The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-10-03
MADE GOOD PROGRESS
FOUR WITNESSES TESTIFY BE-
FORE THE ScHLEY COURT
OF INQUIRY

| OF INQUIRY
ADMIRAL EVANS FINISHES
"Fishting Bob" Goes Over His Inter-
view With Commodore schIey After
the Battle Of Santiago - Captain
Sissbee, Correspondent Dienaide
and Chief Woman Becker Also on
the Stand.
Washington, Oct. 2.-The Schley
court of inquiry made good Roadway
during the day, concluding with Ad-
mlral Evans and hearing three new
witnesses, although the testimony of
one of them was not concluded when
the court adjourned for the day.
Admiral Evans testimony was along
the same general lines with his pre-
Vlous statement, but some points were
presented in greater detail in response
to questions by Mr.. Rayner. The new
witnesses were Captain Sigsbee, who
commanded the scout St. Paul during
the Santiago campaign, Mr.. Thomas
M. Dienaide, newspaper correspond
ent, who was on the Texas during the
battle of July 3, and Chief Yeoman
Gustave E. Becker, who was clerk
to Admiral Sampson during the war.
Captain Sigsbee's testimony covered
MS communication to Commodore
Schley upon the latter's arrival off
Santiago, May 26, 1898, and at SUBJ
sequent dates and dealt with the state
OF the weather at that period. He
was asked a great number of uues-
tons by the court.
Mr.. Dienaide described the loop of
the Brooklyn as seen from the Texas.
Mr.. Becker testified as to dispatches
sent by Admiral Sampson to Com
} modore Schley.
Evans Finishes His Testimony.
Mr.. Rayner began his interrogations
by asking Admiral Evans concerning
the secret code of signals for commu-
nicating with the Cuban insurgents
near Cienfuegos. The admiral said
that when Captain Chadwick commu-
nicated this code to him he did not in
struct him to give the information to
Commodore Schley. Mr.. Rayner then
questioned the witness particularly
as to his interviews with Commodore
Schley after the battle of Santiago.
The admiral denied having said that
Captain Philip had run away or at
tempted to run away. He said:
Il think Commodore Schley and
discussed the position Of the Texas
when the fight began. The Texas ly-
ing with her head to the east when the
engagement began and she turned
with starboard helm and headed off in
the same direction as the rest of US.
She fired first with her short battery
and then put her helm to starboard
and headed in the same direction with
the rest of the ships. I think that was
the question I discussed with Commo-
dore Schley, cannot be sure of it, but
that I ever intimated that Captain
Philip attempted to run away with the
Texas is preposterous on the face of
it,"
Admiral Evans admitted that at the
given in regard to attacking the Span
lsh fleet in case It'll eft the harbor, but
he did not consider it plan of battle.
Used His Navigator's Figures.
Questioned regarding the discrep-
ancy in the time given in his report
and the report Of Commodore Schley
regarding the destruction of the Wis
caya, Admiral Evans said that the
time given in his report was furnished
by the navigator and executive officer
of the ship. He, himself, did not take
the time. In regard to the speed the
Iowa was making he could only say
the ship was going as fast as they
could make her go. He thought she
must have been going 9 IL knots an
hour. In this connection Mr.. Rayner
asked number of questions intended
to show that the admirals official re-
ports and his present statements as to
speed were not consistent. Admiral
Evans was also questioned as to his
statements concerning the distance
the blOckading vessels were out at
night. He had said that the vessels
of the blockading squadron were
farther out at night than during the
day and Mr.. Rayner read a previous
statement from him to the effect that
at daylight eve closed in This the
witness said was the exact fact, that
after being out further at night, the
vessels came in closer at daylight.
He said that in steaming back and
forth at night the vessel just ahead
could be seen, but not the vessel at
the head of the column. The Marble
head could be occasionally seen, but
the Vixen never.
The witness said that while before
Cienfuegos or on the way to Santiago
the squadron had no orders for battle.
The officers had no instructions as to
what to do in case the enemy ap-
peared.
A Correspondents Story.
Admiral Evans was then excused
and Thomas M. Dienaide, newspaper
correspondent, who was on board the