The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1901-10-25
LIEUTENANT WELLS OCCUPIES
MOST OF THE TIME OF COURT
OF INQUIRY.
RECEIVED THE DISPATCHES
Schley's Counsel Admits That the
Commodore Received Messages
Numbered Seven and Eight-Wit.
ness Describes His Chiefs Conduct
at All Times as Thoroughly Fearless
and SeIf-Possessed.

at All Times as Thoroughly Fearless
and seIf.Possessed.
Washington, Oct 22.-Lieutenant B.
w. Wells, Jr., who was the flag lieu
tenant of Admiral Schley while the
latter was in command of the flying
squadron, occupied practically the en-
tire time of the Schley court of in
quiry. On his direct examination he
contileed his narrative of the Cuban
campaign. Lieutenant Wells was un-
der cross examination for about two
and half hours. largely at the hands
of Mr.. Hanna, whose questions were
directed mainly to the dispatches re-
ceived and sent by Admiral (then
Commodore) Schley. While this line
of investigation was being exploited
Mr.. Rayner speaking for Admiral
Schley, said that the admiral was
willing to admit that he had received
the Dear Schley" letter on the Du-
pont, which arrived at Cienfuegos on
May %, but he added that no dupli-
cate of this dispatch had ever been
received by Admiral Schley He also
said that the admiral admitted the
miral SIMPSONS dispatch, saying that
the Spanish fleet probably was at San
tiago and telling Commodore Schley
IF satisfied that it (the Spanish fleet)
ts not at Cienfuegos to proceed with
all dispatch to Santiago" One of
these was received by the Hawk May
% and the other by the Marblehead
May a.
When the court of inquiry resumed
its sessions witnesses of former days
were recalled and corrected their tes-
timony. Lieutenant Wells then con-
tinued his testimony regarding the
battle of July 3. He described the
tnrn of the Brooklyn and the chase
after the Spanish ships. He said that
he had not seen the Texas when the
Brooklyn made her turn. At one time
during the battle, he said, the Brook
lyn seemed to be alone, engaging three
ships.
Regarding the Dispatches.
A number of dispatches were shown
Lieutenant Wells and he was asked as
to their receipt by Commodore Schley.
One from Secretary Long to the Amer
lean consul at Kingston, dated Wash
ington, May %, saying that it must be
delivered to Schley at once and in
forming him (Schley) that unless un-
safe for his squadron, the department
wished him to remain off Santiago and
asking him if he could not take pos
session of Guantanamo as a coaling
station; also dispatch from Secre-
tary Long to Captain Cotton of the
Harvard. dated Washington, May 20,
enclosing dispatch to Commodore
Schley, telling him to hold on at all
hazards, that the New York, Oregon
and New Orleans were on the way;
also two dispatches from Secretary
Long to the dispatch boat Harvard
dated Washington, May 80, one in
forming him that the commander-in-
chief had started to join him and the
other telling him that Sagua, rs miles
east of Santiago, had been reported
as a good place to land, from which it
would be easy to reach the heights in
the rear of Santiago, witness said, had
been received on May 81.
The cablegram from Secretary Long
dated Washington. May 27, to cable
office at Mole St. Nicholas, Hayti, di-
recting that it be delivered to the next
American war vessel to arrive and in
forming Commodore Schley "that the
most absolutely urgent thing now is
to know positively whether the Span
ish division. is in Santiago. etc." was