The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-22

Lie GAdulllldl VI ~dptdin 1OOh L
brought out many important and
some very appetizing things For in
stance Captain Cooks cool reply to one
of SIMPSONS lawyers. named Hanna: |
That is all conjecture. What we did
was successful, and what we didn't do !
has not anything to do with it" That
is fine and carries truth and point. 1t
is SUGGESTED that the determination of
The court not TO ave evidence as to
outside matters will be fortunate for
Sampson, and no doubt the war de-
partment, in concealing blunders that
would be disreputable. But the coun-
try knows enough now to spurn the
accusing gang and heep honors upon
the noble. gallant, prosecuted Schley.
We turn for a moment to Captain
Cooks convincing evidence. He was
there and close to Schley, on the same
ship. remember: OF the loop Captain
Cook said, and it was his own 0
ment and not ordered by Commodore
Schley. That was his title then.
1.-THE Spanish fleet came out and
turned southwest, coming directly for
us. 1 went in the coming tower Of the
Brooklyn N directed the helmsman.
I told him I wanted to keep straight
for the fleet.
They wavered a little. Sometimes
they turned one way and hen another.
We shifted helm once or twice, but very
little. Finally, When we were getting
up fairly close, say between 1900 and
1000 yards. it seemed to me clear that
they wanted to pass between the Texas
and the Brooklyn. The Texas was we'll
on our starboard hand, headed north
ward n westward.
"All ships were earring out the in
structions of the commander-in-chief
and that was to head in for the en-
trance. We were we'll to the westward
and heading to the northeast. When
[ saw that 1 ported the helm perhaps
half way over. Quicker than
[ could tell it, the commodore called to
me, Cook, hard aporti" or, lis your
helm hard aport?" I answered, 1.-The
helm is hard aport, turning as rapidly
as possible" AS 1 watched the Texas
the bow of the Brooklyn seemed first
to point to her port DOW. / never saw
the ~starboard bow of the Texas. We
made a complete turn, a very quick
turn. with helm hard aport, until we
came around and paralelled the fleet on
the other side.
I'VE swung we'll clear of the. Texas
fANAA " Ink manly o4S u u. NEWT
for a moment did 1 fear a collision with
the Texas. We cleared the Texas by
400 yards That we were in danger of
colliding never entered my head. I
had handled the Brooklyn and knew
exactly n she could do. There new
er was a vessel like her."
The failure of the gang to punish
and disgrace Schley for the wakeful,
movement made by the brave, self
contained Cook will mortify them for
ever. 1t would be interesting to know
what Sampson thinks now of his little
game of infamy and SANDER and per-
secution.
The Washington Post, to it's great
credit be it said, has never faltered in
its pursuit of the right in this very
grave affair, and has from the bein-
ming of the work of SANDER and per-
secution of Rear, Admiral Schley been
faithful to him and has ably exposed
Vaccinations and ~falsehoods and in
consistencies says in it's isue of the 10th
infant. of the solicitude of the Sampson
Long gang to show what things were
not done, has this, and it is good and
timely: sampson, for example, tried
to bottle up the Spanish fleet and
make a fight impossible. Even before
he left Key West he sent a Macedonian
cry for safety: Sink the Eagle in the
channel" Then, as soon as he reached
the scene, he called for %lunte to
sink the Merrimac. 1t was done-or he
thought it was done-and he at last
breathed free. He was as safe there
as at Key Weston so he fondly dream
ed-and he silenced the Spanish bat
teries every day. Again, after the Ger
vera sortie and the destruction of the
Spanish vessels by the feet under
Schley's actual command, and when
finally the Spanish army capitulated
to General Shafter, Sampson tried to
take possession of the vessels in San
t1ago harbor and sent prize crews for
that purpose. Not content with the
rejected glory of an engagement h
did not see or the eclat of a surrender
to which he contributed absolutely moth
ing, he reached for the prize money
there might be in it-reached with an
energy he had not exhibited before. He
did not get it's that the explanation
of the bitterness ?-bu he reached"