Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-10-19
HEAR SCHLEY'S SIDE.
More Witnesses for the Admiral
Testify at Inquiry.
Flag Officer of the Brooklyn Tells
of the Battle, and DesiEnates
SchIey's Conduct Under Fire
as Worthy of Praise.

80 w VI ny VA ANeN>'
Washington, Oct. 16-The presenta-
ton of the Schley side of the case
was continued in the Schley court of
inquiry Tuesday. When Mondays
witnesses had been recalled and had
made the verbal corrections necessary
in their testimony, they were prompt
ly dismissed and, at the instance
of Mr.. Rayner, the judge advocate
summoned Lieutenant Commander
James H. Sears, who as lieutenant
was Admiral Schley's flag officer on
board the Brooklyn during the war
with Spain. He estifed to many de-
tails connected with the campaign
and was promptly succeeded by a
number of other naval officers who
served on the Brooklyn.
The Meeting with the AduIa.
Commander Sears gave detailed ac-
count of the encounter with the British
steamer Adula. He said the commodore
directed him to go aboard the Aduia and
see If he could contriVe some manner of
inducing the captain of the Adula, an Eng
lishman, to put himself out little to tell
us something about what was going on
inside of Cienfuegos. The captain said of
course he would be very glad to do it, as
he was coming under some authority from
our fleet in Jamaica.
He suggested that when he came out
on the next day we should bring him to
with shot, SO that anybody observing it
from shore would see that he was acting
under force and that anybody who could
speak Spanish could find out all they
pleased from the refugees she had on
board"
with what understanding did they 20
into the port? Was there any understand
ing with your"
THAT he was to come out the next day
and it would be possible for US to get that
information, in fact that it would be very
easy to do SOL
Did he come out the next day?'
He did not"
Blockade Mt Santiago.
With reference to the blockade at San
tfago the witness said that it had been
maintained at varying distances of from
three to six miles, to suit the comma nder
In chief. In thick weather and at night
the distance was less than in fair weather
and in the daytime.
The witness also described the recon-
Nuisance of May 81, when the Colon was
fired upon, and giving his conclusions with
reference to that event, he said it had de-
veloped the strength of the land batteries
and they had proved stronger than he had
supposed they were.
The Battle of July 3.
The witness described the engagement
of July 8. After stating the preliminary
incidents, he said
L was in my room when 1 heard the cry
of the executive officer: Clear ship for ac-
ton l knew what that meant and ran to
the quarter deck. l looked aloft to see If
the prescribed signal: Enemy is escaping
ryyo md = 1ot IL
commodore on the quarter deck. He d.
rected the signal: Clear ship for action
followed by the signal to close in, all of
which were made.
Just about the time the Viscaya turned,
Woman Ellis, who was a trained observer
with the stadimeter, came to me on the
platform and said that his stadimeter
showed Soo yards to the Viscaya.
The Loop.
when the order was given hard aport,'
L looked at the next vessel in our fleet
the Texas-and in my Judgment we were
completely clear of her, and as we turned
we passed well clear of her After the turn
was completed We found ourselves abreast
or perhaps a little abaft the beam of the
leading Spanish ship, with a slowly con-
Verging course toward the leading ship
After about 10 to 20 minutes we were
very hotly engaged with these three YES
sells. The Oregon was astern of us and
the Texas astern of her. The Viscaya be-
gan to blaze up, flames would rise and
suoslde, and she turned in toward shore.
Surrender of Colon.
After we began to gain upon the Colon
the commodore directed the Oregon to try
her guns a her. Then the Oregon and the
Brooklyn fired deliberately at the Colon.
After our fire she began to WAIVER in toward
the shore Her coarse was unsettled, and
the commodore said he thought she had
enough of it and was looking for a soft spot
to lie upon, which proved to be the case
She fired occasionally at US, rather rapidly
at first. and then it became weaker She
was close into shore at that time and at
lilo hauled down her flag. Capt. Cook and
Lieut.. Wells were sent on board the Colon
to receive the surrender"
schley's Report Never Sent.
When Mr.. Sears had concluded his de-
scription of the battle. Mr. Rayner asked
him if Commodore Schley had given him a
dispatch to be sent to the navy department
making report of the battle. The witness
replied in the affirmative. Admiral Dewey
then asked If this dispatch had been sent
and was informed by Mr. Rayner that it
had not been forwarded to the depart
ment, although 1t had been taken to the
cable office. The court decided that as the
dispatch had not reached the department
1t could not appear.
Suppose it was not Commodore Schley's
fault that the dispatch was not forward
ed?' asked Mr.. Rayner.
Dewey Rebukes Rayncr
To this inquiry Admiral Dewey respond
ed: You can't ask questions of the court
We are not in the witne SIS box Commodore
Schley's report is in evidence and that is
sufficient
In reply to question, Commander Sears
said he had been with Commodore
Schley in five engagements, all told He
was then asked as to the bearing of that
officer under fire, and replied:
His bearing to me was a model for any
body, worthy of emula ton at all times.
Under fire his faculties, if it was possible,
seemed to be clearer and more in possess
sion of them than at any other time
WAS he in any state of Excitement"
mot the slightest
WAS he cool and calm?"
absolutely"
How about points of danger, wou.o he
get away from them, or did he expose him
self to them?"
He was always putting himself in ex-
posed positions. / requested him many
times not to expose himself, as it was use
less to do So"