The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-24
THE COURT IS SWEPT
BY A STORM OF
APPLAUSE.
Evoked by a Recital Showing
Sch!ey's Splendid
Daring,
MAD CHASE E0F THE COLON
iii Get Him! "I'll Follow Him to
Spain if / Have to-" Cried
Schley.
ERECT, CALM, AVID SCREAMING SHELLS
SchIey Expected to Testify Today. Only Three
More Names precede His. He Will
b. the Last Witness for
His Side.
(By the Associated Press.) }

(By the Associated PreSS.b
Washington, Oct. 23.-Admiral Schley
, is expected to take the witness stand in
, vestigating his conduct in the Spanish
war some time during the day tomorrow.
This announcement is justified by the
progress made today in the examination
of witnesses called to testify in the adj
miral's behalf Eight witnesses were
heard today, and there are only three
name of the admiral himself Of these
three only Captain Clark, of the Oregon,
is expected to testify at any length. 1t
is not probable that the admiral will be
I called before the afternoon session. He
will be the last of the witnesses TO be
heard in support of his side of the con-
troversy. 1t is now considered probable
that he will be on the stand for two or
three days.
1t is not yet possible to say whethc
any witnesses will be called in rebuttal
by the court, but it seems probable that
few persons may be summoned for this
purpose. The testimony today led Judge
Advocate Lemly and Mr. Hanna TO decide
upon the calling of at least one rebuttal
witness if he can be found. This is Syl-
vested Scovel correspondent whose tes-
| timony is desired in connection with the
| incident of the meeting of the press boat
| Somers M. Smith by the scout boat st.
Paul 1t is also probable that an effort
will be made to rebut other portions of
the testimony given in Admiral Schley's
| behalf including Lieut.. Sears denial OF
a conversation concerning Admiral Schley
which the lieutenant is alleged to have
| taken part in on board the Massachusetts
| on May 81.
OREGON'S OFFICERS TESTIFY.
Three of the Oregons officers testified
today and all of them expressed the opin-
ion that the Oregon and the Brooklyn
| were practically equi-distant from the
Colon when that vessel went ashore.
Some of them, however, were inclined to
think that the Brooklyn vase a shad
| nearer the Spanish ship.
While Boatswain Hill, of the Brooklyn,
was giving his testimony, which was very
complimentary to Admiral Schley, there
were two outbursts of applause. These
were promptly suppressed by Admiral
Dewey.
James H. Hare was the first new wit
ness today. He was press photographer
during the Santiago campaign. He states
that he was on the press boat Somers N
Smith on May 26 or q and that they had
met the ST. Paul. He said: 1--WE asked
the St. Paul if there were any tidings of
Cerveras fleet. Captain Sigsbee told us
there were not; that Cervera's fleet was
no tinsidc Santiago and that Schley had
gone west"
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF BATTLE.
Chief Boatswain William l.. Hill, a
boatswain on the Brooklyn, gave a
graphic account of the battle of July 3.
The witness said:
Probably fifteen minutes after we
started the Spanish ships had nearly all
gotten out. There were three of them.
| stood near enough to touch Commodore
Schley at that time, within five feet Of
him, and ! saw that we were going into
a pocket. The Spanish ships had gotten
out and the Fiscaya, the second ship, had
turned toward us and we were about to
cross the line of fire of our own ships.
AT that time the order was given to port
the helm. ! heard Commodore Schley say
Port and the ship started to swing to
starboard. The helm was put over hard
aport, and she swung around on her heel
The fire from our batteries never ceased
from the time we started to turn until the
end of the battle, when the Colon went
ashore. The guns were constantly being
fired. The Texas was on our starboard
hand and she was fully a third of mile
from US. There was never any question
in my mind about striking her We did
not come anywhere near her. We did not
cross her bow. We were slightly ahead of
her and turned in that way entirely clear
of her
After swinging around we lined up
parallel with the Spanish feet. In few
minutes the Teresa went ashore. on fire.
Soon after the Oquendo followed and then
we sided up with the Viscaya and kept
with her for ten or twelve miles At
this time there was no ship to be seen
astern except the Oregon, which was
about half a mile from us. On this run
with the Viscaya Ellis was killed. There