Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-01
Eighth Bob the Main Wit
nb Before Schley
Court.
TALKiOF FAMOUS "LOOP"
AndOther Matters Pertain
inf to the Eventful Day
Off Santiago.

" Vshington, Oct. Admiral
EvI continued his testimony before
the bchley court of inquiry today.
He denied that he ever told Schley
thI Capt. Philip, of the Texas, had
ru away at the battle of Santiago o.
attempted to do so.
Thomas A w. Dieuaido, newspaper
correspondent, who was on board the
1exas with Philip during the battle,
iaid he heard Philip give the order
to stop both engines helm hard the
star board when the Brooklyn passed
the Texas, but didn't hear any order
to ''back engines" Capt. Sigsbee
was also on the stand today.
Washington. Oct Captain James
NJ. Miller. who commanded the collier
Merrimac off Santiai.i i'm May. 1898,
gave testimony before the Schley court
of inquiry yesterday calculated to
throw light on the contention of Adj
miral Schlcy that he could not coal
his ships in those waters the week
before the sea fight. Briefly he said
he could have cOaIed them, but it
would not have been an easy task.
He especially did not like to coal bat
tleships because of their Toll-in all
weather; not only in Il rough sea. He
produced his log, which showed that
he had cOaIed ships both before and
after the date when Schley said it was
necessary to go. TO Key West to coal.
How the Opposite Sides Feel.
Captain Jewell. commander Of the
Minneapolis. was the next witness. He
stated that he did not give Schley in
formation as to the presence of the
Spanish fleet at Santiago. The counsel
Cn both sides became involved i'm an
other wTanSIe. The department holds
that the fact that what everybody else
knew SchIey did not know is evidence
OF his lack of judgment care or some
other quality; while the Schley counsel
declares his ignorance of these things
was due to the premeditated purpose
Of naval clique to do him harm by
keeping valuable knowledge from him.
Evans the Star witness.
But Captain RobIey ID. Evans. who
was next called. was the star witness
of the day-and this without reference
to who was hit by his testimony: IL
was the straight. sharp way he gave
it. as well as its pertinence to the is
sues He said he was captain OF the
Iowa in May, 1898. and Joined Schley
at Cienfuegos the 22d of that month.
He carried sealed dispatches TO Schley,
but denied all knowledge of their con-
tents.
What was done by Admiral Schley's
flying squadron TO ascertain if the
Spanish fleet was at SantiagO?' asked
Captain Lemly.
Nothing that l know Of" said
Evans briskly. and went on to say that
the shore batteries were ia range of
the IOwa's guns. but that no order was
received to open fire.
Tho Attack on the Colon.
Evans described the attack on the
Spanish vessel Colon. He saw the
Massachusetts shells fall short. and
elevated the IOwa's guns until they
fired at a range of 1880 yards. One
shot fell near the stem of the Colon,
but no damage was done.
why did you not take the Iowa
nearer the Colon? asked Captain Lem
".
Because my instructions were to
follow the flagship answered Evans.
On the question as to coaling the
admiral agreed with the other testi-
mony given-that it could have been
done off Santiago.