The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-09-24
PART OF THE TEXAS
Ia the Battle of Santiago Was
Brought Out.
TESTIMONY INTERESTING.
llellner Assisted in Making the De-
partment's Chart.
NOW SAYS IT is INACCURATE.
Facts Testified To Which We're Not En-.
tered on the Log.
THE BRINGING IN OF SIMPSONS NAME
Was the Cause of Another Animated
Controversy Between the OPP
posing Counsel.

Washington, September 2s.--The psrs
played by the hattleShlp Texas In the naval
battle on Santiago July 3. 1898, in which
the Spanish fleet under Admiral Cervera
was sunk, was the basis Of the greater part
of today's proceedings in the Schley naval
court Of inquiry. or the four witnesses
examined during the day three had been Of
icers ON bonrd the Texas during the battle
and two of them were new witnesses.
These were Commander George c. HeiIner,
Who was navigator on the Texas, and Com
mander Alex Il. Bates who was the chief
engineer on that battlcshIp.
Commander HARDER executive officer. ana
the chief surviving officer OF the ship since
the death of Captain Philip. was recalled.
The fourth witness was Commander Sea
ton Schroeder executive officer Of the Mas
sachusetts and now governor OF the island
Of Guam.
The testimony several times during the
day was somewhat exciting and was es-
pecialy SO when Commander Hellner de-
scrlhed the battle and the part the Texas
had taken in II. He said when the Brook
lyn made It's loop at the beginning Of the
battle 1t mad passed across the Texas,
bow nj distance not to exceed 100 or
tain Philip the Texas had been brought "a
a dead stop. Engineer Bates testified that
the starboard engines had been stopped
aud said he thought this also had happened
to the port engines. Commander Helner
expressed the opinion that three miles had
been lost by this manenver and the fact
that part OF the machinery was deranged.
| He said he considered that the Texas was
! In greater danger when the Brooklyn cross
Cd her bow than at any other time during
| the battle.
| On crOss-examluatlon Commander Heilner
admitted having taken part In the prepara-
! tion of the official navy department chart
showing the position at different times OF
| the ships (which participated In the battle.
He said according to this chart the two
ships never were nearer than GOO yards
from each other. But he commended the
chart was inaccurate, and he said he had
only consented to II as n compromise. Com
mandcr Bates admitted that the log of the
Texas contained no record of the signal to
reverse the engines Commander Schroeder
testified concerning the coal supply of the
Massachusetts, which he said Sould aavd
been sufficient for a blockade of from six
teen to twenty days.
The day closed with another animated
controversy between counsel as to the poll
icy Of bringing Admiral SIMPSONS name
into the trial.
Tho members OF the court were prompt
as usual in reaching the navy yard, but
when they arrived they found Captain
Lcmly and his assistant. Mr.. Hanna. al
ready there buslly engaged In getting ready
for The days work.
Among the witnesses who reported this
morning were Rear Admiral c. s. Cotton.
Commander James Madison Miller, A. b.
Bates and s. c. GTeiner, Captains b. H..
Gala and william c. Wise and Lleutenants
John Hood and Spencer S. Wood
| Admiral schley and his counsel arrived
at 1915 o'clock.
| 1t was authoritatively stated today that
| the navy department has no Intention at
| present of bringing Admiral Sampson TO
! Washington as witness or TO participate
| In any other manner at the inquiry.
! Admiral Dewey called the court TO or
! der.
Captain Lemly presented the deck log
| books OF the Brooklyn, Texas, Iowa, Cas-
| tine. Marblehead, Massachusetts, Mime
! sofa, Now Orleans, Oregon, st Paul, Scor-
| pion, Yale, Vixen Eagle, Dupont, Hawk
How about the New York;" asked Judge
Wilson. a. too: want TO hasten the pro-
/
Preceding, Captain Lemly said he. had
| suggested such logs as he considered es-
| sentlal and that he would have presented
the points considered pertinent He then
Indicated the time that he desired covered
| by the matter TO be presented, but Admiral
schley's counsel objected and asked that
the entire logs from the time than the heet
left Key West until after the battle OF
| Santiago he made available.
After some exchanges OF opinion on tho
part Of the counsel. the understanding
was reached that such parts Of the logs as
either side desired could be presented.
Captain Lemly also presented the steam
logs OF the Brooklyn. Texas, Massachusetts,,
Iowa and the Marbiehead. Admiral
Schley's counsel asked to have the log OF
the Spanish ship Crlstobal Colon presented
Very well. II we can ind a Spanish
scholar to go through 1t and select the
! facts wanted said CAPTAIN Lemly.
| admiral Schley Us good Spanish scholar
and he can make such selections as We
may desire responded Mr.. hayner.
Commander Schroeder was recalled and
asked IL he desired to make any correc-