The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-09-26
SAYS SHIPS COULD HAVE
C0ALED OFF SANTIAGO
Admiral Cotton, Who Commanded the Harvard, les
titles Before SChIey Court Of Inquiry.
Brought Dispatches to the COmmanden-chef Informing Him
to Whereacots of Spanish Fleet

nesses were introduced in the Schle
court today. They were Admiral Cot
ton, who, as captain, commanded tn
auxiliary cruiser Harvard. and Captain
Wise. who commanded the auxiliar,
cruiser Yale during the Spanish war
Roth these vessels were used as scouts
and both came Up with the flying
squadron off Santiago on the 2Sth OF
May before the retroErade movement
10 Key West was begun.
Admiral Cotton testified that he had
gone aboard Admiral Schley's flagship,
the Brooklyn. on that date. 10 take
dispatches g MIN. and he said at first
that he gave him four or FIVE dispatches
addressed TO the commander of the
squadron. He afterward modified this
statement. saying that probably all but
two Of these dispatches were addressed
TO himself admiral Cotton, but that
they contained Information which IL
thought should he in Admiral Schley's
possession
One of these was a copy of a dis
patch from Admiral Sampson. which
had not been printed IN the official rec
ordC. stating that the Spanish fleet was
at Santiago. He. also said that the coal
could have been taken from the Mer-
riTnac on the 9th of May. the day on
which the retrograde movement 10 Key
West was begun for the purpose of
coaling
Captain Wise testified that on the
18th OF May he. had signaled Captain
Philip of the Texas his opinion that
Cervera was inside the harbor at San
uago, but the testimony was ruled out.
During the day Admiral Schley an
nounced that he had selected Mr.. Ray
nor Of his chief counsel to succeed
Judge Wilson. and that he would be
assisted by Captain James Parker Of
New Jersey and by DR.. NJ. A. league
OF Baltimore % an expert assistant.
MI RaynOr will continue to conduct the
sS-examination OF witnesses as he
has been doing, and the other gentle
men VIII continue in the same capac-
lly they occupied Up TO the time of
Judge Wilson's death.
AIR Rayno- stated shat if it became
necessary in the preparation or alb
stracting Of the vOluminous documents
IN me case to employ assistant counsel,
OF II ne should be unavOidably absent
at any time. that proper arrangements
would be made for that purpose.
Chart of Santiago Battle.
= TIE business Of The cotrt was
Promptly resumed at the usual hour.
The wall back of the court was
adorned today with a chart on a large
scale, showing the ground site Of the
a-tle Of Santiago on July g. The
southern coast OF Cuba in the vicinity
OF santiago was plainly marked and
the points at which che Spanish ships
went 10 the 10 tom or 10 the shore
were all indicated in plain lettering
Ihere were also "a number Of transpar-
ent charts which had been prepared
over night setting about in the rear Of |
the room. and which were intended to
illustrate various phases of the San
tiago campaign All these had been
prepared With view Of expeditinte the ,
work Of the court and all wer on a
large scale.
The first witness called today was A.
y ClaNton. the maChinist on board the /
Texas. who had begun his testimony
when the sitting of the court was so 4
abruptly terminated Yesterday morn 1
ing by the death Of Judge Wilson
Before Mr. ClaXtOn took the stand q
Commando Heilner was recalled to 4
make verbal corrections in the official /
copy of his testimony. IN one case h ]
was recorded as giving the bearing :
and the distance" If the Brooklyn he \
said he had given the bearing and not l
the distance. Other changes were not 3
material.
Mr.. Clsxton said on July 8. 1895. he
had been on duty in the engine room I
Of the Texas The engine Indicator had I
called for full speed ahead early in the
morning. which had. within an hour
inter the beginning Of the action. been 4
chanEed to full speed astern." To his
knowledge there had been no signal
for the reversal Of the engines. Is
said that he had been excused from
service in the engine room. but still ne
knew that the engines were reversed 4
for about two minutes. The witness
had said that the engine was stopped.
Change in the Indicator.
What was me next change made in
the indicator Of the port engine of the
Texas be was asked.
Full speed ahead"
W nat was The next after that2"
There was no other order given for
some time afte1ward."
When was a further signal received
BY the Indicator and what was the sig
Within the first hour OF the engage
speed astern."
can you not give an estimate of thu
time when the signal was given for
full speed astern. and how long after
the beginning Of the action
s1ould say within the first hour
was there any other signal given
during that watch within your knowl-
edge for the port engines to reverse -
There was none to my knowledge"
1ou were on duty in the port en-
Elne room during that nv. were you
'On and on. sir"
here else were you on dutv at
= was excused FOR a time on account
As a matter Of fact. were the en-
gincs reversed %
They were for about two Minutes -
Mr; ClaTton was no: questioned by ]
Rear Admiral Cotton. now com ,
Inandant ~ The Norfolk navy yard :
NNh2 commanded the auxiliary cruiser
p ard during The Spanish war. vas
Inc iseNt witness He told Of meeting
the hying SQUADRON under Commodore ,
ScnleF. OH santiago. on May 27 1895
ana said th2t on that date he had de- !
lFered dispatches 70 the commodore
from Acniral Sampson and the navy /
a, e parlment. lie had. he said. boarded
the Btooklyn about 1890 O'Clock THE
weather Was then moderate and ne
had no difficulty iu going aboard the Z
tSrooSlyn from his boat. He had worn s
" nat conversa n took pIace be- {
tween you and Admiral Schley7" asked {
Captain Lemly. .
Dispatches For schley.
IL viii be Impossible for me to state s
Z = entire conversation" the witness :
rc7l ed- was on board. generally
81 iSins srom about half past ten 4
TO Dout noon The conversation nat r
roop- important o. which vas. OF