Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-10-22
LIEUT.. WELLS BEFORE
COURT OF INQUIRY
Says Brooklyn at One Time
Engaged Three Ships.
WAS sCKLEY's SECRETARY

parently In Brighter and Fresher
Frame of Mind Than Usual.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 81. - After two
days rest the Schley court of inquiry
resumed its session at ! O'Clock today.
The court was, as usual, prompt in be-
ginning the proceedings and the men,
bers OF the court and counsel were ap-
parently in brighter and fresher frame
OF mind than usual.
After the witnesses of former days
had been recalled for the purpose of
correcting their testimony, Lieutenant
3. w. Wells, Jr., secretary to Com.
modore Schley during the Cuban cam
palgn, resumed the testimony which he
had begun on Friday. After few pre-
llminaries, he began his narration of
the battle Of July 3 and was then ques-
toned at some length by Mr.. Raynor
before he was turned over to Captain
Lemley and Mr. Hanna for cross exami.
nation.
Other witnesses called for the day
were Mr.. Edward Graham, the Associ-
ated Press correspondent, who was with
Commodore Schley on the Brooklyn
from the beginning Of the campaign at
Hampton Roads until It's close; Lieuten-
ant Edward Simpson, who served on the
Brooklyn, and Mr.. Dennis J. CrOnin.
Among the former witnesses recalled
was Captain Francis A. Cook, who re-
turned co the stand for the purpose of
making an examination of his former
testimony regarding the boilers of the
Oregon.
Captain Cook Recalled.
Captain Cook, who commanded the
Brooklyn during the Spanish war, was
the first witness of the day. He was re-
called at his own request and made the
following statement:
'In my testimony I stated that the
Oregon on the morning of July was
under all boilers, having shifted her
boilers from forward to aft [ stated
this from hearsay, and presumed it to
be correct, as accounting for her extra
ordinary speed. I find that she had not
shifted boilers that morning. but that
she had steam on all her boilers at all
times while in the Santiago blockade d"
Willis Captain John L. Hannum was
on the stand for the purpose of correct
ing his testimony the court asked him
the following questions:
"How soon after you went on board
the Merrimac was she able to use her
own power to make from to knots?"
''She was in condition to make
knots when [ went on board I did not
give her knots
In reply to a question from Mr.. Ray.
nor, the witness said it took from the
forenoon watch of May 27 until the
evening Of May %, working day and
night, TO make the repairs on the Mer-
rimac, He did not know how long the
vessel had been totally disabled.
Lieutenant Thomas f. Carter, while
correcting his previous testimony, stated
that he desired to change that portion
Of his answer TO a question by the court,
in which he had said that the two after
boilers of the Brooklyn had no water in
them when the battle began on the
morning of July 3. AS corrected, he
desired the answer 10 read:
"Two after boilers had little or no
water in them. Their fires were not
laid until after the battle calls were
sounded"
J. L. Hundley, chief machinist of the
Texas, vino testified that on July he
was ar the throttle of the port engine of
the Texas, while correcting his testimo.
ny was asked by Judge Advocate Lem.
ley what other machinist was stationed
in the porte engineroom on the day of
tue battle.
The witness replied that as soon as
the general alarm was sounded he re-
lived Machinist Hill. He stated in re.
ply to questions by Captain Lemly that
Captain Cook, who had testified that he |
was at the port engine on that day and
that the engine was reversed, that Clax. |
ton was stationed aT the air pumps,
back of the engine. Hundley said he |
kept his hand on the throttle engine most |
of the time and did not think it possible |
that the signal to stop or back could |
have been given general knowledge
Relieved Machinist Hill.
Lieutenant B. W. Wells, Jr, who was |
on the stand when court adjourned Fri |
day, was then recalled and testified re- |
garding the battle of July g. He said |
he did not remember the ranges at |
which the Brooklyn fired, but thought |
l. 100 yards was the shortest He de- |
scribed the turn of the Brooklyn and |
the chase after the Spanish ships.
When the VIscaya ran ashore the |
Colon was about 10000 yards ahead of |
the Brooklyn and for time the firing
ceased. He said that he had received
orders to get quantity OF rapid fire
Owing to the character
of the coast it was expected that the
Brooklyn and Colon would come to
close quarters. He was ordered to have |!
this ammunition ready to close with the
Colon and give her rapid fire when they
got close together.
He then described the rest Of the
chase and of the surrender of the Colon.
He said that he had not seen the Texas
when the Brooklyn made her turn. At
one time during the battle, he said, the
Brooklyn seemed TO be alone, engaging
three ships
George Paine Killed by Train.
CHATTANOOGA, Oct. 21.-Mr. George
Paine, a prominent citizen, aged So, was
killed by train on the Tennessee Cop
per company's road at McCoy's, 5 miles
~ A--9.