Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-09-28
First Day.


The Schey court of inquiry reconvened
IN Washington Friday morning and Rear
Admiral Ramsay was accepted as a mem
Der of the court in place OF Admiral
HoWison, to whom objection had been
made. The feature of the days pro-
ceedngs was Admiral Higginson's testi-
mony. to the effect that he believed the
Colon could have been sunk and tha1
Schley did not use every effort to accom-
plish this.
After the court had been called to order
the appointment of Rear Admiral Ram
say as a member of the court was an
bounced, Admiral Ramsay succeeding
Rear Admiral Howison. declared inehgl-
ole. Judge Advocate Lemly asked If
here were any objections to Ramsay and
Admiral Schley and his counsel signlhed
that the new member was accepted.
After the court had administered the
oath to everybody concerned in the IN
luiry the court retired to read the precept
to Rear Admiral Ramsay. Judge Ad-
vocate Lemly presented a number of ref
ercnce books and maps and then read
the orders assigning Sampson to com
mand of the North Atlantic squadron and
Schley to thot of the flying squadron.
These orders were read for the purpose
of showing at the beginning of the in
Qury that Sampson was in command of
the entire fleet and Schley's superior Off
Ger.
Rear Admiral Higginson was the first
witness. He was in command OF the bat
tleship Massachusetts during the war
with Spain. Higginson, who at the time
of the battle, was q captain IN the navy,
detailed movements of the fleet. lie is
considered one of the anti-Schley wit
nesses. During his testimony he said
that the GOLFERS Merrimac and Castlne
accompanied the fleet and that the Mas
sachuSetts was able to take on 1871 tons
of coGi without trouble while at sea. He
also testified that the Iowa took on some
coal
After detailing the movement of the
fleet from May 49, when Key West vas
left, to May %, when the Colon was
sighted, "She was in plain view at the
entrance of the harbor of Santiago" said
Higginson, in response to questions from
the judge advocate. Then the question
ing took another tack and before the wit
ness was asked if Schley used his utmost
efforts to destroy the Spanish vessel Lem
~ switched the questioning to the block
AIDE Higginson testified that the fleet
was closer to the harbor in the night time
than in the day time and that the vessels
kept constantly moving.
Then the testimony went back to the
firing On the Colon. which was noslnS
around the harbor of Santiago. In re-
Spouse to questions Higginson said that
Schley came aboard his vessel and said
it wa>; his plan to have the ships pass
the mouth of the harbor at a ten-knot
speed and distance of 5000 yards and
fire at the Colon as they passed the har-
bor
He said this was done and that the
plan gave the fleet only about two min
utes to shoot at the Spanish ships. Hlg-
ginSon said most of the shots from the
Massachusetts fell from 800 to 1000
yards short and that SO far as he could
observe the Colon was not hit. He sad
| that the bombardment of the Colon de-
| yeloped the location and strength Of the
|. shore batteries, the shots of whichl came
| near to the Massachusetts. He testified,
| however. that the shore batteries did not
impress him as being dangerous III the
| least.
| There was quick exchange between
| Mr.. Rayner, Schley's counsel, and Capt.
Lemly when he asked Higginson how did
| Schley's conduct impress him.
LAS that of the commanding officer,
answered Higginson, evading the Ques-
! ton.
| Lemly insisted on a more explicit an
| swer. After series Of exchanges be-
| tween Rayner and Lemly tho latter with
| drew the question.
Colon Not Ordered Destroyed.
| During the testimony Higginson testi-
| fed that Schley was in the coming tow
| err during part of the engagement, but
| that he soon came out and watched the
| maneuyers from the bridge.
| Then Judge Advocate Lemly asked:
| Admiral, when the Colon was sighted
| outside the harbor why did not the Mas
sachusetts go in ana destroy herr"
| Because she was not ordered to 90
So" was the quick reply.
| Then Lemly started to establish the
| fact that Schley had not issued any for
| NAL order TO follow in case the Spanish
fleet came out of the harbor. He asked
| what snccifc orders had been given the
| Massachusetts for such contingency.
| Hieginson said he remembered no orders
| other than the verbal agreement that
each ship would so in at close quarters
| and do its best.
| JuIge Advocate Lemly tried to make
| tho contain admit that there should nave