The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-25
SCHLBY SCORES A POINT.
SampsOn's Message to Disregard
Orders Brought to Light.

Counsel Attribute the EJm5raI's Re
lay Mt CicnfucGoS 10 These In
structions-Rear Admiral Cations
Testimony Regarding tbc Com
mandinE Officers Receipt Of De
pHrtmcnt Instructions and the En-
GuirieS Made Of the Fleet Captains
Prior 10 Ordering the RctroErude
MoVement-Nr. Rayucr Insists
Upon Use OF the Appendix Des-
Patehes-Cnptain LcnIy Protests.
What is known as Schl,y's rctroErade
movement from Santiago. when u" start
ed for Key West FOR coal and which is
one Of the charges I'm the precopt against
him, was described today al the Court of
Enquiry.
The witness who testified TO this move
mont was Rear Admiral Cotton. then Cap
tain in command of the scout Harvard.
who delivered the departments despatch
TO SchIcy. telling him that all informa-
ton poIated 10 the fact that the Spanish
fleet was at Santiago and that he should
not permit il to escape without decisive
action
He said that Sohley gave the signal to
start for Key West after he had read
this message and they had talked about
the difficulty Of coaIinE. SchICy. he said.
was greatly concerned about the trouble
in getting coal aboard his ships
sehley scored point when the Dear
schiey" message OF Sampson to SchIey.
saying that he should disregard depart
ment orders, was introduced and read.
The assertion has been made that hereto
fore it has been suppressed. SchIey's
counsel attribute his delay at Cienfuegos
70 this message.
The attendance today was about the
same as yesterday No reference was
made to the death % Judge Wilson. Mr..
Rayner took charge Of the case. and
there viii be no additional counsel Sc
cured.
When the Court convened Commander
Heilner was called to the witness stand
and made number of minor corrections
These related chiefly 10 inaccurate gram
malcal expressions For instance. in his
testimony in referring 10 Lieutenant
Haeseler he said An officer who is
since dead" He wished 10 make il read.
Who has since died.'
A B ClaNton. engineer Of the frst
class aboard the Texas AT the time Of the
battle, was recalled to the stand He
was the witness testifying yesterday
when the Court adjourned upon the an
nounCement Of the death Of Judge Will
son. Mr- Claxton is now out Of the serv-
ice and IN the employ Of the Washington
Gas Light Company.
Captain Lemly questioned the witness.
Reversing of Texas Engines.
-Q-Where were you on the morning Of
July 81
An the engine room Of the Texas.
Q.-NEat did the engine Indicator read2
at hrst II was at fun stop.
Q--What was the next signaI2
A--ThCre was rome given for some time
aIIeTWATd- Then one given was for fun
sPted ahtad- when We started Within
the next hour the only signal given was
for fun speed astern.
Q--Nas the port engine reversed?
Q.-Do you know that it went astern2
A.-YCs, sir.
Q.-About how long was the engine re-
yeTsed2
About a couple Of minutes.
The witness was not cross-examined by
counsel for Admiral Schlev.
Rear Admiral Charles : Cotton. now
Commandant at the Norfolk Navy Yard.
was next called 10 the stand. In answer
70 questions the witness said that in the
Santiago campaign he hold the rank OF
captain and was in command Of the aux
iliary cruiser Harvard lie ioincd the
Flying Squadron of Santiago on the
morning Of May 2. He had received or
ders TO watch that port. lie went on
board the Brooklyn and delivered 90 Com
modore Schley personally four OF FIVE
dispatches from the Navy Department
and from the commander-in-chief Of the
North Atlantic Squadron.
Captain LeUly-Statc what converse
ton YOU had with Commodore Schlev ON
that occasion
Alt would DE impossible 10 state the
entire conFers tuon; il co-cred a very
wide range 7 he most important part Of
II was relative 10 the dispatches
Difficulties of CoaIinE.
o.--what was said about the des-
Al delivered the original cipher and
translatiOns- He commented in a gen
eral way on their pUrpOrt and spoke Of
the difficulty he had had IN getting coal
on board At Cienfuegos. He said il had
been practically impossible. il not quite
TO get coal On board. He question
ID me about coaIiug at Mole 81
Nicholas I said the small boats could
coal there. He asked about the larger
snlPS anG ] said GOu can't coal Tie
large ships there ] had special refer
EHCe To the battieships and the protected
cruisers Of the New York and BROOKLYN
class. / told him that possibly under IA
Vorable conditions II might be possible TO
coal the large ships one at a time
Q--Was anything said about returning
70 hey West FOR coal. and what, as near
as you can remember
A-Schley SAID IL was a very serious
problem as to how he was going 10 get
coal at all II the weather continued bad
he said, he saw only one way out Of the
difficulty He was especially concerned
about the Texas.
He said ne did not know at that time
whether or not she had coal enough 70 20
to Key West While ] was there ne gave
orders Tor a general signal for ships TO
report whether they had sufficient coal
to 90 TO Key West. During my presence
Commodore Schley received a report that
all ships, including the Texas. had coal
enough 10 90 10 Key West and ] think
the commodore was very much relieved
The Orders for Key West
Shortly afterward he directed that the
signal be made for the ships 10 return 20
Key West He ordered the ships to pre-
pare for departure.
Il informed Schley that the Harvard had
only cual enough TO go 20 kingston.
had not enough 20 go 90 Key West He
directed me 10 20 20 Kingston 20 take on
coal
y left the Brooklyn about noon and soon
afteTWard saw the squadron start for
Key West I left for Kingston"
Did you agree with him as 10 the
difficulty Of taking coal on Santiago
A-Ihe question Was not discussed
Q--Was l. before or after ne read the
dispatches that ne gave the signal en-
-S O. IN" coal supply
At was aft,rware.