The Van Buren press., 1901-10-26
THE END IS NOT FAR OFT.
The Schley Court of Inquiry is
Rapidly Approaching Its
Final Stage.
ONLY FEW MORE WITNESSES TO HEAR.
The Principal of These are Capt.
Clarke, who Commanded the Ore
gon, and Rear-Admiral Schley,
on Whose Request the Inquiry
was Instituted.

Washington, Oct. 24-The Schley
court of inquiry is rapidly approach
ing its closing days as is made evil
dent by many circumstances. One of
these is found in the fact that the
court has had removed from its i'm
mediate vicinity most of the tables
which were placed there for the press
at the beginning of the hearings in
September. Comparatively few of
these tables were ever used, and they
have been taken away to make room
for the increased attendance which
is expected during the last days of
the inquiry, and which is now made
manifest.
At the beginning of Wednesdays
proceedings Attorney Rayner, chief
counsel for Admiral Schley, said that
he would not have more than twelve
or fifteen witnesses to examine, and
that the examination of these would
require comparatively little time,
The principal witnesses yet to come
are Admiral Schley and Capt. Clarke.
II is expected that Admiral Schleys
testimony will cover at least day
or two of time, the length depending
largely on the extent of cross-exam.
nation to which he will be subjected
Capt. Clarke probably will be the last
witness before the admiral is heard,
but his statement, it is expected, will
be comparatively brief.
There was an unusually long list
OF witnesses of former days present
in the court at the beginning of the
days session for the purpose of cor
recting their testimony, and after
they had been disposed Of another
long list for the day was presented.
The first of the new witnesses called
was James H., Hare. who, as pho
togrnpher for an illustrated weekly
newspaper, witnessed and made pi..
tographs of the battle of July 3. He
was followed by Mr.. VIM. l.. HILL who
was chief boatswain on the flagship
Brooklyn during the work Of coaling,
Other witnesses called for the day
were; Franklin T. Applegate, gun
ner on the Brooklyn; Maj. Paul st. c.
Murphy, who was in command of the
marines of the flying squadron, and
whose headquarters were on the
Brooklyn; Licutcnant-Comma
s. Harlow, who was executive officer
~ Nf,x,, al a.. n
count Of the battle of July 3. in which
It Is claimed alterations were made be
fore it was officially published Lieut.,
Il. w. Eberle, who had charge of he
forward l3-inch turret on the Oregon;
Lieut.. A. A. Alderman, who was in
charge of the aft l3-nch turret OF the
Oregon, and Lieut.. Rufus H. Johnston,
who was signal officer on the Oregon
and aide to Capt. Clarke,
While Lieut.. Simpson was on the
stand for the purpose OF correcting
his testimony of Tuesday, he stated
IN reply to a question by Mr. Hanna,
that he had first seen the Oregon
coming up during the chase of the
Spanish ships, on July 3, when the
Oqucndo was discovered TO be on fire,
Mr.. Hanna stated that his object In
bringing out this information was TO
fix the time when the Oregon came
up.
Mr.. q. T.. Graham made an addition
10 his testimony of Tuesday, concern.
ing the interview between Commo-
dorc Schley and Capt. Sgsbee, on
May &c. lie said that beyond what
he had already reported Capt Sigsbee
MS saying. he further said "lle had
two pilots aboard. and that those pr
lots said that fleet Of vessels OF the
size OF the Spanish squadron could
not enter the harbor ut Santiago"
Mr.. Graham also changed his reply
20 the question Of the court rs TO
whether he had hcnrd conversn-
ton between Commodore Schlcy and
Commander llodgson dur
ing the battle Of July .. Referring
TO this, Mr. Graham saidi an answer
TO the question OF the court ] said'
NO, sir but IL seems 70 me that |
should say In that relation that there
was n great deal Of conversation go
Ing on between three or four officers
forward, and ! answered no. because
could not pick out from that con-
versutlon between LAMENTATIONS
mNndcr IIodgson and Commodore
Schley."
Chief Boatswnin Hin, In the course
Of his testimony, described the death
OF Yeoman Ellis. lie soldi
"rhc commodore asked IN u mnttcr'
of.fact tonr; What Is the range"
Ellis raised the stadlmeicr TO his eye,
and ny he did 40 shell took hts head
on. Az he fell TO the deck, dead, Me-
Cuuley snid Let's throw II over
board The commodore said No,
don't throw that body overheard, lie
died like u brave man, and ! nm go
Ign TO bury him like one He Of
rectcd me 10 look after the body !
Ind II wrapped In blankets, lal1 IN
the ahnde, and that evening II was
gotten ready for burial, The Nlscnyn
was putting up the best fight OF any
ship there. She fought well, ana the
big shells were going over rs, aud u
great many Of us duckcd. Thcsc
shells sounded Ike half u dozen rail-
rond trains under w0y As they we're
heard going through the mir down
would 10 II hrud. but Commodore
hchlcy's head never bent
There WIS II great ouibursi OF APP
plause In thu court room M, III y