayner cross-ex-
amined him. Rayner, while asking q
question, excitedly shook his finger at
the witness. Whereupon,s Harder said
with considerable spirit, Don't you
shake your finger at me-"
Capt. G. B. Harder said the blockade
was maintained by tho vessels steaming
in column back and forth in front of the
mouth Of the harbor at a distance of from
seven to ten miles out. He said he had
seen the Brooklyn Immediately after It
had executed the loop. when it was on
the port bow of the Texas, about 500
feet distant. The Texas was not then
moving at her full speed because the Ore
gon was passing her. If the Texas at
that time backed or stopped he was not
aware of the circumstances.
Third Day.
Counsel for Schley practically outlined
some Of the things they expected to prove
to justify the course Of their client. One
thing that they said they wanted to prove
was that Sampson was not in the battle
at Santiago, and that the responsibility
Of fighting it was thrust upon Schley.
According to their representations to
the court they intend also to show that
If Simpsons blockade was good, then SO
was Schley's, for the reason that they
were of the same character and general
arrangement, and, more important than
that, they promised to bring out that if
Schley was cehsurable for failing to de-
stroy the Colon Sampson was equally
guilty, because for four hours after the
arrival of Sampson at Santiago the Colon
lay in the saele position at the mouth of
the harbor that she was in during the
three days that Schley saw her, and
Sampson made no effort to attack her.
Admira Schley's counsel said that they
proposed to show, also, that what Schley
did was done under SIMPSONS orders,
that Schley's withdrawal from the re-
connoissance, as it was termed by him,
against the Colon and to develop the
shore batteries, was performed under gen
eral naval regulations, and was the same
policy that had been pursued by Samp-
son, and that if the Brooklyn was not in
a proper position when Cervera's squad
ron ran out ON July 3 she was at the
station assigned to her by Sampson.
The part played by the battleship Tex
as in the naval battle off Santiago was
the basis Of a great part of to-day's pro-
ceedings.
Lieutenant Commander Heilner, who
was navigating officer of the Texas
throughout the Santiago campaign, testi-
fed that the Texas was in its greatest
danger ut the moment those on board
her saw the Brooklyn looming up unex
pectedly at a distance Of only 100 or $50
yards on the port side. CONSERVATION
reigned for a moment on board the Tex
as in the presence of this danger of be-
ing rammed by a vessel Of her own feet.
Commander Heilner gave a graphic ac-
count Of this critical moment in the his
tory Of the battle, and produced a decided
sensation in the court room by declaring
that as soon as the danger from the
Brooklyn was recognized by Captain
Philip he gave the order to have the en-
gines Of the Texas stopped and to turn
backward. The witness said that about
effort to escape collision with the Brook
Ign. With this loss of time and a fur
ther loss on account Of the difficulty en-
countered in getting up full steam imme-
diately he estimated that the Texas was
put back about three miles in her chase
Of the Colon and other Spanish ships.
Commander Heilner swore that, while
it was true the stopping and backing Of
the engines of the Texas was not record
ed in the log Of that ship, the omission
was due to the definite orders Of Captain
Philip, now dead, because Captain Philip
did not wish to bring any scandal upon a
brother officer.
Death Interrupts Trial.
For the second time death interrupted
the progress of the naval court of in.
curry into Rear Admiral Schley's con-
duct at the battle of Santiago. Tuesdays
morning session had just begun when
NINE REDS At LIBERTY.
ch;caro A~narchi.t. Order.a n;..