The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-10-23
THE sGHLET COURT Of INQUIRY.
Three New Witnesses Before
Court Wednesday---All of Them
Commend Schley.

G0flss&fUGU SCNiOy'
Washington, Oct. l6.-The officers
of Admiral Schley's flagship, the
BROOKLYN: sSeea apEiied the attention Of
the Sehley court of inquiry for the
entire day. The proceedings began
with the recall Of Capt. Cook and
Lieut.. Commander Sears, both OF
whom made material additions to their
former tesGi@noy5 and they were fol
lowed in succession By Commander y.
e. Mason, who was the executive OH
Ger Of the BROOKLYN; Lieut.. Eweard
McCauley. J Z, who was signal othcer,
and Lieut.. Charles Webster, who had
charge of the forward gun deck battery
Of the Brooktyn during the battle off
Santiago aid Was watch officer on
board that ship.
Capt. Cooks new testimony related
TO the uneeupling of the Brookiyn.s $
engines and. to the voyage Of the Tying
SQUADRON from Cienfuegos to Santiago,
explaining insome detail the cause
Of the slow progress made on that oc-
casion. Commander Sears spoke again
of the conversation reported as having
taken place between himself and Off
GERS Of the Massachusetts, IN the ward
room of that vessel on May 81, IN
which ne was alleged to have said that
It had been difficult to get Commodore
Schley up to the point of undertaking
the bombardment of the Colon, and
he again denied that he had said any
thing rejecting upon his superior OIL
Ger.
Commander Mason and Lieuts. Nc
Cauley and Webster all gave accounts
of the engagement Of July 3. Mr.. Nc
CauIev reclted in detail the signals
made in connection with that his
tor:icaI event at the instance, of Com
modore SehIey. When asked if Com
modore Schley had said anything dur
ing the battle for the encouragement
of the men this witness replied that
he several times had said "give 'em
hell, bulIies. All these witnesses
testified that the conduct Of the com
modore when under fire was cool and
courageous.
While Cap. Cook occupied. the wit
ness stand for the purpose Of correct
ing his testimony, Mr.. Hanna said:
Referring to your statement IN re-
gard to the steam required to be kept
up in connection with the uncoupling
of the BrookIyn's engines, that it was
the order Of the commander-in-chief
while lying off Santiago on the block
ade. Was that written order?''
g Ny recollection is that is was a
bulletin. The exact words 1 do not
remember.
{. The particular point was with re-
spect TO the pneoupfing of the engines.
Was there any ything in that order on
this subject and in pursuance OF
which that was done?''
1t is my impression that there was,
They all. as understand 1t, had
their engines ,uncoupled. -
Capt. Cook was questioned again
concerning the voyage OF the flying
SQUADRON from Cienfuegos to Santiago,
Did the flying squadron from
Cienfuegos to Santiago proceed with
all dispatch
ThroRing ont of consideration the
surrounding circumstances and condI-
tions that have already been testified
to, 7 should say no. ,,
Mr.. RaynoY;: But putting IN the
surrounding ei rrcumstances and condi
tions, you would say yes, would you
nots"
esWhat do you mean BY the sur
rounding circumstances and condi-
tions??', st....
mean that. as I understand the
question we would have gone from
Cienfuegos TO Santiago and arrived
there the next day after We left Glen
fuegos, with some if not ali of the
larger vessels. - ~
What we're the circumstances and
conditions you speak of?''
"The coahag conditions that existed
at the. time =
Lieutenant Commander Sears also
made correction in his testimony for
the purpose Of explaining the disposi-
ton of the colliers at night while
Commodore Schley was in charge Of
the blockade of Santiago. He said
these vessels had been sent a distance
out each night and every night IN
different directions on account OF the
fear of torpedo boat attacks.
The judge advocate then asked the
following questions:
..In regard to, the conversation in
the wardloom of the Massachusetts, as
alleged on Nav 81. in order to refresh
your memory in regard to that matter,
you are Informed that Lieut.. Potts,
Lieut. Grant, Lieut.. Glennon and
Maj. Wood are supposed to have been
present and participated in that con-
versation. -
II do not recollect it at all. It
could not be possible I said such a
thing. They have misunderstood what
said. I was irritated at the delay.
In the wardroom talk something
might have been construed in that
way as statements often are, but it is
entirely impossible that could have
said that. I was inpatient, excited
perhaps, it being my first engagement,
and might have made some remark.
It is something some one might have
misunderstood, but that remark I
never made.
sIJybof do yoIr, moan hv .irritated AT