Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-10-05
PROGRESS OF SCHLEY
COURT OF INQUIRY
More About Coaling Flying
Squadron at Sea.
TESTIMONY OF RODGERS

1898 and Tells of Bombarding Colon
and Blockade SchIey Maintained.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 4. The Schley
court of inquiry began its proceedings
today with the recall of the witnesses
on the stand yesterday, and after they
had corrected their previous testimony
and made such additions thereto as sug-
| gested by themselves, they were ex.
cused and new witnesses were intro
duced.
The list of available witnesses for the
day included Captain Raymond B. Rod
gers, who was executive officer of the
Iowa during the Santiago campaign;
Ensign (now heurenant) NJ. L. Bristol,
who was watch and division officer on
the Texas and officer of the deck of that
vessel when the Spanish squadron went
out of the harbor; Lieutenant Com
mander A. @. Hodges, who was navi-
gator on the Brooklyn, and whose testi-
mony has been l%0ked forward to with
much interest because of his correspond
ence with Admiral Schley; and Lieu
tenant @. w. Dyson of the bureau OF
steam navigation.
Captain Lemley still has quite long
list of witnesses, and when court began
business today it was said on his behalf
that he would probably not be able to
conclude his presentation of the case for
the department. before the middle of
next week.
Captain Dawson of the marine corps,
who was on the stand yesterday, was
called to correct the official copy of his
testimony. He said that while he had
not seen the Brooklyn swing with star
board helm, he was sure that she did so
swing.
Lieut.. Dyson Continues Testimony.
Lieutenant Dyson, who was on the
witness stand yesterday when the court
adjourned, was then recalled. He had
added TO his coal history of the fleet in.
formation as to how long the supply of
coal on hand, May rs, would have held
out under forced draft. The informa-
Eion was contained in a chart which
was read by Judge Advocate Lemly.
The witness also read the same infor-
nation from tabular statement. The
chart covered the period from May 18
~ q u1S 1 IL SlIOW Gu b1dG Oh MAY 90
the Brooklyn's supply of coal was 952
tons; the Iowa's 704 tons; the Texas 408
tons and the Marbleheads' 1879 tons.
May "a the Brooklyn had coal enough
aboard TO have remained on blockade
duty off Santiago for 26 days and then
to have returned TO Key West; the Mas
sachusetts t.. remain 10 days and then
go to Key West; the Iowa enough for IL
days; the Texas seven days and the Mar.
blehead one DAY.
This was assuming that they would
have gone by the Yucaran channel. He
also gave an estimate of the length of
time they could have remained and
gone to Gonaives channel, CaDe Cruze,
Mole ST. Nicholas. Kingston, Port An
tonic, Jamaica, Guantanamo bay, the
time Of remaining on blockade being i'll
creased as the distance to the various
points diminished.
Mr.. Raynor brought out the informa-
ton concerning the time the coal on
each of the vessels would have lasted
on forced draft in chasing the enemy's
vessels, taking the amount of coal on
each on May 26, and leaving sufficient
coal to return to Key West. Mr.. Ray
nor read the infOrmaCio from Mr.. Dy-
sons Cabulared statement. showing that
the Iowa would have consumed 243 tons
of coal day; the Texas 100 tons a day
and the Marblehead n tons.
That estimate would. he said, give
the Brooklyn 203 toms chase, returning
by way Of the Yucatan channel and re-
turning TO the W1ndward passage. The
Iowa q chase OF 1.2 days; the Texas
would have chase of three .fourths of
a dav and returning by way of the Wind
nd oryn vli1l of a dow rho
Marblehead would have a chase of two
tenths of day by the Yucatan channel
and four -tenths by the windward pas
sage The staUement showed that the
Massachusetts could not have steamed
more than Is knots an hour and in do.
ing so she would have consumed 180
tons per day. At this rate she could
have chased the enemy for / s days, re-
turning via Yucatan channel or for TWO
davs, returning via the Windward pas
sage.
The witness said in reply TO questions
that his statement contemplated aver
age conditions of weather and of the
vessels.
Mr.. Raynor:
s.You have taken as a base for coaling
a number of ports. You took Gonaives,
the Mole and Kinston. These are ports
that have just been given you from
which to make calculation?"
"These ports were just mentioned to
me here today"
''You, of course, know nothing about
our right to coal in these pOrts?"
81 do not"
Raymond p. Rogers on Stand.
Lieutenant Dyson was followed on
the stand by Commodore Raymond P.
Rodgers. who was executive officer of
the battleship Iowa during the summer
of 1898 He testified to leaving Key
West on May 20 for Cienfuegos, to join
the flying squadron. Before leaving he
had had, as a representative of Captain
Evans, he said, conference with Com.
mander. in Chief Sampson, at which
Captains Taylor and Chadwick were
present.
At that time he was told by Admiral
Sampson that he had received informa.
tion from the department az Washing
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