Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-09-22
CAPTAIN HARDER OF
The TEXAS ON STAND
Has Tilt With Mr.. Schley's
Counsel.
IS CLOSELY QUESTIONED
He Adhered to His Statement Con-
cerninS Coallng at Sea and Object
ed When Mr.. Raynor Sought to Re-
fresh His Memory.


cernins CoalIng at Sea and Object
ed When Mr.. Raynor Sought to Re-
fresh His Memory.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 81. - Admiral
Dewey observed his usual rule of prompt
ness in calling the Schley court of in.
quiry to order at II o'clock today. All
the members Of the court were present
on the minute and Admiral Schley sat
with his counsel at the table set apart
for them on the left of the witness seat.
The attendance of the public was
somewhat larger than on yesterday.
The first witness called was Captain
Harder, executive officer of the Texas
during the Spanish war, who was on
the stand when the court adjourned
yesterday. The judge advocate asked
no questions of him and he was imme-
diately turned over to Mr.. Raynor of
counsel for Admiral Schley, who ques-
toned him regarding his statement
made yesterday TO the effect that he did
not recall that there was any picket line
established inside the line of blockade
at Ctshfuegos. A report by Admiral
Schley was read to the effect that
piokat line had been maintained, but
the witness declined to change his state
ment.
Asked if the Brooklyn had not, on
May "a, signalled the Texas to go along
side the collier and coal, he said he did
not recall anything of the kind. Mr..
Raynor read the signal message as fol-
lows:
"Go alongside the collier and coal as
rapidly as possible" but no amount of
pressing could bring the witness to say
that he remembered the incident. He
had, he said, had very little to do with
the signalling. The same replies prac-
tically were made in response to ques-
tions regarding other signals.
Mr. Raynor quoted several of these.
One, transmitted from the Texas to the
Brooklyn, read:
ION afterthought the captain thinks
1t is unsafe to put collier between the
battleships."
Another from the Texas read:
ado not think it safe to collier The
two ships will surely crush her."
Captain Harber replied that he re-
membered there was some talk Of the
collier, but he could not recollect what
it was.
Between Spanish Forces.
Speaking of the signals observed off
Oienfuegos, he said his superstition, as
was that of other officers, was that they
were between the Spanish forces.
Captain Harber was also questigned
closely concerning the rate of speed of
the feet from Cienfuegos to Santiago on
May %. He said the weather was fresh
and the sea moderate; that it was hard
for small vessels, but it was nothing
much" He thought the Texas could
have made from 10 to IL knots. Mr..
Raynor had the witness read logs of the
Massachusetts, the Iowa, the Brooklyn
and other vessels concerning the wealth.
er at that time. Mr.. Raynor read re-
port from Captain Higginson, saying
that the weather had been trough and
squally" on May 25. Captain Harber
stated that the report of Captain Hig-
ginson was not borne out by the log
book of his ship.
"It does not correspond with the log"
he said, and he added that having given
his best recollection concerning the
weather, he thought Mr.. Raynor had
an ulterior motive in his questions. Mr..
Raynor declared that he had no such
end in view.
"Then," said the witness, 81 have
given you my best recollection concern
ing the weather"
"That Is what I want" responded
the attorney.
"That is what have given you," re.
peated the witness.
Captain Lsmley objected to the exam.
ination of Captain Harber on the record
of q ship which he had no part in pre-
pairing.
The court retired to consider the
point.
After an absence of 10 minutes, the
court announced its decision sustaining
the objection that the witness cound not
be examined upon the log Of the Mas.
Bachussetts.
Continuing his testimony Captain
Harber insisted that the weather on
May 25 was not trough"
Fleet Further Out at Night.