Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-10-02
FROm WASHINGTON.


Correspondence OF tho Alexandria Gazette
Washington. October 2.
The long cross examination OF Rear
Admiral Evans yesterday was intended
. provide basis for an attack upon
many OF his statements when the
Scbley side of the Naval Ioquiry is
presented. IL wss without expectation
therefore, of Rsyner developing new
uoin,s OF importance that devoted so
much time to a comparison OF the OF
fetal reports OF Evans and Sampson
aud the formers testimony. Several
statements credited to Evans, and
denied by him yesterday, will be re-
asserted when Schley takes the stand.
The latter, it is stated, will Insist that
Evans said to MIN: II shot the bow
off the Pluton, the stern of the Fnror,
mt nv helm to starboard and raked
me Teresa. and knocked out the Wis.,
cava.u Schley is said to have remoo-
stTated saying that If the Iowa had
done all of that nothing would have re-
NAMED for the otner ships OF the squad
ron to do. 1t will also be claimed that
Evans expressed the belief that it was
the Texas and not the Brooklyn that
made the loop. Schley set him right at
the time he expressed that opinion.
Both sides are receiving many letters,
some encouraging and some threaten
inc. Oae writer thinks Schley and
Rayner should both be hanged, that
Schley was aD Irlsh-Catholic and really
did not desire to fight the Spaniards
because they, too, were Of that faith.
The court Of inquiry resumed its ses.
siod at ii a. N. today. Rear Admiral
Evans took the stand to correct the
printed report OF his testimony. EvaLs
asked permission TO made a person ]
statement TO the courl he said: 10
connection with one OF the ques-
lions asked yesterday | should
| like to make statement and pro-
duce a letter. The question put
me placed me 10 the position OF having
braR ed of having destroyed the whole
Spanish fleet. The story was publishe !
il Washington paper July %, 1898,
and the question was couched in the
same words used 10 that scurrilous let
ter to the paper. called upon the edi-
tor and he told me that the letter came
from woman. He did not know
whether it was paid for or not" The
letter which Evans desired to have
read was from Captain Cook, who,
Evans, said. was present most of the
time he was ticking TO Scbley and
when his alleged boasts were said to
have been made. Rsyner called atten-
ton to the fact that the alleged CONVEX
sation had been with Schley and not
with Cook.
Cook was present practically all the
time was on the Brooklyn" explained
Evans. 81 am willing to have the let
ter brought in when Cook is on the
stand, but It is not in order now" said
Rayner. 1.-THE request of Admiral
Evans is justified by naval law" said
Captain Lemly, "but as counsel obj ects
we will not press the matter"
Thomas NJ. Dieusde, called to correct
bis testimony, stated that be had found
since Yesterday that he had in his story
of the battle accredited the victory to
Schley. 1t was in his report, but be
could not remember having written it.
He also explained that Captain Philip
might have given several orders which
he did not hear, ss there was firing
going on at the time.
Gustav E. Becker resumed his testi'
mony from yesterday. BE identified in
the letter press copy book letter
dated May 10, from Admiral Ssmp-
son to Admiral Schley, enclosing a
copy OF the McCslls memorandum set
ting forth that the Cubsns could be
communicated with IL miles west Of
Cienfuegos. This is the communica-
ton which witness said yesterday was
sent May 20 by the Iowa and Dupont.
HE knowledge however, was con6ued
to an understanding st the time that
they were to be thus sent. He also
| identified the dear Schley" letter OF
May 20, and could not have been sent,
be thought, prior TO that containing
the MCCalla memorandum.
Lieut.. Commander Alexander Sharp,
ommauding the Vixen during the
Cuban campaign, was sworn. He
said he never knew the reason OF the
retrograds movement from Santiago
| May &c and was not consulted with re.
gard to 1t. ibid you see the Brook
lSn's loop, on July 3T' was ssked.
"When l saw the Brooklyn think che
was headed about south and swinging
very rapidly on a port helm" Ac'
cording to Sharp's version of the con-
versation dnriUg the counsel OF Off GERS
In the cabin OF the Brooklyn, July 5
Hodgson first denied the loop and
aiterward admitted it. He never
knew the fleet TO 60 twenty five
miles of shore at any time of the
blockade. The witness then read from
the log where it said that after the LOOP
was made the two leading Spanish
ships were of the Brookiyn's stsrboard
bow and the Colon coming up on hel
starboard quarter. For the next
fifteen minutes the Brooklyn received
and returned the fire OF the two LEADING
Spanish vessels. Sharp said that the
reconnaissance Of May 31st developed
the location of the batteries at San
tiago bat not the strength of the guns
Rsyner asked hin whether be had mol
heard Schley tell Harlow that be hsC
accomplished the object of the recon
noisance by developing the Spanish
batteries. Sharp could recall no such
statement. Court adjourned for lunch