The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-04
THE TWO LEADING WITNESSES IN THE
SCHLEY COURT YESTERDAY.
EVANS REFRESHES HIS MEMORY
He Now Remembers a Conference of
Commanders Of Vessels on the Brook
Iyn May 29th-Also Remembers More
of His Conversation With schley
July 5th-He Tells Why the Colon
Was Attacked From Long Range-A
Newspaper Reporter with Con-
venient Memory.


venient Memory.
Washington, October 1.-The Schley
court of inquiry made good headway
again today, concluding with Admiral
Evans and hearing three new witness
es. although the testimony of one Of
them was not concluded when the court
adjourned for the day.
The new witnesses were Captain Sigs-
bee. who commanded the scout ST Paul
during the Santiago campaign, Thomas
NJ. Dieuaide. a newspaper correspon-
dent who was on the Texas during the
battle Of July 3rd, and Chief Yeoman
Gustave E. Becker. who was a clerk to
Admiral Sampson during the war.
General sympathy was expressed On
the part of members of the court and
those in attendance with Judge Advo-
cate Lemly because of the death Of his
sister, which occurred yesterday. Cap
tain Lemly was present when the court
convened, but Immediately withdrew.
Admiral Evans, recalled, said that
when Captain Chadwick communicated
the secret code of signals to him he did
not instruct him to give the information
to Commodore Schley.
Mr.. Raynor asked: did you have q
conversation with Commodore Schley
on July 4th in the course of which you
used language as follows: Did you
know that Jack Philip started to run
away at the beginning of the battle?'
and to which Commodore Schley repE-
ed, You are mistaken about that,
r of
Brooklyn made a turn and you must
see the tactical situation that made it
necessary"
I'm thinking over, last night, what
did occur with reference to the Texas,
L think Commodore Schley and I dis
cussed the position of the Texas when
the fight began. I cannot be sure of it:
but that l ever intimated that Captain
Philip attempted to run away with the
Texas is Dreposterous on the face of
it."
CONFERENCE ON BROOK&YN MAY
18TH
Were not the commanding officers
called on board the flagship Brooklyn
by signal on the morning of May Sath
after the Colon was discovered?"
''They We're"
What took place at the conference
OF the commanding officers at that
time"
WHY LONG RANGE FIRE ON THE
COLON.
There was general talk about the
Spanish fleet having been located at
last at Santiago. I do not recollect
any special conference. 1 remember
having conversation with Commodore
Schley about the effect of the fighting
batteries on the ships, in which I told
him of the experience we had had at
San Juan and expressed the opinion to
him that it was not worth while to
risk ships fighting shore batteries alone.
commodore Schley remarked before we
left that he felt that the country held
him responsible; that the ships should
not be risked under the fire of the shore
battery until the Spanish fleet was de-
stroyed."
PLAN OF BATTLE ARRANGED.
Il want to call your attention to the
report of Captain McCalla. of the Mar
blehead, on Page 426 of the appendix.
which says: Commodore Schley ey-
planned to the commanding officers that
In case the Spanish ships came out he
wished to concentrate the batteries Of
all our ships on a portion of those Of
the enemy. During the time the COM
manding officers were on board the flag
snip Captain Evans asked Commodore
SchIey If it were his intention to steam
eAc CAiSiiiy III case Cney SnOuld
start TO come out. Commodore Schley
answered Certainly and added words
indicative of his intention to attack
them as they came out of the narrow
defile."
Il recollect it perfectly"
SO there was a plan of battle arrang-
ed by commodore Schley was there
not"
There is nothing there to indicate it
from what you have read"
Was not that the same order that
was a1terWard given by the comma nd
er-ln-chief, substantially close in to-
ward harbor entrance and attack
them?'
You have not read anything about
indicating any plan of battle
III. fsayner asked a number Of ques-
tlons intended to show that the admir-
ais official reports and his present
statements as to speed were not con-
sistent- Admiral Evans was also ques-
toned as to his statement concerning
distance the blockading vessels were
out at night He said yesterday that
the vessels Of the blockading squadron
were farther out at night than during
the day, and Mr.. Rayner read previ-
Gus statement from him to the effect
that at'daylight we closed in This the
witness said was the exact fact that
after being out farther at night, the
vessels came in closer at daylight.
while before Cienfuegos or on the
way to Santiago did you have any or
ders for battle?" asked Mr.. Hanna.
No. responded the witness. We
steamed in column with fiankers on
each side''
Had you any instruction as to what
to do in case the enemy should ap-
pear?'
I'VE had not"
Admiral Evans was then excused and
Thomas NJ. Dieuaide, a newspaper cor
respondent who was on boarn the
Texas during the Santiago campaign,
was called, He said that when the
battle off Santiago began he had gone
on the bridge with Captain Philip. he
had at the time made notes OF the bat
tie and these he read.
Mr.. Hanna: did you see the Brook