Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-10-25

PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST WEEK.

sons this information was not started to
scliley until the evening of May 81. Even
Sampson did not communicate positive
information on this point to Schley, but
instructed the latter to be sure the Span
iards were not i'll Cienfuegos before leav-
ing for Santiago.
Captain Chadwick of the New York
was recalled and questioned regarding
his protest to Sampson against sending
a congratulatory dispatch to Schley, on
the character of the blockade maintained
by the flying squadron. The previous day
MIR. Rayner attempted to question Cap
tain Chadwick with regard to a CONVEX
sation the latter had with Watson regard
ing the blockade, which was at that time
commended by Captain Chadwick. The
! court promptly and with some heat de-
slined to admit the question, and object
ed to further inquiry on this line.
Twenty-secnnd lay.
Captain Cooks testimony was in favor
of Schley. Cook said the flying squadron
left CienfHegos for Santiago as soon as it
was learned definitely that the Spanish
fleet was not in the former place.
The retrograde movement, Cook testi-
fled, was begun because Schley feared his
squadron would be caught with a short
coal supply. Schley turned back to San
tiago as soon as.tle weather moderated
and it was possible to coal at sea.
Schley maintained a moving blockade
instead of a stationary circular block
ade-such as Sampson's-Cook said, be-
cause he wanted to have his ships under
way and ready at a moments notice to
engage in battle. Cook said he ordered
the loop without instruction or suggestion
from Schley. He stated that the Brook
lyn passed within 400 yards of the Texas,
but there was absolutely no danger of col
lision. He did not hear the Hodgson-
alleged to have said, 'D-n the Texas"
When, Hanna asked a theoretical q,les-
tion as to what would have happened if
the Brooklyn had been handled different
ly, he said, with some feeling: II know
that what we did vas entirely successful.
Ii we had done something else 1 do not
Know whether it would have been sue
cesstul.'
Yes, that's right" said Dewey. I'VE
want facts, not conjcctures.'
Twcnty-third Day.
Only one new witness was heard in de-
tail by the Schley court on this day. This
was Lieutenant Commander James II.
Sears, who was Admiral Schley's flag
lieutenant during the Spanish wal. lie
gave Il detailed account of the entire
Cuban campaign. including the brief siege
of Cienfiegos, the retrograde movement
of the flying squadron in the search OF
coal, the blockade OF Santiago, the recon-
noissance Of the Santiago shore batteries
and the bombarlment of the Cristobal
Colon May 81, and the battle off San
tiago July 3, when Cervera's fleet was
destroyed.
He placed the distance out of the block
ade line at Cienfuegos at from one to
four miles and at Santiago at from three
to six miles. He expressed the opinion
that in the battle of July 3 it had been
the Niscaya's intention to ram the Brook
Ign.
Mr.. Ratner sought to secure the intro
dlction of a brief report of the battle of
July 8, which Commodore Schley prepar-
cd for transmission to the Secretary of
the Navy. 1t was stated that Command
er Sears had taken this dispatch ashore
TO be cabled to the Secretary, but that it
! never had reached that official. The dis
UutNI WIS iuieu oul ou llle ground lnaC
asst was not received it was not an off
cial communication. 1t was not read in
the court room.
Captain Cook was recalled, and in re-
Spouse to q question by Captain Lemly
made an additional statement concerning
the rctrograde movement of the flying
squadron May 225 to May IS. He also
said in answer to a question by the court
that Commodore Schley during the bat
tie of July 3 was cool. brave and enthu-
%siastic. / cannot imagine any conduct in
battle more admirable"
SIS