The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-07


Mr.. Raynsr said the scouts were there
for the purpose of finding out the where-
abouts of the Spanish fleet off Santiago.
the same purpose that Commodore Schles,
was there for. They did not find cut.
Commodore Scbley did. They go scot.
free and Commodore Echlev is the con-
demned.
Mr.. Rayner then referred to the pa-
partment's dispatch of May 18th, which
Admiral Chen captaiD Cotton testified
{ to delivering on board the Brooklyn, IRii
In which the positive atemy Mt was made
that the Spanish fleet was in the harnor
at Santiago, and said that it was certain
: it never had been received by the Com
nodore.
WESTWARD MOVEMENT.
If Captain Sigsbee had not salt, TO
Commodore schlsy the Spanish fleet was
not there. Commodore Schley never
would have gone to the westward Oh
what is called his retrograde movements
More than that. Captain Eigsbee put Il
Cuban pilot on board Commodore SchleNs
ship. and that pilot impressed the Com
modore with the idea that the Spanish
ships could not get in there. All things
created in the mind of Commodore Schley
the indslible impression that the Spanish
fleet was not in the liarbor of Slntiaso.
This absolutely justified his movement TO
the west. Every Incident around thare--
Captain Jewelrs failure to communicate,
Captain Wise.s absolute fai!Ir'N to COM
n2unicate Captain Cotton's failure TO
communicate. because the dispatches lie
received could never have been delivered
to Commodore schley at that time, as
they We're dated afterwards Captain
Sgsbee's positive assurances, the putting
of the Cuban pilot on board-everythinS,
may.it please the court, conveyed doubt
to the mind of Commodore schley.
ct want coal was his cry. ! rave
GOT to get coal I cannot coal here 1
have n broken down collier My brother
here has interlaced that dispatch and
torn it word for word, but there is net.
a tfaIsehood on the face Of it. Commodore
Schley was perfectly right In saving tnat
he had a. worthless collier. because TOR
twenty four hours, according to the tes-
timony of Captain Miller. she was abso-
lutely helpless. With broken-dcwn CO.
lier: with the Marblehead. which could
not coal; with the Texas, which because
of her projecting sponsors. could not coal:
with both of these ships. with only SUI
ficient amount of coal on hand to get half
way to Martinique: with the positive as
slrance of Captain Sigsbee. sustained and
corroborated by the Cuban pilot. that the
fleet was not in Santiago. h. did the only
thing he could do. and that was to turn
to the west for coal. Blu. he never went
| in that direction mile further than was
| necessary for VIXEN the weather cleared
| and the sea bec2rne smooth II" coaled.
| Then he returned to his rnst off Sautia so,
| discovered the Cristobal Colon. gave bat
| Ito IN July Sd aud struck down the SPAN
| ish feet at the same time takin~ fro
| Stain her ancient Dossesscn 1rpcn the
face Of tn, American continent
BRILLIANT PF=l0RAT'ION-
Mr.. Itayner then CLOSED as follows:
II have now briefly presented this case
| as ii appears to me in its general outline
| Such Il trial as this has never. to my
| knowledge, taken place in the history Of
| the world. 1t seemed to my mind that
this case had hardly opened with the tes-
timony of Captain HiggnsGh before it
commenced to totter, and from day to
| day its visionary fabric dissolved from
| view. When Captain Co1k. their last wit
! ness, was put upon the stand the entire
| structure coilaPsed, and now. when the
! witnesses from our own ships and the
! gallant captain and crew of the Oregon
| and Admiral Schley have narrated their
| unvarnished tale. the whole tenemen
| with all its compartments. from its foun-
dation to it's turret, has disintegrated and
| lies here a mass OF blackened ruins.
''It has taken three years to reveal the
| truth. There is not q single Witness
| friend or foe. that casts the SHADOW of a
| reflection upon the honored name of the
| hero of Santiago. He has never claimed
| the glory of that day. No word to this
effect has ever gone forth from him to
| the American people. The valiant Cook,
the heroic Clark, the lamented Philip,
che intrepid and undaunted Wainwright,
| and all the other captains, and every man
| IL every gun ana every soul on board OF
| every ship, are equal participants with
| Admiral Schley in the honor wrought
| upon that immortal day.
HEROIC FIGURE.
| eve cannot strike down his figure,
| standing, upon the bridge of the Brook
! lyn. There he stands upon the bridge OF
| che Brooklyn. his ship almost alone re-
! ceiving the entire fire of the Spanish foe,
! until the Oregon. as If upon the wings of
] lightning, spec. into the thickness of This
/ mortal carnage. Gold bless tho Oregon
| was the cheer that rang from deck to
deck. And on they went, twin brothers IN
the chase, when the lee gun was fired
from the Cristobal Colon ana the despotic
| colorS of Spain We're swept from the face
/! OF her ancient possessions Well done.
| congratulate Eou on the victory was the
! streamcr that was bent from the ballard
| Of the Brooklyn, ard from that day to
this no man has ever heard from Admiral
| Schley the slightest whisper or intimat alton
that he has usurped the glory CT that i'm
| perishahie hour.
BROOKLYN'S THUNDER.
The thunders of the Brooklyn as she
! Lren,bled on the waves have been dis
| cocdant music TO the cars OF envious
! foes, but they have pierced with ring
| !ag melody the ears of his countrynlen
| md struck responsive chord at the
| iireside Of every American home, and
what is more than all, which has been
revealed in this case, as matcnless as is
his courage and as lnsulictl as is his
honor. is his beautiful character and the
generous spirit that animates his soul
and the forgiving heart that beats within
J mis- bosom. Yes, we cannot strike him
| down. Erect he stands as the McGregor
when his step was on his native heath
| and mis- eye was on the peak of Ben Ln-
monG. His country does not want to
| strike him down. nor cast a blush upon
| the pure escutcheon Of his honored name.
HOUR OF IMMIGRATION.
For three long years he has suffered,
! and now, thank God. the hour of his vim
| dication has come. With composure. with
resignation. with supreme and unfalter-
| ing forttude he awaits the Judgment of
this illustrious tribunal and when THAI
! deliverance comes he can, from the high
and exalted position that he occupies,
| look down upon his Ttraducers ana ma
+: ligners and witt, pride }eXclainl: I care
| not forathe venomous gossip of clubs and
| IF drays -rnoy,, ar III baJ g