The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-25
DEATH CALLS A HALT
JUDGE WILSON'S DECEAsE INTER
RUPTS COURT OF INQUIRY.
SCHLEYS SENIOR COUNSEL
HIS DEATH A SHOCK AS WELL AS A
SURPRISE.

Had Attended Court the Day Before
and Appeared Only Slightly Indis-
posed Yesterday Morning-The
Court Adjourned After an Eigh-
teen Minutes Session, but VIII Re-
sumo Hearing To-day-His Death
VIII BE Serious Blow to Admiral
Schley-Some Additional TestimO-
ny Given by Engineer Bates as to
the Condition of the Texas En-
gines and Her Coal supply.
Washington, Sept. 24.-The Schley
court of inquiry was brought to a sud-
den termination for the day eighteen
minutes after convening this morning,
by the announcement of. the death of
Judge jeremiah Wilson, senior coun-
sci for Admiral Schley. The announce
ment was made to the court by Hon.
Isidor Rayner, associate counsel, in
the following language:
II have a very sad announcement to
make to the court. 1 have just heard
of the death of Judge Wilson. 1 left
him at 10 o'clock this morning, slight
~ AlQiSJOSG0. L was Will HlAll hlllh
late last night. / saw him this morn
ing at o'clock and left him at 10.
We have confirmed the rumor through
7 the telephone that he has Just died at
the Shoreham Hotel, and l would re-
spectfully ask the court, If it meets
with the approval of the court, to ad-
| journ for to-day"
Admiral Dewey said:
II have to announce that owing to
the death of Judge Wilson, of counsel
the court will adjourn for to-day un-
| til tomorrow morning"
| Mr.. Rayner said that so far as he
could now see the counsel for Admiral
| Schley would be able to proceed to-
morrow but he added that there would
be desire to attend the funeral when
it occurred. Admiral Dewey and Capt.
Lemley agreed that this detail could
| be arranged later.
The announcement of Judge Wilson 8
death created CONSERVATION, not only
among members of the court, but
| among the spectators, and some min
utes elapsed before people generally
would accept the report. The judge
had been present in the court all day
yesterday, and while he had not par
ticipated to any great extent in the
proceedings he had appeared physical
ly active and wide awake to all that
was said and done.
Schley Greatly Shocked.
All the members of the court, in
Guiding counsel for the Navy Depart
ment and for Admiral Schley, express
sed the utmost surprise and sorrow
over the news, while Admiral Schley
himself said:
The news is so shocking that / can
not trust myself to give expression to
my estimate of the man. / can only
say that l have lost not only a. clear
headed and brilliant counsel but also
a dear and much beloved friend. ]
am shocked beyond measure at the
news, and find myself almost unable
to accept the report"
The proceedings of the court were
rendered very brief by the announce
ment of Judge Wilson's death. Com
mander Bates and Commander Schroe-
der were recalled to listen to the read
| ing of the official report of their tes-
timony as given yesterday, and First
| Glass Machinist A. b. Claxton of this
city, who had charge of the port en-
gine of the Texas on the day of the
battle off Santiago, had just taken the
| stand when the announcement of Judge
| WliSOti QtdlH MdS IcCtlNtu
1t had been expected by the Navy
Department that Mr.. Claxton would
confirm the statement of Engineer
Bates concerning the reversal of the
engines of the Texas.
During the short time that he was
on the stand Engineer Bates was asked
a few questions. One of these was by
Capt. Parker, and was in regard to the
steam log of the Texas. In reply to
| - TD.A
| said that the log had been written uI
the day after the battle.
The other questions were by the
court, and related, the first, to the coal
supply of the Texas on May 26, 1898
and the second, to the condition of the
! machinery of the Texas on the 31st OF
that month.
The questions of the court and the
responses to them were as follows:
"Are you positive that the quantity
of coal reported on hand May 26 was
correct?"
Weigh Coal by Estimate.
"Yes sir, as nearly as anybody can
be positive. There were no accurate
means of weighing what was sent us,
and generally there is no absolutely ac-
curate way by which coal is weighed
coming aboardship. All naval officers
know that coal is weighed to the best
of our ability and an accurate account
kept to the best of our ability, and II
is generally good estimate. 1t IS
weighed out in the same way"
WAS the machinery of the Texas in
efficient condition for service on May
31?"
IT should say by recollection, yes.
do not recollect that anything was
wrong about the machinery"
Judge Advocate Lemly: TT Is the
day of the bombardment Of the Colon
that is referred TO. the 31st of May"
Commander Bates: There was
nothing the matter with the engines as
remember. On that day we were off
coaling."
1t had been the intention of the court
to call Admiral Cotton, Capt. Wise and
others connected with the navy scout
ships Immediately after the discharge
of Machnist Claxton.
Admiral Dewey said that he did not
think the proceedings OF the court
would be interfered with largely by
Judge Wilson's death. There would be
he added, be another adjournment on
account of the funeral, but beyond
that he did not anticipate there would
be further cessation Of the proceed
ings.
WAS A PROMINENT ATTORNEY.