The San Francisco call., 1901-10-16


pear O ~
Suppose it was not commodore schley's
1oult that the dispatch was not forwarded?'
To this inquiry the court responded: You
can ask questions Of the court. We are not
IN the witness box Commodore Schleys
port is In evidence and that is sufficient"
Haynor questioned the witness again concern
ing his association with Lieutenant Commander
Potts, on the Massachusetts and asked If he
hau heard the commodore say on the occasion
OF the Colon reconnaissance anything in the
presence of Potts concerning the conspicuousness
OF the uniforms of the officers they stood
on the turret during the firing of the enemy s
batteries. The witness replied in the negative.
In reply TO question, Commander Sears said
he had been with Commodore Schey in five en-
easementS all told. He was then asked as to
piled:
His bearing to me was model for any
body worthy of emulation at all times. Under
IRE his faculties, IL it was possible, seemed to
be clearer and he more in possession of them
Was he in any state of excitement?''
Not the slightest.
vas he cool and calm?"
Absolutely"
How about points of danger-would he get
away from them or did he expose himself to
He was always putting himself in exposed
positions. I requested him many times not to
expose himself, as il was useless to do So.
Judge Advocate Lemly conducted the cross
examination of the witness, who said that Com
r1odore Schley had discussed the coal situa-
grade movement was begun the Texas had only
q little more than enough coal to carry her to
the nearest cOaling station. He had, he said,
been aYerse to the westward movement but
Raynor suggested that such course Of in
questioning. He did believe that the criticism
Of a junior officer, If made, should affect the
commodore. The witness continued by saying
that he had probably had as many as halt
dozen conversations with the cor1modorescon-
eerning the return, but he could not give the
particulars Of those talks. He had, at Com
modore Schleys instance, made the signal for
the move westward.
Range Given for Firing.
Asked about the range given for the firing
Of the American guns May 81, Sears said he
Commodore Schley. Asked if he had had any
conversation with Commodore SchIey concern
ing that range he replied in the negative
room of the Massachusetts? % Lenly asked
That question is inadmissible,' said Ad-
miral Dewey, before the witness could reply
unless Commodore Schley was present.
Captain Lemly and Hanna contended for the
adrnissibility of the question. and Raynor con-
ce6ed that it proper croSS-examination
for the purpose Of inlpeaching the witness. The
court then allowed it to go in and captain
Lemly asked it more specifically than before:
Il want to know If you did not state other
wise with regard to the range, in the ward
action. May 81, than you have stated here;
that is, you have stated here you have said
nothing about it"
Il have no recollection Of stating anything
else replied the witness.
Are you positive?''
Il am positive
Now. refresh your memory 1 ask IL you
did not say In the wardroom Of the Massachu-
setts: For Gods sake, don't discourage him.
him up to this or words to that effect?''
NO, 1 never said anything of the kind re-
piled the witness.
In reply to further questions the witness said
that while no conclusion could be reached
from the signal fires on shore, at Santiago on
escape yet the situation was so tense that
Commodore Schley felt something unusual
was going to occur. The court then took re-
Recall of Captain Cook.
The afternoon session began with the recall
of Captain Cook for the purpose Of correcting
the testimony given by him yesterday. Judge
Advocate Lemly asked him the following ques-
What conversation, If any, did you have
with Commodore Schley about the retrograde
movement either before or after the signals
were made and the order given on May S to
return to Key West?
LAS nearly as 1 recollect the circumstances.
there was a conversation after the message
had been brought to me, and that the signal
had been made bound for Key West by fuca-
tan Channel l did not understand the signal
and went IN to the commodore about 1t.
1 asked him what the signal meant and he
must seek some place to coal them and that
he was going toward Key West until he could
find an opportunity to coal from the collier,
and if he did not find that he must be near
a coal base to keep the ships coaled- made
some remark concerning the weather condi-
tions, that 1 thought that they would be more
favorable later. He replied: Until they are
and l am able to coal from the collier l must
keep within striking distance OF coal said
that 1 recognized that he felt the responsibility
as no one else could and that it was serious
question. He answered that he recognized the
fact but that he must act in accordance with
his Judgment whether right or wrong; that
personal consideration was Of no account when
the safety of the fleet was to be considered
That is about all 1 recolect."
The court then asked the witness the follow
ing questions:
fsWhat instructions did you receive from
Commodore Schley regarding the movement of
the Brooklyn after it was discovered that Ger
vera's squadron was coming out OF the har-
Dor of Santiage?
II do not recollect any specific Instructions
We were standing for the enemy"
please repeat any conversation that took
place between Commodore Schley and yourself
from the time the Spanish squadron came out
until the Brooklyn was steadied on her westerly
course in chase"
He several times spoke Of the position Of
the f te e GnG sps 5S fr6m g e line te
it. the Viscaya, 1 think, turn out and then
turn in again. He spoke Of that He said to
me at one time to look out for the torpedoes
or torpedo boats. l know at that time the
executive officer had come from below and L
turned TO him and said: Look out for tor
nedo boats or torpedo attack Then there
was the conversation as to putting the helm
aport. which 1 have already stated He spoke
tioning the men at the batteries to IRE steadily
and slowly not to. lose their shots. He called
number of times loud enough to be heard in
the turret and to be heard on the lower deck
by the men manning the auxiliary batteries
to fire steady especially at time when the
shins were doubled on each other, as for the
instance the Colon from third to first place. IN
side of the other ships. He spoke TO me a
number of times asking me il could not edge
a + : : + !.
WOMAN IS SUSPECTED
OF ACTING FOR BANDITS