Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-10-02
Admiral Evans Positively Denied
Statements Imputed to Him In
a Conversation With CommO-
dore Schley.
Sigsbee Denies That He
Gave 1t as His Opinion
That the Spaniards Were
Not at Santiago.
Admiral Dewey Throws a
Cutting lnsinuatlon at
Dienaide, the Reporter.

WASHINGTON, october ms
Sehley court proceedings began as
usual with the recall of former wit
nesses to make verbal corrections.
Admiral Evans was then recalled.
Mr.. Rayner asked as to the secret
code with the Cuban insurgents near
Cienfuegos. The admiral said whep
Captain Chadwick communicated this
code he did not instruct him to give
It to Commodore Schley.
Yesterday said Mr. Rayner. !
spoke of conversation which
thought you had at Guantanamo on
July 5th. | find ! have made mis-
take" He then asked: Did you
have a conversation with Commodore
Schley on July on his flagship at san
tiago, in the course of which you USED
language as follows: Did you know
that Jack Philip
started to Hun Away
at the beginning of the battle, ana 10
which Commodore Schley replied, You
are mistaken about that, Evans, saw
nothing of the kind. The Brooklyn
made n turn and you must see the tao
teal situation that made IL neces-
sary.'P hoard
tho prookyn July 4. | think it.<waE-
tho 18th at Guantanamo. | never SAID
ANYTHING to the effect that Capt. Pniiip
had run away or attempted 10 rui.
away. On thinking over last night,
what did occur with reference 10 tns
,exas I think Commodore Schley and
discussed the position OF the Iexas
when .--e fight began. The Texas was
living with her head to the east When
the engagement began and she turned
and headed off with the rest OF us. Sne
fred first with her port battery. l
think that question | discussed with
Commodore Schley. | cannot be SURG
of II. but that | ever intimated that
Capt. Philip attempted to run away
with the Texas is preposterous on the
face Of 1t.
Did you have a conversation with
him in which you said substantially
the following language;
II shot the bow off the Pluton. the
stern off the Furor, put my helm 10
starboard and raked the Teresa and
knocked out the Viscaya.'
40 the best of my knowledge and
belief ! never used such language
Were not the
Commanding Officers Called
to the Brooklyn May Goth after the
Colon was discovered? And can you
tell me what took placer"
Commodore Schley was in the cabin
and there was general talk about
the Spanish fleet having been located.
/ do not think 1t was conference. |
do not recollect that the officers were
asked for any opinion. | remember
having tod Schley the experience we
had had at San Juan, and expressed
the opinion that it was not worth
while to risk ships fighting shore bat
terles alone; that l did not think any
thing would be gained by 1t. In the
case under consideration the Spanish
ships We're present in the harbor Tho
conditions were changed, and we
would have to take the risk of the fire
from the batteries in order to get at
them. ! remember Commodore Schley
remarking that the country held him
responsible; that the ships would not
be risked under the fire of the shore
batteries until the Spanish fleet was
destroyed"
Il want to call your attention to the
report or Captain McCalla, of the Mar
Dlehead, on page 420 Of the appendix.
which says: Commodore Schley ex-
planned to the commanding officers that
In case the Spanish ships came out he
wished to concentrate the batteries of
all our ships on portion of those Of
the enemy This was not explained az
a tactical concentration of our whole
force on part of the enemy, but as q
division OF our whole fire on several OF
the enemy's ships. During the time
the commanding officers were on board
the flagship Captain Evans asked Com
modore Schley If it were his intention
to
Steam at the Enemy's Ships.
Commodore Schley answered, Certain
1y.' and added words indicative Of his
intention to attack them as they came
out of the narrow defile'"
Il recollect 1t perfectly"
as that a correct statement"
THAT is correct"
$50 there was a plan of battle ar.
ranged by Commodore Schley, was
there not?"
There was nothing there to indi-
cate it from what you have read"
'Was not that the same order that
was afterward given by the command
err in chief. substantially: Close in to-
ward harbor entrance and attack
them?
You have not read anything indi-
.ating any plan of battle
Continued On Second rage