The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-10-09
ADMIRAL EVANS GORNERED.
In Interesting Incident in the
sehIey Court Of Inquiry.

Washington, October 1.-The Schley
Court of Inquiry made good headway
again today, concluding with Admiral
Evans and hearing three new witness
es, although the testimony OF one OF
them was not concluded when the
Court adjourned for the day.
The new witnesses were Capt. Sigs-
bee, who commanded the scout st.
Paul during the Santiago campaign;
Thomas NJ. Dieuaide, newspaper
correspondent who was on the Texas
during the battle of July 8, and Chief
Yeoman Gustave E.. Becker, who was
a clerk to Admiral Sampson during
the war. General sympathy was ex-
pressed on the part Of members of the
Court of Inquiry and those in attend
ance with Judge advocate Lemly be-
cause of the death Of MS sister, which
occurred yesterday. Capt. Lemly was
present when the Court convened but
Immediately withdrew.
Admiral Evans, recalled, said that
when Capt. Chadwick communicated
the secret, code of signals to him he
did not instruct him to give the infor-
nation to Commodore Schley.
MI. Raynor asked: Did you have
conversation with Commodore Schley
on July 4, in the course of which you
used language as follows: Did you
know that Jack Philip started to run
away at the beginning Of the battle,
and to which Commodore Schley re-
piled: You are mistaken about that,
Evans, I saw nothing of the kind. The
Brooklyn made turn and you must
see the tactical situation that made it
necessary -
son thinking over last night what
did occur with reference to the Texas
I think Commodore Schley and [ dis
cussed the position of the Texas when
the fight began. I cannot be sure Of
il, but that / ever intimated that
Capt. Philip attempted to run away
with the Texas is preposterous on the
face of it,
..Were not the commanding officers
called on board the flagship Brooklyn
by signal'on the morning of May %,
after the Colon was diseovered?"
''They were"
What took place at the conference
of the commanding officers at that
time??''
"Tbere was general talk about
the Spanish feet having been located
at last at Santiago. I do not recollect
any special conference. [ remember
having conversation with Commo-
dore Schley about the effect of the
fighting batteries on the ships, in
which I told him of the experience we
had had at San Juan and expressed
the opinion to him that it was not
worth while to risk fighting shore
batteries alone. Commodore Schley
the country held him responsible; !;
that the ships should not be risked
under the fire of the shore batteries
until the Spanish feet was destroyed. :"
''I want to cali your attention to the
report of Capt. McCalla, of the Marble
head, on page 426 of the appendix,
which says Commodore Schley ex-
planned to the commanding officers
that in case the Spanish ships came
out he wished to concentrate the bat
teries of all the ships on a portion of
those Of the enemy. During the time
the commanding officers were on board
the flagship Capt Evans asked Commo-
dore Schley if it were his intention to
steam at the enemys ships in case
they should attempt to come out.
Commodore Schley answered, Ger
tainly'', and added words indicative of
his intention to attack them as they
came out of the narrow defle. -
g I recollect it perfectly''
$50 there was plan of battle arrang-
ed by Commodore Schley, was there
not?''
'SThere is nothing there to indicate
it from what you have read
Was not that the same order that
was afterward given by the commander
in-chief substantially Close in to-
ward the harbor entrance and attack
them?' -
''You have not read anything about
indicating any plan of battle
Mr.. Raynor asked number of ques
tions intended to show that Admiral
Evans's official reports and his present
statements as to speed were inconsis-
tent. Admiral Evans was also ques-
toned as to his statements concerning
the distance the blockading vessels
were out at night. He said yesterday
that the vessels Of the blockading feet
were farther cut at night than during
the day, and Mr. Raynor read pre-
vious statement from him to the effect
that at daylight we closed in. This
the witness said was the exact fact,
that after being out farther at night
the vessels came In closer at daylight.
While before Cienfuegos or on the
way to Santiago did you have any or
ders for battle?' asked Mr.. Hanna.
NO" responded the witness. We
steamed in column, with fankers on
each side. -
''Had you any instructions as to
what to do in case the enemy should
appear?''
g We had not. "
Admiral Evans was then excused.
Capt. Charles D. Sigsbee told Of
taking aboard the Cuban Pilot Nunez
and said that he did not have great
confidence in that individual. His in