The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-10-10
CHART NOT ACCURATE|
COMMANDER WAINWRIGHT TIES,
TITLES BEFORE THE COURT
OF INQUIRY.
DID THE BEST LIE COULD

DID THE BEST LIE COULD
Board of Navigators Gave the Posi-
tions Assigned to the Ships on the
Map as Record of the Compromise
Arrived at-Lieutenant Bristol Tells
of the Blockade Maintained OFF
Santiago.
Washington, Oct. 9:-There were
two new witnesses before the Schley
court of inquiry during the day. They
were Commander Richard Wainwright,
who commanded the Gloucester dur
ing the war with Spain, and Lieuten-
ant NJ. l.. Bristol, who, as ensign, was
watch and division officer on the bat
tleship Texas during that period.
Lieutenant Bristol had not con-
cluded his testimony when the court
adjourned for the day. He did not
see the loop made by the Brooklyn,
the greater part of his testimony turn
Ing upon a chartshe had made, show
ing, largely according to his memory,
the positions Of the various ships of
the American feet at different times
during the engagement of July 3.
There were several spirited controver-
sizes between counsel over questions
asked the witness by Mr.. Rayner, con-
corning this chart.
Commander Wainwrights testimony
dealt largely with chart-making. He
was for time senior member of the
board of navigators which prepared
the official chart showing the position
OF the American ships during the bat
tie Oft Santiago, and he gave details
OF the method Of it's preparation. He
said he did not consider the positions
assigned in that drawing accurate,
but that they were given as a record
OF a compromise Of the views of: mem
bers Of the board.
Lieutenant Commander Hodgson,
Captain Folger and Lieutenant Dyson
made additions to their previous testi-
mony. = III
! Advised a Circular Blockade,
: Captain Folger was recalled for the
purpose of correcting his testimony.
Advantage was taken of his presence
to ask him further questions concern
ing the blockade of Santiago. Detail
ing a conversation with Admiral
Sohley, he said he had described the
Japanese formation at the blockade of
nf Ioi Joi
gested the adoption of the Japanese
tactics, forming a circle directly in
front OF the harbor making it difficult
for anyone to get out. To this Com
modore Schley did not agree, saying
it was not necessary.
Lieutenant Dyson was recalled and
continued his testimony in regard to
the coal supply of the flying squadron
He also was questioned concerning
the steaming condition Of the Brook
Ign on July 3. He said the Brooklyn's
engines were uncoupled, and there
were banked fires under three of the
boilers and the four remaining ones
were dead. 1t took Is minutes to start
the furnaces. The witness also said
that it was impossible to couple the
engines without stopping the ship.
On that day the BrOOklyn's speed was
about equal to that Of the Oregon, not
withstanding that on their trial trips
the forme:' made 21 knots to the lat
ter's II. He also said the New York's
engines were uncoupled on the day Of
the battle
Commander Hodgson followed Lieu
tenant Dyson and corrected errors in
his former testimony as printed in
the official record.
BY Commander Wainwright.
Commander Wainwright was the
next witness called. The witness
testified that he had been member
and latterly senior member of the
board which had officially acted in
making the chart which showed the
positions of the American and Spanish
ships at Santiago. The witness then
told how conclusions were reached.
The board of navigators had a
sketched chart before them with the
number of the positions sketched on it
which had been determined by them,
starting at different periods, first when
the ships came Out and afterwards
when they went ashore. Each nav
1gator, as near as possible, would put
Even then there was a great deal of
difference as to POSITIONS It was i'm
possible to get any position by bear
lngs and there was nothing known
about the relative positions. They
knew that the distances of the chart
were somewhat incorrect and the final
decision OF the board was to reconcile
each one as near as possible, but none
OF the positions were considered exact
positions. The impossibility of get
ting bearings even if they had a cor
rect chart was apparent, but it gave
general idea of the positions of the
vessels during the different periods of
the battle. Positions were not as
signed from known bearings" The
witness did not consider that the
places assigned the Brooklyn and
Texas when the celebrated, loop was
made were correct. The board had
u