Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-10-26
ADMIRAL ScHEY
CONTINUES HIS TESTIMONY.
had, he said, been brought by Captain
Cotton.
He was sure that tho dispatches could
not have been received before May 3lst.
THE BATTLE OF JULY Sd.
The witness Splendid Description
of That Great victory.

of That Great Ntctory.
Admiral Schley began his description
of the battle of July Sd at 2:So o'clock.
ION the morning Of July B." he said,
"the day broke beautifully. The skies
were fieeced with white clouds and the
breeze continued little bit longer of
the land that morning than usual.
After had eaten breakfast ! came up
to take a survey of the situation with
glasses. We were lying at that time
possibly three miles or little bit over
from the land and | wondered very
much why they had permitted us to re-
main SO close. 1t was a. matter OF con-
slant inquiry and discussion on board.
especially. why the batteries did not
fire on us. At quarter OF nine my
orderly reported to me that signal mad
been made from the flagship to disre-
gard her movements and that she had
gone eastward. ] did not. of course,
know where she had gone. | sat under
an awning that we had put into position
each day as the sun arose in order that
the officers might collect there. 1
think we also had one forward for the
men. | came on deck with my glasses
after having gone below for a little
while. and whilst | YVES sitting abaft
on hatehway, | heard call from the
forward bridge, cell the Commodore
that the feet Is coming out That was
some time after the men had been call
ed to quarters. about 9:35 o'clock. The
ship at that moment was lying with her
head in toward the land. in the diree-
ton of Cabanas,> which was little
cove to the westward, and one OF the
marking points we used In maintaining
our positions. ] looked over the star
board side
And Saw the Enemy
coming out OF the entrance Of the har-
Dor. | then looked eastward to see the
order of the ships and I saw the Texas
apparently a point or more abaft the
starboard beam My own recollection
now. as near as can state it, is that the
ships head was near north northwest
The Texas appeared to be head
ing on some one of the easterly courses.
TO the left of her was the Iowa, she was
OF course to the eastward OF the Texas.
The Oregon was to the eastward OF the
Iowa. The Indiana was eastward OF
that position and the Gloucester was
lying in under the land. ! thought in
the neighborhood of Aguidores The
New York was out Of sight and out OF
signal distance with glasses. looked
at that in order to determine what my
position in the action was to be. II
the vessel had not been out OF sight
should not have made signal. The
moment | saw that, / went forward OH
to little platform had had construct
ed upon the battle tower as my posi-
ton in the battle in order to be very
close to Captain Cook. had only been
there a moment or two when Captain
Cook joined me. In the meantime Mr..
Hodgson, who was on the upper bridge,
sang out something to the captain
about being connected up and all ready
and he At the same time said to me:
Commodore, they are coming right at
u.s. Well said. go right for them
The helm was put aport. The ship was
started ahead, first at perhaps half
speed; j do not recollect. She took her
way very quickly and when we headed
around / said to Captain Cook Go
ahead full speed and hoist signal to
Clear Ship for Action.
We generally made that signal because
there was around the quarter Geek ana
the forecastle of most of these ships q
little temporary railing composed usu-
ally of oars and rope. to keep people
from falling overheard. Generally an
awning of some sort was up. That
signal was followed by Close up for
close action The Brooklyn. as well
as the other vessels OF the squadron.
charged Immediately into the entrance
In accordance with the original plan
of seeking the enemy's ship In the en-
trance or driving them ashore. We
continued directly for the head OF the
enemy's column. the idea uppermost
in my mind being that il we could ar
rest them long enough for the hattie
ships to close in and knock them to
pieces that would be our best point OF
attack. They continued on this course,
porting and starboarding to meet the
of the leading ship, which