The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-25
SCHLEY PLAYS
TO BIC HOUSE
Great Crowds Turn Out to Hear
the Admiral Testify.
Every Seat Filled an Hour Be-
fore the Opening.
FRESH AS A DAISY
The "Applicant" Was Prompt
and Showed No Fatigue.
Story of "Loop'' and the Battle
on the Programme.

Washington, Oct. 25.-In the Schley
court of inquiry today Admiral Schley
continued the recital of his narrative re-
garding his conduct in the Spanish war,
which he had begun yesterday. When
the court adjourned yesterday he had
covered most of the points of the cam
paign, previous to the beginning of the
Santiago blockade, leaving that block
ade, the reconnaissance of May 81, the
battle off Santiago. and the famous loop
of the Brooklyn yet to be told of.
The admiral was prompt in his arrival
at the court room this morning and not
withstanding the strain of yesterday
appeared fresh and in good condition
for the work before him today. The
members of the court were prompt as
usual in their entrance to the court
room and Admiral Dewey tapped for
order as the ancient time-piece on the
court room wall chimed the hour of IL.
If the president of the court was yester-
day pleased with what he designated the
best house of the season. he must have
been more than gratif1ed by the audience
which faced himself and the two other
members of the novel triumvirate, when
they began proceedings today. The
court room was crowded. as it never has
been before Almost from the time that
the navy yard gates were open at 8
o'clock this morning, there were crowds
of people anxious to gain admittance.
Tickets for all the reserved seats had
been issued before the court called
to order today and an hour before that
time there was not an unreserved seat
unoccupied.
PEOPLE TURNED AWAY.
Persons without tickets arriving after
10 O'Clock were therefore either COM
PEELED to accept standing room in the
rear of the hall or to leave the building
without hearing the proceedings, as
many of them did. AS was the case oil
yesterday, Admiral Schley was thor
oughly self-possessed, and he again
spoke clearly and distinctly, so that his
words were heard throughout the hall
Previous to Admiral Schley's appear
ance on the stand, the witnesses of
yesterday were called for the purpose
of correcting their testimony. The first
of these witnesses thus called was
Lieut.. Commander G. H Harlow, of
whom the court asked a question con-
cerning the activity in the harbor at
Santiago the evening of July 2. The
reply to this question had the effect of
causing Judge Advocate Lemly to enter
upon line of questions. The courts
question was as follows:
Did the Vixen carry a verbal report
from Commodore Schley to the COM
mander-in-chi July that there was
unusual activity shown by the enemy iii
the harbor?''
ITO the best of my recollection the
Vixen received by megaphone from an
rfer-f 7<a<7Ix ,f fha
Brooklyn on the night of July such a
message as that. and to the best of my
belief did. as she usually did, carry
such message to the flagship and to
other vessels of the squadron
Captain Lemly: Were you PERSONAL
ly present and within hearing when this
megaphone message was received by the
Vixen?'
1T is a matter entirely of recollection
and a good recollection-I was
Were you present or do you know
that such message was delivered to the
commander-in-chiefa and if so by whom
delivered?"
Il have no recollection of its having
been delivered to the commander-in-
chief"
The judge advocate then exhibited the
log of the Vixen and asked the wit
whether there was any entry there to
indicate that the vessel had performed
this service He said there was one en-
try which showed that on July End there
was a distribution of mail by the Vixen
and this, he said, showed that she bad
made a trip up and down the line
AT what time was the message re-
ceived2'' asked Captain Lemly.
early in the evening"" he replied Il
should say in the first dog watch
why do you say it was in that
watch?"
That is my recollection
He added in response to a question
that he had kept diary of the cam
paign, but said that it is in Boston
Captain Lenlly asked him to get it and
he promised to do. so. In response to
Mr.. Rayner the witness said that the
Vixen was constantly going on errands
and that record was made of compara-
lively few of these in the boats log.
Captain Clark was also recalled for
the purpose of correcting his previous
statements, but no questions were asked
him and he was soon excused.
SCHLEY TAKES THE STAND
Admiral Schley then took the stand |
and resumed his story. With the courts |
permission he said he would go back |
to Cienfuegos in order that his narra- |
tive might be clear.
Regarding the McCalla memorandum |
he said that he received but one copy !
If there had been another. he said, it !
should be in the papers which were re- |
turned to the navy department in Jan /
uary or February, 1899 He said he had |
not bombarded the earthworks at Glen |
fuegos, because he was convinced that |
such boTnbardment would be unavailing. |
Subsequent progress of the war bore |
out this opinion.
Admiral Schley was proceeding to say |