The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-09


today marks an important turning point
in the career Of Rear Admiral Shelley be-
Ing nothing les than the date OF his trans
fer from the active TO the retired list of
The navy. he was i'm his accustomed seat
within the railing of the schley court OF
inquiry and gave his usual attention to
the proceedings of the court. ..e retire
mont OF Admiral Schley In accordance
with law he having reached the age Of
s. years
II was generally remarked that he did
not look his age. The formal proceedings
of the day began with the re-introducuon
of Lieut.. Ai l.. Bristol formerly watch
officer on the Texas. as a witness.
lie was under cross examination when
the court adjourned last night aud Mr..
Rayner continued his questions today.
Dther Witnesses on the list for the day
included Lieutenant Comma nder Tempiin
M Potter. who WAS navigator on the
Massachusetts during the war with
Spain: Ilsgtenant \. w. Grant. who was
also an the Massachusetts, Rear Admiral
~. 4. Taylor who commanded the bat
tleship Indiana; COmms nder William III.
Schuetze. who was navigator ON the Iowa,
and Lieutenant Jonas " Holden, who. as
an officer on the scripion made the log
record on the communication OF Com
mander sutherland TO Commodore Schiey
-a.n .ia..- -lhe condition off Santiago. IL
was not expected that all these be heard
today. If not they win be called to-
morrow.
MIR. RAYNER CROSS EXAMINES.
Mr.. Raynor began his examination of
Lieutenant Bristol with questions con
ccrning the accuracy of the stadlmeter
for the measurement OF distances al sea.
Be asked II would rather trust his own
visual observation for a i000-yard range
than the instrument.
The witness stated that the stadimeter
was more accurate for distances below
1000 yards than above that distance. At
that distance he would make several OBJ
-serXn1inEs for continuation of visual OBJ
serNatiOa.
sThe error he said, becomes greater
the greater The distance
Gould you give me, asked Mr.. Rayner,
"a point from which II is entirely re-
".yes." was the reply, "at zero II is abb
solutey accurate
much more reliable I'm measuring the dis
tance between ships.
lie had he said taken several obser-
vations with the stadimeter just before
the Spanish fleet came out of the harbor
and had checked these with the sextant.
Tie found the distasce from the Morro
tu De oiHl NdIuH.
BLockADING DISTANCE.
Lieut.. Bristol also was questioned by
Mr.. Rsyner concerning the distance out
OF the blockading ships al tieniuegOs,
hut he declined 10 change his estimate
~ Yesterday, that IL was from eight to
ten miles distant from the harhor
~ rRaNner said. II will read YOU Com
modore Schley's report as To the block
ade of Santiago He saws: "A line OF
blockade was established about four miles
s,ff shn nd aI linh N
was maintained, consisting Nariousiy 1i
the Scorpion. Dupont and Castlne, the
last named vessel arriving ON the sd cel-
xOyfng the Mrrrimac
III you are right the commodore has
stated what has not occurred when he
says "A line of blockade was established
about four miles off shore AZ CienfucgDs.
That Is not a correct statement of tlt
commodores Is it?'
''The statements make are what
thought and what | believed to be right
7 ~ H0r dTTsyttoH uthrr- rru1rt- words -
Now refresh your recollection with al
official report The statements YOU haV,
made are that during the day time th'
squadron lay on Cientuegos from four Z,
six 20 ten miles and during the nigh
from eight To ten miles without ques
tioning either Commodore Schley or your
self when | read you his official report
DO you stl stand on your statement
about six TO ten miles,
II have to stand 10y my statements
FRESH BREEzEANp MOpERATEsE
Speaking Of the weather during th
cruise OF the nying squadron from Glen
fuegos 10 Santiago the witness said ther
were fresh breeEes and that there was
moderate sea \ small boat could N
said have been lowered al any time dur
IN gths voyage
Mr.. Rayner also uterrogatcd Lieu
Bristol concerning his estimate. mad
soon after the arrival ~ the neet o
Santiago that the spanish shore batter
ies amounted 10 but little lie had sal
yesterday that the elevation OF thes
batteries was from $50 to Poo feet NJ
Rsyner produced a chart to show ths
the MORO battery was g2e feet above m
water line and the socapa battery ?
feet.
Now then" asked Mr. Rayner. al
YOU as positive about the distance No
gave these as IN other cases which yo
have given distances.
Capt. f.emly objected 10 the form
the question. saving that cousul was pa
tlng language he had not used iu ~
mouth Of the witness
ADMIRAL DEWEY.
Mr.. Rayner then made objection 10 n
interruption and after stating ths obie
tion said 10 the witness. "lf you are M
positive ! shall submit 90 any correction
Judge Advocate-Thc witness has on
stated that he Was positive.
Admiral Dewey would rather 80
would not Interrupt the testimony.
Judge Advocste.-ff the court tells m
] cannot do ~. I will submit 10 the orde
of the ccnrt
Admiral Dewey.-lf counsel for the ~
rIlcsnt has pat words into the mouth a
the witness vhl,h hc did not utter 80
addressing captain Lemlyl can bring
ou a. the proper time You will hav
an opportunity 10 A that
t.J4dse Adyocste-That u not he adyan