The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-26
SCHLEY TELLS
HIS OWN STORY
Admiral Describes Battle of
July 3rd at Santiago.
He Would Have Ordered Loop
if Cook Hadn't Done So.
HE CALLS 1T FICTION.
Says Conversation Related by
HOdgs0n Never Took Place.
Declares He Never Made Famous
Remark About the Texas.
Admiral's Voice Gives Out and
Court AdiOurns Till Monday.
He Would Have Ordered Loo
if Cook Hadn't Done So.
HE CALLS 1T FICTION.
Says Conversation Related by
HOdgs0n Never Took Place.
Declares He Never Made Famous
Remark About the Texas.
Voice Gives Out and
Court Adjourns Till Monday.

Washington, D. c., Oct. 26.-When the
Schley court of inquiry adjourned Fri
day Admiral Schley had not completed
his testimony in chief. He took the
stand about 1870 o'clock. after former
witnesses had been recalled for the pur-
pose of making corrections and addi-
lions to their testimony, and continued
his statement until the court adjourned
at $40 D. M, until Monday. This adj
journment twenty minutes in advance
of the usual time was due to the fact
that the admirals throat had become
somewhat sensitive as result of his
continuous talking. He had made COM
plant to the court of the condition OF
his throat Immediately after concluding
his recital of the story of the battle OF
Santiago, and Admiral Dewey, who evil
IDENTIFY himself had noticed the difficulty,
responded by showing willingness to
adjourn the court Mr. Rayner, how
ever, expressed a desire to proceed, say
ing that he had number of questions
which he wished to ask, and Admiral
Schley assented to his counsePs sugges-
ton. A quarter of an hour later Ad
mira1 Dewey himself renewed the sug
gestion for adjournment, and, all
concerned agreeing to this proposition,
the court adjourned until Monday at II
o'clock.
STORY OF THE BATTLE.
Admiral Schley began his description
of the battle of July 3, about 2:15 o'clock.
He said the day broke fair with pleas
ant land breeze. After had eaten my
breakfast" said the admiral, Il came
up to see what could be observed with
glasses. We were lying at that time
possibly three miles little over from
the land. and remember to have Won
dered why the enemy permitted US to
remain so close without firing at us.
At a quarter to o'clock an orderly
reported to me that a signal had been
made by the flagship to disregard her
nd
ward. I did not, of course, know where
she had gone.''
Describing the coming out of the har-
Dor of the Spanish fleet, the witness
said: II was sitting on deck on hatch
way when I heard a call from the for
ward bridge to tell the commodore that
the fleet is coming out. That was some
time after the men had been called to
quarters, about 9:35 o'clock The ship
was lying at that time with her head in
toward the land in the direction of
CabanaS in a little cove to the west
ward and one of the marking points,
in maintaining our position. 1 looked
over the Starboard side and saw the en-
envy coming out of the entrance of the
harbor I looked eastward to see the
order of the ships. saw the Texas ap-
parently a point more abaft the star
board beam. The Texas appeared to me
to be heading on some one of the east
erly courses To the left of her was the
Iowa. The Oregon was to the eastward
of the Iowa. The Indiana was to the
eastward of that position, and the
Gloucester was lying in under the land.
The New York was out of sight and out
of signal distance with glasses. / look
ed for her in order to determine what
my position in the action was to be. OF
course, if the New York had not been
out of distance, I would not have given
or made signal I had in the meantime
gone forward on a little platform that
/ had had constructed around the battle
tower, as my position in the fight. I
had only been there a moment or two
when Captain Cook Joined me. In the
meantime Mr.. Hodgson, who was on the
upper bridge, sang out something to the
captain about being connected up and
all ready. But at the same time, he said
to me: Commodore, they are coming
right at us
COOK ORDERED LOOP.
Well I said, go right for them
and the helm was put aport- The ship
was started ahead first at half speed.
I remember that. 1t took her away
very quickly, and I said to Cook:
Here's the signal. close in for action
Then followed the signal Close up and
the Brooklyn, as well as the other ships,
charged in for the entrance, according
to the original plan. We all moved di-
rectly for the head of the column, the
idea being TO arrest and knock them to
pieces as they came on.
1--WE continued on our course for ten
or twelve minutes he said, land I saw
all the ships of our fleet closing in. One
thousand yards is the limit of effective
torpedo range, and we were APP
preaching about that distance, [ men
toned something of that sort to Capt
Cook, at the same time saying to him:
Much will depend upon this ship to-
day. Cook replied that we would soon
be within the cross fire of the ships ]
saw Lieut-Sinpson's first shot and then