The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-07
RAYNOR THRILLS
 SCHLEY COURT
(continued from Page one.)

ence to the communications he held with Commodore Schiey off Santiago and which absolutely justifies the Admiral in taking the course he did.''
 MT. Raynor said Captain Wise of the Yale, Captain Sigsbee on the St. Paul and Captain Jewell on the Minneapolis. cruised around Santiago for several days,
 and added: They were there for the | purpose of finding out if the Spanish fleet was in Santiago, the same purpose that Commodore Schley was there for. They | did not find out. Commodore schley | did. They go Scot fee and Commodore Schley is to be condemned"
 | Mir. Raynor then referred to the de- partment dispatch of May 1s, which Cap tain Cotton testified to delivering on board the Brooklyn. and in which the positive statement was made that the Spanish fleet was in the harborf at Sam tiago. Mir. Raynor said that 1t was certain 1t never had been received by the Commodore He also asserted that Ad- mirai Cotton had not stated positively that he had delivered 1t to the CommU- dore.
 Retrograde Movement.
 Retursdng again to Captain Sigsbee's s testimony. he said: 'rIf Captain Sigsbee had said to the Commodore that the Spanish fleet was In there. Commodore
 
 westward on what is called his retrograde movement. Every incident around on Santiago, Captain Jewells failure to com municate, Captain Wise's absolute fafl- ure to communicate; Captain Cotton's failure to communicate; Captain Sigsbee's positive assurances; the putting of the Cuban pilot on board. everything con- veyed the doubt to the mind or Com modore Schley. Commodore Schley was ri0 In saving that he had A worthless collier, because for twenty four hours. according to the testimony of Captain Miller. she was absolutely helpless. With a broken down collier; with the Marblehead. which could not coal: with the Texas, which because Of her projecting sponsons could not coal; with both of these ships with only suf- ficient amount or coal on hand to get half way to Martinique; with the positive assurance of Captain Sigsbee. sustained and corroborated by the Cuban pilot that the fleet was not in Santiago. he did the only thing he could do and that was to turn to the west for coal When the weather cleared and the sea became smooth he coaled. Then he returned to his position off Santiago, gave battle on July 3, and struck down the Spanish feet. at the same time taking from Spain her ancient possessions on the face of the American continent" ..
 Mir. Raynor closed as follows:
 Magnificent Peroration.
 .sSuch a trial as this has never to my knowledge taken place in history. It has taken three years to reveal the truth. There is not single word that has fallen from the tongue of single witness, friend of foe, that casts the shadow Of a reflection on the honored name of the hero of Santiago. He has never claimed the glory of that day. The valiant Cook, the heroic Clarke. the lamented Philip, the intrepid and undaunted Wainwright. and all the other captains, and every man at every gun and every soul on board of every ship are equal participants with Admiral Schley in the honor wrought upon that immortal day. We cannot strike down his figure standing upon the bridge of the Brooklyn. There he stands upon the bridge of the Brook lyn, his flagship, the Brooklyn; his ship almost alone receiving the entire fire of the Spanish foe, until the Oregon, as 1T upon the lightning, sped into the tnicK- ness of this mortal carnage. God bless the Oregon was the cheer that rang from deck to deck, and on they went, twin brothers in the chase. until the lee gun was fired from the Cristobal Colon and the despotic colors of Spain were swept from the face of her ancient pos sessions. well done; congratulate you on the victory was the streamer that was bent from the halyard of the Brooklyn, and from that day to this, no man has ever heard from Admiral Sohley the slightest whisper or intimation that he usurped the glory of that imperishable hour. The thunders of the Brooklyn as she trembled on the waves, have been dis cordant music to the ears of envious foes but they have pierced with ringing mel ody the ears of his countrymen and struck a responsive chord at the flreside of every home.
 Schley's Unsullied Honor.
 And, what is more than all which has revealed in this case, as matchless as IS his courage and as unsullied as IS his honor, is his beautiful character and the generous spirit that anlmates his soul and the forgiving heart that beats within his bosom. We cannot strike him down. Erect he stands as the McGregor when his step was on his native heath and his eye was on the peak of Ben Lomond His country does not want to strike him down, nor cast blur on the pure es- cutcheon of his honored name.
 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 fortitude, he awaits the judgment of this illustrious tribunal and, when that deliverance comes, he can, from the high and exalted position that he occupies, look down upon his traducers and ma ligners, and, with exultant pride, exclaim: I care not for the venomous gossip of clubs and drawing rooms and cliques and cabals and the poisoned shafts of envy and of malice. I await, under the guid- ance of Divine Providence, the verdict of posterity.'"
 MT. Raynor closed at 3:30 o'clock, hav- Ing spoken about three hours. The large audience broke into applause when he concluded and the members of the court, as well as others, congratulated him upon his speech. Admiral Schley was visibly affected by the concluding remarks and attending scenes
 The court then adjourned until D. m. tomorrow, when Captain LemIy will de- liver the clo; ing argument for the Gov ernment
 DESIRES PROTECTION.