Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-10-04
COURT HEARS EVANS.
Evidence Given in Schley Inquiry
by "Fighting Bob."
His Version of the blockade. the
Battle of santiago and the
Famous Loop Movement of
the Brooklyn.

the battleship Iowa during the San
tiago campaign, was a witness before
the Schley naval court of inquiry
Monday. His testimony covered the
entire period from the time the Iowa
left the port of Key West on the Goth
of May, 1898, until the 5th of July,
when Admiral Evans testified he had
O conversation with Admiral Schley
concerning the battle of the Sd. He
described in detail the principal bat
tie off Santiago, and also gave par
ticulars concerning the bombardment
of the Colon on the 31st of May.
Other witnesses of the day were Capt.
Theodore F. Jewell, who was COM
mander of the cruiser Minneapolis
during the Spanish war, and Com
mander James NJ. Miller, who was in
command of the collier Merrimac un-
til that vessel was turned over to
Lieut.. Hobson to be sunk in the
mouth of the harbor at Santiago.
Evans stand.
When the court convened for the
afternoon session Rear Admiral Rob-
ley Evans, who. as captain, command
ed the battleship Iowa during the bat
tie off Santiago, was called to the
witness stand.
In substance, Rear Admiral Evans
testified that the Texas and Iowa were
both endangered by the loop of the
Brooklyn; there was nothing to pre-
vent coalingat sea; that he knew of no
reason for the retrograde movement:
that no effort was made by Rear Ad-
miral Schley to ascertain the pres
ence of the Spanish aeet in Santiago
harbor after the flying squadron ar
rived there; that the Iowa had
enough coal to steam 1900 miles;
that the ships of the flying squadron
were farther away from the harbor
at night than during the day. when
the distance was between seven and
eight miles; that Admiral Schley had
formulated no plan of battle; that the
flying squadron was not near enough
the harbor to destroy the Colon when
that ship was fired on; and the ships
under the command of Schley were
not endangered by the shore bat
terias, Notwithstanding that shells
from them passed over the Brooklyn
and Iowa.
Facts Kept from schley.
On the other hand, Rear Admiral
Evans testified that he was off Glen
| fuegos two days, saw the signals of
the Cubans and knew what they
meant, but did not give Admiral
Schley the benefit of the informa-
ton in his possession, which was OBJ
| tanned from Rear Admiral Sampson
at Key West.
One of the most significant develop
ments of the day was the fact that
| Capt. Chadwick. of the New York,
| communicated to Rear Admiral Evans
the day before the Marblehead left for
Key West with dispatches for Ad-
miral Schley the code of signals ar
ranged with the Cubans, but this in
| formation was not sent to Rear Ad-
miral Schley. Rear Admiral Evans
was strongly of the impression that
among his papers there was memo
randum relating to the code of sig
mails, but after searching for this
memorandum he was unable to find it
He swore that the Eagle delayed
the progress of the fleet on its way
from Cienfuegos, and that at least
twice the Brooklyn signaled TO the
| flying squadron to slow down so as
to enable the Eagle to catch up with
the other vessels. He also pronounced
the official charts of the battle worth
less. saying they were wrong in al
most every particular.
His story of the Loop.
Rear Admiral Evans story of the looI
made by the Brooklyn varied consider
ably from that told by other officers
who have related their views about
this famous movement. He gave the
distance between the Texas and Brook
lyn as roo yards and contended tina
the Iowa as well as the Texas was en-
dangered by the Brooklyn's turn. HI
asserted that the Oregon passed be
tween the Iowa and the Texas aftel
the Iowa had slowed, because the Tex
as came to a sudden halt TO avoid th'
BROOKLYN The three ships were il
such close proximity, according t.
Rear Admiral Evans testimony, that i
seems incredible that all did not go t.
the bottom.
An effort was made by Counsel Ray
ner to develop the fact that Rear Ad
miral Evans was under the impression
that it was the Texas and not TIL
Brooklyn which made the turn. ltwa
alleged that conversation occurre'
between Rear Admiral Evans and Rea.
Admiral Schley, in which the forme
expressed this view. Rear Admira
Evans denied, however, that this con
versation took place, and said em
phatically there was never any ques
tion in his mind as to which ship mad
the loop.
At 1855 p. m. the court adjourned un
til Tuesday morning.
| Took Poison.
Omaha, Neb., Oct IA dispatch t
the Worlds Herald from Neigh, Ne b