The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-10-24

when under fire was cool and courage
Gus.
Washington. Oct. 1s.--The presenta-
tion of Adm. Schley's side of the con-
troversy was continued before the
Schley court Of inquiry Thursday,
eight witnesses being examined. OF
these five were ensigns and the eight
had served on board the Brooklyn
with Adm. (then Commodore) Schley.
The first of the days witnesses was
Lieut.. Charles Webster, who had be-
gun his testimony Wednesday, He
was followed by Lieut.. Commander
T. d. Griffin, who had charge of the
powder division on the Brooklyn dur
ing the fight off Santiago.
Referring to the battle of July 3,
Griffin said that he had been in charge
of the powder division. and that II
was his duty to look after the lower
decks Consequently, he had not seen
great deal of the fight. He said
that he had seen the Viscaya going
ashore, and that, looking abaft the
Brooklyn's beam along the coast he
had seen two other Sppni ships on
fire, with the Colon some distance
ahead on the starboard side and firing
occasionally. Then he went into the
forecastle where Commodore Schley,
Capt. Cook and Commander Mason
were standing, remaining there until
the Colon surrendered. The Oregon
was, he said, then following very
close to the Brooklyn. Comma nder
Griffin said that when the Colon gave
up the conflict the Oregon was close
on the Brooklyn's starboard quarter,
and that the Texas and Vixen were
within sight astern.
Can you speak of the conduct,
bearing and manner of Commodore
Schley during the engagement in
which you saw him?"
"He impressed me as being remark.
ably cool, considering what had Just
occurred. He was perfectly natural
in manner and bearing"
The Witness, In describing the bat
tie of July 8. said he had charge
of the port battery on main deck
forward, and when the Spanish vcs-
sells first came out Of the harbor
he could not train his guns on them
because of the distance. Later he
opened fire and he observed that the
leading Spanish ship led steady on
the Brooklyn's port bow for some
time and then turned to the west
ward. His range then was 400 yards,
and the lowest range at which he
fired during the day was LOO yards.
There has been some inquiry as to
Adm. Schley's standing In the navy
since he was placed on the retired
list because of age, but it appears
that all questions on this point has
been settled by the department hav-
ing assigned the admiral to "active
duty at the court of inquiry while
it is in progress. This action was
taken to prevent any question as to
the effect the adnliral's retirement
would have on the action of the
court.
Washington, Oct. 19.-Just before
the Schley court of inquiry adjourn
ed Friday Attorney Ilayner. counsel
for Adm. Schley, informed the court
that he hoped to be able to conclude
the presenta tion of testimony for the
applicant by the close of next week.
He added that he thus far had not
had an opportunity to consult with
witnesses who are still to be heard.
He, therefore, asked that an adjoLrn-
nIent be taken from Friday until Mon.
day. Speaking for the court, Adm.
Dewey said he was most happy to
grant the request Accordingly, the
court adjourned until II o'clock Mon
day.
The list of witnesses examined in
cluded eight names, but the inter
rogation of the last of the witnesses
called had not been concluded when
the day came TO close. This last
witness WAS Lieut.. b. w. Wells, jr.,
who served during the war with
Spain as Adm. Schley's flag lieutenant
or private secretary. The other
seven persons heard during the day
were in the order in which they were
called. Lieut.. Commander Reginald
+. Nicholson, who was navigator of
the Oregon; Medical Director Charles
NJ De Valin, a surgeon; Capt. ]. L.
Hannium, retired; engineer; Lieut.
Thomas F. Carter, Ensign w. P.
Cronan, Carpenter j. H. Warford, all
of whom served on the Brooklyn, and
j. L. Hanley, who was chief Iua.
chinist on board the Texas.
Lieut.. Commander Nicholson told
the story of the battle of July 3 as
he saw it from the deck of the Ore.
gon. He said the movements of the
Oregon had not been controlled by
signals from the Brooklyn, and he
expressed the opinion that the Oregon
was nearer the Colon than the Brook.
lyn was. Mr.. Hanley said that tho
port engines of the Texas had not
been stopped during the battle OF
July 3.
From the line of the examination
relating to the fight of July al.
the intention of Mr.. Rayner to have
Lieut.. Wells give complete history
of Adm. Schley's actions during the
Spanish war. When the court ad.
journed he had reached the period
of the battle of July 8, having gone
quite minutely into other incidents
of the campaign up to that time, in.
cluding the receipts of dispatches
from Adm. Sampson.
After Five Years.
Philadelphia, Oct. 2l.--Henry j.
Smith. at one time president of the
I.ansdale (Pa) Trust and Safe Deposit
Co., was arrested here after having