The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-27
HOOD A DISAPPOINTMENT.
The Hawks Commander Before
the Schley Court.

Evidence Conversation with
SamPson-The Latter's Iustruc-
tioHs Practically Left All Prosrcc-
tive Movements to she Acting Com
mHHdcr's JudEmcnt-Nr. HHnnH
During the Proceedings Refers TO
the Applicant The AccHscG.'
one Of the star witnesst for the Navy
Departme=J -,z placed upon the witness
stand at the SchIey Court Of Enquiry to-
day. and there is no doubt but that his
testimony fell far short of what was eN-
pected from him.
The witness was Lieut. John Hood. who
commanded the Hawk. the ship which
carried dispatches from Sampson while
of Havana TO Schiey while the latter WAS
off Cienfucgos. Much that would De Get-
rimentaI to SchIey has been predicted
from the introduction of the Hawk de
spatches. supplemented by the verbal in
strucuons given by Sampson to communi-
cate to SChley. Lieutenant Hood was re-
lied upon to tell what these verbal in
BtructiOns were With this statement il
was expected to fix upon Schley the re-
sponsibility for delaying at CienfueEos
His testimony was "a disappointment in
its features in this regard.
Counsel for Admiral Schley fought
against the introduction Of these verbal in
structions. but the Court decided that
they were admissible When the ques-
tiOn was asked Lieutenant Hood what
these verbal instructions were. he said
that they contained the same orders as
were in the written memorandum which
he carried This was read. together with
the official orders, but they all showed
that while Sampson expressed the strong
belief that Cervera was in Santiago and
directed Schley TO go there they were
qualified by the words in substance: IF
in your opinion the Spanish fleet is not
there tCienfuegos)." In short, the matter
was left to Schley's judgment
Lieutenant Hood related the converse
ton which he had with SchIey in which
the latter gave his reasons for beIiev-
ing Cervera to be in CienfueEos. Inc
fact was brought out. however. that
Sampson directed SchIey to communicate
with the Insurgents on shore. and that
he received the despatch at about 8
O'Clock in the morning.
Lieut.. Spencer S Woods testimony de-
veloped little Of Importance 10 the case
save direct contradiction to the recoI-
lection Of Commander Harber that there
were no scout boats inside the fleet line
at Cienfuegos. Lieutenant Wood was
positive that the picket boats we're main
tanned. and that the Dupont, f which he
was the commander. was on. OF them.
Verbal EncOuutc-
The intcrmission between and .
O'Clock was enlivened by a spirited verbal
encounter between Captain LemIy on one
side and Mr. Rayner and Captain Parker
on the other over the responsibility OF a
publication in the New York Herald
this morning. This paper published the
original despatch which Schley had pre-
pared 10 send to the Navy Department
giving report OF the battle Of Santiago
before Sampson sent his famous des-
patch The assertion is made that the
department has heretofore suppressed IT,
Captain Lemly charged Mr.. Rayner and
Captain Parker with having given news
paper men access TO papers in use at the
Court The talk was quite loud and heat
ed Captain Lemly charged Captain Par
ker with being suspicious You are al
ways suspicious" he said
4 may De suspicious replied Captaln
Parker, but I am gentleman. and that
IS more than ! can say Of you at all
times"
This angered the judge advocate not a
little. bu, the matter was amicabIy set
tied and the responsibility for the pubIi-
cation was not placed upon anyone but
the unknown newspaper man who obtain
ed the despatch.
Captain Wise on the stand
When the Court convened Captain Wise
was recalled 70 the witness stand TO make
any corrections in his testimony which he
desired. After making a few verbal
changes, he said he wished to add 10 his
evidence the statement that ne had in
formed Captain Philip that he had been
directed 20 advise all American vessels
that the Navy Department suspected the
presence OF the Spanish fleet in Santiago.
He said he did not deem IL necessary
20 inform the commandments OF the
Flying Squadron Of his own CWise.sJ
movements.
BY the Court:
ODD you direct Captain Sigsbee IN
give Commodore Schley the information
contained in the despatch frorl the N.tvy
Department regarding the whereabouts If
The Spanish squadron
Al did not.
William G. Cray. the marine who testi-
he'd yesterday, was called and made s.v-
tTaI minor corrections in the printed re-
port Of his testimony Iney did not af-
Iect- his material statements.
DUpOnt's Commander KecnIIed
Lieut.. Spencer S. Wood. who command
ed the Dupont and who was a witness
yesterday. was recalled, and cross-exarn-
ined by Mr.. Rayner.
Q--Nhle you were at Cieufueg0s. was
the Dupont assigned 20 picket duty2
A.-heS. sir
Q.-What uiEhts2
A.-May - and MAY D.
Q.-Hgw far inside the feet line was the
Any orders were for the Dupont TO
remain between the Castine and the
shore.
Q.-IIow far from the shore were voU2
About two miles
ON case the Spanish ships were seen
coming out Of the harbor, what were you
Al think we were TO fire the usual
signals and use two red lights
Odd you know whether information
as 10 this method was communicated 10
the fleet or notE
Al did not.
Mr.. Rayner-I want % read 10 YOU the
testimony of Commander Harber, who
vas a witness before this Court
b..