Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-03
Commander of Vixen Says
Ships Gould Not Be
Seen at Night.
SC. LEY COURT CoNVENEs
Bears Out schley's Allegations That
the Sea Was Very Rough May 90
Would Not Have Relshed Idea of
Coaling That Day.

-, i-A-tAA' -
Washington, Oct. Judge Advo-
cate Lemley, whose sister died yester-
day, was present when the Schley
court of inquiry convened today, but
Immediately withdrew.
"Fishting Bob" Continues.
Admiral Evans continued his testi-
many begun yesterday. He reiterated
the statement made yesterday when
Chadwick communicated the secret
code to him that he did not instruct
Evans to give the information to
Schley. Evans denied he ever said in
conversation with Schley, after the
battle of Santiago. anything to the eff
feet that Captain Phillips of the Texas
had run away or attempted to do so.
He also denied saying to Schley Il
shot the bow off of the Pluton, the
stern off the Furor, put my helm to
starboard ralled the Teresa and
knocked out the Viscaya."
In detailing conversation with
Schley on the morning after the Colon
as discovered, in which Evans had
expressed the opinion that it was not
worth while to risk the ships fighting
shore batteries alone, as there was
nothing to be gained by it. Schley
had remarked the country held him
responsible, and the ships should not
be risked under the fire of the shore
batteries until the Spanish fleet was
destroyed. ~
Difference in Time.
= Rayner read reports of Evans and
of the commander-in-ehief on the en-
Tagement of the Spanish squadron in
which Evans SAID the Vizcaya went
ashore at 1926 o'clock, while the
chiefs report says HE'S and asked
which was correct, Evans replied the
time given in his report was furnished
by the navigator and executive officer
of the Iowa. He didn't take the time.
Sticks to 1t.
Evans was also questioned as to his
statements concerning the distance OF
the blockading vessels out at night.
He said yesterday the vessels of the
blockading squadron were farther out
at night than uring the dayand Raynec
read previc statement from him to
the effect THAT at daylight we clos
ed That, the witness said. was the
exact fact, that after being out farther
at night the vessels came closer in at
daylight.
Had no Order.
while before Cienfuegos or on the
way to Santiago did you have any or
ders for battle?" asked Hanna.
NO" We steamed in a column
with flankers on each side.f
Had you any instructi is as to
what to do in case the en- ny should
appear?"
I'VE had not"
Newspaper Man on Stand.
Evans was then excused and Thorn
as Dieuaide, a newspaper correspond
ent, who was on board the, Texas, dur
ing the Santiago campaign, was call
ed. The witness was on the bridge
with Philip, and said the Brooklyn
passed the Texas very close at right
angle to latter.
Heard order to Stop Engines.
He heard Philip give the order to
hard starboard" but did not hear
Philip give orders to back the en-
gines.' Dieuaide said he had on the
day of the battle written a report OF
the battle, but these facts had not been
given because Philip asked him to
make it nice for everybody"
Sissbee Called.
He was then excused for the day,
and asked to bring his newspaper re-
port of the engagement into court to-
morrow. Captain Charles D. Sigsbee,
who commanded the scout ship st.
Paul during the war, was next called.
Washington, Oct. 2-The Schley
court of inquiry today began with the
usual recall of former witnesses for
the correction of their testimony in
the official record.
Sea Was Rough.
Lieutenant Commander Alexander
M. Sharp, who commanded the Vixen
during the Spanish war, was the first
new witness. He testified he had first
fallen in with the flying squadron on
the morning of May "a of Cienfuegos
He said the weather on the cruise
from Cienfuegos to Santiago had been
''squally'' but not sufficiently bad to
interfere with the speed of the Vixen
The vessels had not been in urgent
need of coal on May 26."If Ihad been
he said., "and received orders to coal
should have done SO or tried it, al
though it would have been an uncom
Portable job, because the Vixen was a
very small ship
Spanish Might Have. Escaped.
Sharp said notwithstanding he had
been on board the Brooklyn several
times, Schley had never discussed
with him the retrograde movement to
ward Key West begun May 26. Dur
,2ng the siege of Santiago, Sharp said