Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-22

from March % to Aug. 20, was the
first important witness in the Sohley
court of inq uiry today. Graham told
of conversation between Schley and
Sigsbee on the Brooklyn May 20, in
which he (Graham) had taken part,
in substance as follows:
Schley-''Have you got 'em, S'gs-
bee?"
Sigsbee-"No, they are not here.
l have been here for week and they
are not here
not in there?"
Sigsbee-"Tve been very close to
the harbor entrance two or three
times. Capt. Cotton has been in and
cut the cable, and they are not there.
Graham said after the conversation
he had written dispatch detailing
that the fleet was not there, which
dispatch Sigsbee took aboard his ves-
sci to deliver to small boats. Gra-
ham was also present at q conversa-
tion between Schley and Higginson
in regard to a reconnaissance May 81.
Schley said his idea was to go in
about seven thousand yards and fire,
simply to draw fire from the batter
les and find ont of what they con-
sisted.
Denies Conversation.
Graham said he was with Schley
during the whole of the reconnaissance
and did not hear the alleged CONVEX
sations as testified to by Potts regard
ing the bonn bardment, ana that Schley
had said during the same: Gentle
men. we are very conspicuous objects
here; let's get out of It." In de-
cribing the battle of July 3. the wit
ness said by the time the Brooklyn
had completed her tuln three leading
Spanish ships had emerged from the
harbor.
The commodore, he said, "stood
all the time on the side OF the fire so
he could see what WAS doing. He
was absolutely cool and sent continu-
Gus messages TO his men TO cheer
them up. When f lIs' head was shot
off he wiped some blood from his
own person and as the men picked
the body up to throw IL overheard
while the rest of US stood horritied he
calmly said, don't throw that body
over. Take it below and we will give
it a christian bur al When the Wis
cAya went ashore the commodore
went into the coming tower and him
self called down the tube to a man
below. they are all gone but one, it
all depends on you. boys ]"
Did you ever see Schley when he
app AIRED to be laboring under any
mental excitemeutP"
Always JovIaI
Oh. no; he was jovial ard soc
natured at all times. i did OF OBJ
serve the least trace of exciten ent oc
auxiery except ct one time. Th C
was when il looked as If tie Colo I |
might get awaw. He expressed fear
that might occur and seemed much
remember he dis, ussed
with Cook the advisabilitv of to , 1
ping couple of engines be IRE Car (
ness. fearing if postponed until later
the SPabiaIds might get away"
Were you present at any tonve =
sation between Capt. EVal an l
SchlPy?"
Yes, sir. in the commodore's !
cabin on the Brooklyn July 9. Evans
came into the cabin. 1 sat at a round
table in the center. Schley got up
aud shook hands with Evans. The lat
rer said: 'Schley did you see Philip
turn around and run out of the fight ~
rbe commodore said: No, neither
did you. He did not run out of the /
6ght, and Evans said. %. yes he did;
saw him. Evans said he was in
the next ship. The commodore said
it was not the Texas at all. The
Texas was in the fight all the time.
The ship you saw turn around was
The Brooklyn >"