Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-21
gjH[[Y N BAD I|GHl
Testimony Of Witnesses at the
Inquiry Unfavorable to
the Admiral.
Witnesses SO Far Appear to Have
Been Prejudiced Against
the Admiral.
IN .nsissr ..sis H.rber Testiiies
Concerning Events Leading
to Santiago Battle.

to Santiago Battle.
Washington, Sept. 21.-Admirai Dewey
observed the usual rule of promptness in
calling the schley court of inquiry to
:0rder at II o'clock today. All the mem-
hers OF the court were present on the
minute. The attendance of the public
Was somewhat larger than yesterday.
The tirst witness called was Capt. Har-
;ner. executive officer of the Texas dur
Ing the Spanish American war. Rayner,
counsel for Schley, questioned him con-
sCerniug his statement made yesterday
10 the effect that he did not recall that
there was any picket line established in
side the line OF blockade at Cienfuegos.
sA report by Schley was read to the eff
Feet that a picket line had been main-
fained, but witness declined to change
his statement. Asked If the Brooklyn
had not, on May "a, stgnaled the Texas
to go alongside the collier and coal, he
said he did not recall anything of the
kind. Rayner read n signal message as
follows. "Go alongside the collier and
coal as rapidly as possible, but no
amount of pressing could bring the Wit
'uess to say he rendered the incident. He
had, ne said, had very little to do with
Ioixnaling. The same replies were prac-
Ideally made in response to questions
regarding other signals.
Rayner quoted several of these. One,
transmitted from the Texas to the
SBr0oklyn, read: .'On after thought the
captain thinks it unsafe to put the col-
Her between the battleships. Another
from the Texas read Do not think 1t
safe for the collier. Two ships viii sure
" crush her." HARDER replied he re-
smernbered these and some talk about
the collier, but he could not recall what
satwas Speaking OF signals observed off
Clenfuegos he said his supposition, as
y;ns that of other officers, was they were
between the Spanish forces.
Capt. Harber was also questioned
srlosely concerning the rate of speed OF
the heet on the sail from Cienfuegos to
Santiago on May %. He said the wealth
;crswas fresh and the sea moderate; tRet
II was hard for the small vessels, but II
sss-..x1otaairs-an,sch ''- Hs. thought the
twelve knots. The logs of the Massachu-
setts, iowa and Brooklyn and other ves-
ssels said the weather was rough and
sqnall." but HARDER insisted the weather
was not rough.
4 Harder maintained 1t was his recol-
lection, as stated yesterday, that the
sfieet was further out at night than In
the day time. He strongly Objected to
sRayner'S attempt to refresh his mem
Org by quoting the log book of the Mas
fsachusetts. Admiral Higginson vas res
called and questioned especially con-
cerning the statement yesterday that
the fleet was only two or three miles out
from Santiago harbor. He modified the
statement by saying that during the
Isirst portion OF the blockade the feet
stood out farther, probably five miles by
day and four milee by night. He con-
fessed his memory was indistinct. In
reply to questions by the court Higgfn-
ron said: From the distance at which
the blockade was maintained at night II
would have been difficult to see any
vessel attempting to leave Santiago un-
der ordinary conditions Of weather on
account Of the high land and shadows
under the land.
Il The court reconvened at 2 o'clock. The
first witness was Commander Seaton
Schroeder, now governor of the island
cf Guam. executive officer OF the Mas
:eachusetts during the war. He knew II
was said no efforts were made to scom-
sraunicate with the shore while the Fly
sinR squadron lay of Cienfuegos. He
could give no details concerning the
voyage from Cienfuegos to Santiago,
having been on the sick list. Schroeder
stated In response to questions by Lem
" that the squadron remained out about
eix or seven miles, maintaining this dis
stance during the day, and keeping un-
-derway and countermarching. eastward
and westward, at night. AT one point
theyswer nearer the shore than at an
other, the ships describing an elongated
Sallipse in their maneuvera The average
distance out, however. was about the
same at night as in the day. Referring
70. the bombardment OF the Colon on
May 81, Schroeder said he did not OBJ
serve there was any firing from the
Spanish batteries. Lemly asked for a
statement of what was left undone on
that date for the destruction of the
Colon lone thing Schroeder replied
that might have been done, which was
left undone, was to have gone to closer
range. Furthermore we might have
passed the mouth of the harbor more
! eiowly. SO as to have given time to cor
rect the range. There was nothing to
prevent going in nearer"
IOWA MANUFACTURERS GROW.