Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-11-02
SCHLEY BEFORE The
COURT OF INQUIRY
Al Last the Admiral Takes the
Stand to Tell His Story
of Santiago.
BIG CROWD IS PRESENT
Court Room Packed Early In AntIcI-
patton Of the Admirai's Appear
ance-Capt. Clark Of Oregon
TestifIes.


Washington, Oct. 2s.-Admiral Schley
Thursday took the stand in his own be-
half 1t the court of inquiry which Ii
Investigating his conduct as COM
mander In chief Of the flying squadron
during the Santiago campaign. He was
summoned q few minutes after the
court convened at 2 o'clock for the
afternoon session and when the court
adjourned at 4 o'clock he apparently
had only gotten well under way In his
testimony.
Captain Charles e. Clark of the Ore
gon, has just concluded his statement
when Mr.. Rayner, rising from his seat,
saidi (.
II should like to have rear Admiral
Schley called"
The admiral accordingly was asked
to take the stand. Ii was q turn In the
proceedings for which apparently Meth
er the members OF the court. It's officers
nor the spectators were prepared, and
"a murmur OF surprise was heard on
all sides. 1t a been expected that
the admirals name would be reached
toward the close of the afternoon ses-
sion. There were still tow witnesses on
his list who had not been heard and 1t
was understood to be his purpose not
to take the stand until the entire list
nae been exhausted. He, however, re-
sponded Immediately to the call, and
before tho audience was well aware or
the fact had we'll begun his narrative
of the campaign which terminated In
the destruction of Cervera's fleet.
Mr.. Rayner introduced the testimony
OF his distinguished witness by saying
"Will you give the court your name
and rank"
winfield Scott schley, real admiral,
u. S. N, retired, at present on service
In this court of inquiry"
The admiral then, In answer to n
question from his counsel, proceeded to
give a careful and detailed narrative
OF all the events OF the campaign up to
the battle OF Santiago. He had not
reached the stage Of his testimony
where he will tell of the battle when
the court adjourned for the day. The
audience which listened TO his recital
was by far the largest which has yet
gathered In the gunners' workshop
where the court sits. All the reserved
seats were occupied, as were tn salts
st apart for tn public at large. In the
rear of the room stood probably as
many people as found seats, scores Of
men and women standing upon tables,
chairs and in the windows-in fact,
anywhere from which they could see
the court.
Washington, Octc. 25.-Every avail
able unreserved seat in the large room
where the Schley court OF inquiry Is
sitting was occupied half an hour be-
fore the court was called to order to-
day. The possibility that Schley would
take the witness stand during the day
had the effect OF increasing public In
terest and bringing to the court room
q larger number of persons tina could
be conveniently accommodated.
When the session began a number OF
yesterdays witnesses were recalled for
correction. After they had concluded
Lieutenant Commander Charles II.
Harlow continued his testimony. He
had concluded his statement in chief
when the court adjourned yesterday
and he was Immediately taken In hand
today by Lemly for cross-examination.
This was devoted principally to notes
taken by Harlow of the battle OF July
8 from the Vixen's deck, but was not
very extended.
Rear Admiral Barker and Captain M.
c. Borden OF the marines were then In
troduced to testify to incidents OF the
Cuban campaign. Captain Charles e.
Clark, whose record on the Oregon
during the campaign of '9S Is the boast
of every American citizen, was called
as the third witness, the last witness
In Schley's behalf before the admiral
himself should come or.
Dewey Insists on Facts.
Lieutenant Is. w. Wells, the first Of
the former witnesses called for the
purpose Of correcting his testimony,
said, In response to q question from
Lemly, that he had made a translation
of a cipher dispatch prepared at
Schley's instance on May "a. 1898, but
which was never sent, and to which
reference was made while Lieutenant
Wells was on the stand yesterday.
Was this dispatch sent?" asked
Dewey.
When told it had not been, the adj
miral said II was not relevant. I'VE
want only facts" he said. Let us go
on to something else. We are losing a
lot of time here"
Major Murphy corrected his testi-
mony of yesterday so as to say that
the vessels OF the flying squadron, In
steaming pack and forth in front Of
the mouth of the harbor of Santiago,
had gone only about 500 yards to either
side of the harbor, instead of 1900
yards, as stated yesterday. In response
to a question by Rayner, Murphy de-
tailed an incident In which Commodore
Schley figured In the close OF the bat
tie of July 3. Major Murphy said:
SchIey's ChIvalry.
1T was when they were preparing a
cutter to TAKE Captain Cook to the
Colon to receive the surrender Of that
ship. She had hauled down her flag
and was ashore. The officers and many
men had gathered forward, In the
~neighborhood of the forecastle, and
Schley addressed the men, c%autioning
them not to cheer when the Spanish
captain came on board. He spoke of
their ~gallantry; said they had made a
good fight and hat they should not be
Inundated; that we should treat them
ch~ivalrously, and not humiliate them
by cheers. 1t was a gallant speech, and
we all felt II very deeply. The commo-
lore made the same speech about mid
night of the same day, when we were
ranging alongside the Iowa, and had
learned Cervera and his officers were
on board of that ship. 1t afterward de-
veloped Cervera heard Schley make the
remark inc he appreciated 1t very
much, so we were told"
Murphy was then excused.
Captain Harlow said he was salts
fled that the fire from the Brooklyn set
the Viscaya on fire and caused her to
run ashore. There was no other Amer
lean ship within range OF the Viscaya
at that time. The Maria Teresa, he
said, was driven ashore by the concen-
trated fire of all the ships Of the Ameri-
lear fleet. The Oquendo was so far I'm
the rear he could not estimate what
vessels caused her destruction.
Captain Clark TestifIes.
When Harlow was excused CAPTAIN