The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-10-08
SUMMON SAMPSON
This at Request Of Reyner, to
Which Lemiy Agreed
Comma nder Rodgers
q Witness.

mon Admiral Sampson as witness
IN the case. The request grew out VI
a dierence in the construction OF a
sentence in Admiral SIMPSONS letter
10 commodore Schley, written from
Key West, May 20, while Commodore
Schley was with the flying squadron
Cienfuegos. This is known as the
Dear Schley letter. and in it, as
printed in the navy department docu-
ments supplied to the senate, the ad-
miral said, after epressing his opinion
that notwithstanding the report that
the Spanish squadron was in San
tiago, it were better to continue to
blockade Cienfuegos and Havana.
I'VE shall continue to hold Havana
and Santiago until we receive more
positive information"
During the examination Of Comman-
der Raymond p. Rodgers this dispatch
was under consideration, when Mr..
Rayner expressed tho opinion that the
word Santiago" had been mad
vertently used by the commander-in-
chief, assuming that he meant to use
the word "Cienfuegos,' as better cor
responding with the context. AS the
document was printed there was
parenthetical note, to which Admiral
Schleys initials were attached, say
ing that evidently the wrong city had
been mentioned. Mr.. Rayner asked
Judge Advocate Lemly to make this
concession, but the latter declined to
do so, saying that he would produce
the original CT Admiral SIMPSONS dis.
patch to prove that he had said San
tiago. Then Mr.. Rayner said:
Il cannot take that word Santiago
to mean anything but Cienfuegos. 1t
is an imputation upon Commodore
Schley, and | cannot permit it to rest
without summoning the author OF that
dispatch"
10 which Captain Lemly re-
sponded:
Il have told you once before you
can summon anyone you please"
Sampson to Be Summoned.
"Then," retorted Mr.. Rayner, sum-
mon Admiral Sampson"
This occurred only short time be-
fore the adjournment OF the court un-
til today and was the subject OF more
or less conversation Of an animated
character after the days work was
concluded. Mr.. Rayner would only
say that he would insist upon the ad-
miral being summoned unless the cor
rection was conceded.
The witnesses were Lieutenant G.
w. Dyson, OF the bureau of steam en-
gineering, concerning the coal supply
OF the ~ ing squadron; Commander
Raymond p. Rodgers, who was second
in command OF the battleship Iowa
during the Spanish war and carried
Admiral Simpsons dispatches of May
20 to Commodore Schley, and Com
mander Albon G. Hodgson, who was
tE,. 90 he 40 In
lyn. While Commander Rodgers was
on the stand Mr. Rayner submitted a
computation OF shells from the Amer /,
lean feet which had struck the wreck ]
ed vessels of Cervera's squadron, !
showing that at least "a per cent |
Of them were fired by the Brooklyn. |
This computation, Mr.. Rayner said.
mad been prepared b. Admiral Schley
upon the basis OF report made by
board OF survey, Of which the witness
was the senior member
Commander Hodgson gave a |
graphic description Of the battle off |
Santiago, describing the part taken
In 1t by the Brooklyn and explaining
the change in the entry OF that ves-
sells log. His testimony was in part:
I'VE were then standing for the
enemy, and as soon as the guns were
brought to bear Lieutenant Simpson
fired little off the port bow the first
gun forward, S-inch turret. From that
time on we went considerably in to-
ward them.
Il then went down to where the
commodore was standing TO get into
the coming tower, when | heard him
sing out, Look out, Cook, they are
going to ram YOU
Captain Cook said he would look
after that, and starboarded the helm
little to parallel the course of the
leading vessel, the Maria Teresa,
which mad made broad sheer to
port.
He had hardly made that sheer.
however to port before he fell off /
again for the reason, apparently, that
shot was fired from the Brooklyn's
S-inch gun. The Teresa got abaft our
Fort beam and helm was ported on
the Brooklyn Immediately after that.
We were swinging with port helm.
l heard the commodore sing out,
hard aport,' or words to that eect,
AID Captain Cook sang out helm is
aport' ! saw at that time the crucial
moment had arrived in making the
turn, and | suggested to the commo-
dore that that turn would run us into
the Texas or very close to her."
What did you say and what was
the reply?" asked the judge advocate.
schley Said ID the Texas"
"As near as can remember I said,
Commodore. II you go to starboard,
You will run into the Texas and he
said, Damn the Texas. / cannot help
that. She must look out for herself.
nf hat |
also said. I do not propose to 20 In |
amy closer and subject myself to a |
torpedo attack suggested then that
we back the starboard engine, and he
wanted to know why, and I said, BE.
I Cnuaa IL Would Giua fha rosan q