Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-10-11
'SCBLEY EXCITED IN fight !
A Witness Says Commodore
Seemed Eager to Quit.
OTHERS TALES ARE DENIED.
Ofcer of the Massachusetts Says the
Bearing of Schley During the Bonn
bardment OF the Colon Was That OF
an Excited Man.

Washington, D. G., Oct. 11.-"Ad-
miral Schley's bearing during the
bombardment of the Colon was that
of man suffering under extreme ex-
element; one who had disagreeable
duty to perform, did it reluctantly,
and got through with it as soon as he
could" said Lieutenant Commander
Templin M. Potts, navigating officer of
the Massachusetts,, who was the prin
cipal witness before the court of in
curry for the day.
I'VE are conspicuous objects here in
white, and l think we should get out
of this" Admiral Schley said during
testimony of this witness.
These were fair samples of the tes-
timony given by Lieutenant Com
mander Potts, and while it created
something of sensation much of its
strength is taken away when contrast
ed with the statements of Captain Hig-
ginson, who was present at the time,
and who said Schley's conduct on this
occasion was in keeping with that of
a commanding officer under such cir
cumstances. Potts statements are
weakened also by the fact that Schley
did not enter the coming tower on
the day in question, although he was
standing at the door Of that apartment
when the remarks quoted are alleged
20 have been made.
Potts Himself Badly Scared.
Lieutenant Commander Potts admit
ted that he himself was badly scared
upon the occasion of the lombard
ment, although he testified that the
shore batteries were so weak as not
to be worth considering The princi-
pal portion of his testimony was
brought out by questions from the
judge advocate, with a view of show
ing that the purpose Of the action of
May 81 was to destroy the Colon and
not fire on the shore batteries, as has
been testified to by previous witnesses.
Then Potts endeavored to convict
Schley of cOwardice, using the Ian
guage to which reference has been
made. When asked on cross-examina-
ton upon what he based his impress
sion that Schley was suffering under
eACICuc cAClLSnc1lL, IOLtS odiu ~ wac
because when the commodore first
came upon the Massachusetts, the tenn
porary flagship, he said he was going
in to destroy the Colon, but upon leav-
ing the vessel Schley called the action
a reconnaissance, and said he was en-
tirely satisfied with it, as he had sue
ceeded in drawing the fire Of the shore
batteries.
Bristol Stands by His Evidence.
Lieutenant M. l.. Bristol, the watch
officer of the Texas, who was SO posi-
tive on direct examination over events
that occurred over three years ago,
was given an uncomfortable half hour
while under cross-examination. He
stuck closely to his story and was ex-
trenely clever in fencing with Mr..
Rayner. In the face of the direct evil
dence of his superiors he declined to
admit that it was possible for him to
be mistaken.
Disputes the Official Charts.
Mr.. Rayner Intercepted Lieutenant
Bristol concerning his estimate, made
soon after the arrival of the fleet off
Santiago, that the Spanish shore bat
teries amounted to little. He had said
before that the elevation of these bat
teries was from $50 to 200 feet. Mr..
Rayner produced chart to show that
the Moro battery was 220 feet above
the water line and the Zocapa battery
23O feet.
'.Now, then" asked Mr.. Rayner,
"are you as positive about the dis
lance you gave these as in other cases
in which you have given distances?"
Captain Lemly objected to the form
of the question, saying that counsel
was putting language he had not used
into the mouth of the witness. Mr..
Rayner then made objection to the in
terruption, and after stating this OBJ
lection said to the witness: If you
are not positive shall submit to any
correction"
Judge Advocate-The witness has
not stated that he was positive.
Admiral DEWEY would rather you
would not interrupt the testimony.
Judge Advocate-If the court tells
me cannot do it I will submit to the
order of the court.
Admiral Dewey-If counsel for the
applicant has put words into the
mouth of the witness which he did not
utter, you addressing Captain Lem
ly) can bring it out at the proper time.
You will have an opportunity to do
that.
Judge Advocate-That is not the
advantageous time to do it. The adj
yantageous time is when it is done.
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