The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-09-22
SAYS SCHLEY
WAS TOO SLOW
Commander Schroeder Tells of
Cruise to Santiago.
C0AiINe IS DISCUSSED
WITNESS SAYS THAT 1T WAS
POSSIBLE AT SEA.
cOAlING IS DISCUSSED


was Commander seaton Schroeder,
who was executive officer of the bait
tieship Massachusetts during the war,
ana 49, now governor of the island of
Guam. His testimony dealt with the
trulse Of the flying squadron from
Cienfuegos to Santiago and the bonn
bardment of the Spanish ship CristObal
Colon as she lay in the mouth OF the
harbOr at Santiago or May 81. The
commander said that the cruise was
not as expeditions as it should have
been. He also said that in the bonn
bardment = the Colon the fleet had not
acted as deliberately as the commander
IN chief had annou ICED 1t TO be has
purpose to have il act.
While Commander Schroeder was
giving his testimony. Judge Wilson.
counsel for Admiral ScIley sought to
have him make comparison Of the
distance of the fleet from The shore
under Admiral Schley with the dis
lance under Admiral Sampson after the
latter officer arrived and took COM
mand, but the judge advocate objected
and Mr. Wilson withdrew the question.
sayinE. however. that he did so only
temporarily and that he would raise
TIRE point at later stage in the in
vestigation.
The forenoon sitting was devoted
mainly to the cross-exanfnatfon of
Commander HARDER and Admiral EIig-
ginson, the latter having been re-
called. Admiral HigginsOn corrected
his statement made yesterday concern
ing the distance from shore maintained
by the feet during the blockade of San
tiago- He said shat early in the block-
ade the fleet was five or six miles out
10 sea. moving up closer later.
HARDER is First Witness.
The first witness called was Captain
HARDER. executive officer of the Texas
during the Spanish war. who was on
the stand when the court adjourned
yesterday adj 70 ulra =
no question of him and he was imme-
dtafely turned over to Mr.. Raynor of
Counsel for Admiral Schley. who ques-
rtoned him concerning his statement
made yesterday to the effect that he
did not recall that there was any picket
line established inside the line of
blockade at CienfuegOs. A report by
Schley was read, TO ne effect that a
picket line had been maintained, but
the witness declined to change his
statement
Asked if the Brooklyn had not, on
May "A signsled the Texas to 90
alongside the collier and coal he said
he did not recall anything of the kind
Mr.. Raynor read the signal message, as
follows:
Go alongside the collier and coal as
rapidly as possible" But no amount
of pressing could bring the witness to
say that he remembered the incident.
He had. he said. very little TO do with
che signaling. The same replies, prac-
tically. were made in response to ques-
lions regarding other signals. Mr..
Raynor quoted several of these One
- 1nsmitted- fscsn the Texas 70 the
Br5oS7yu read;
ION afterthought the captain thinks
* unsafe to put a collier between bat
fleships.''
another from the Texas read:
do not think it safe 10 collier The
two ships viii surely crush her"
Harber's Memory Uncertain.
Captain HARDER replied that he re-
membered there was some talk Of the
collier. but he cold not recall what it
was.
Speaking of the signals observed off
C'fenfuegos. he said his supposition, as
was that of the other officers. was that
they were between the Spanish forces.
CAPTAIN HARDER was also questioned
closely concerning the rate of speed of
the fleet on the sail from Cienfuegos to
Santisg 60 on May p. He said the
weathe. was fresh and the sea moder-
ate. that il was hard for small vessels,
but il was nothing much" He
thought the Texas could nave made
from ten to twelve knots Mr. Raynor
had the witness read the logs Of the
Massachusetts. thel Iowa the Brook
lyn and other vessels concerning the
weather at that time. Mr.. Raynor read
81 report from Captain HigginsOn say
irg that the weather had been rough
and SQually" on the 25th. Captain
tain Higginson was not borne out by
the log book of his ship.
1t does not correspond with the
log" the witness said: and he added
that. having given his best recollec-
ticn concerning the weather. he
thought Mr.. Eaynor had an ulterior
motive 10 mis- questions. Mr.. Raynor
declared thGt ne had no, such and If
Then" said the witness. Il have
given you my best recollection concern
ing the weather"
THAT is what 1 want" responded the
attorney.
That is what I have given you" re-
peated the witness.
Captain Lemly objected to the ex-
animation OF Captain HARDER on the
record OF a ship which, he had no part
In preparing The court retired to con-
siier the point. After an absence of
ten minutes the court returned, az
mounting its decision sustaining the
objection that the witness could not be
examined on the log of the Massa-
chusetts.
Contradicts Admiral H:sginson.
Continuing his testimony. captain
HARDER insisted that the weather on
May p was not rough He also
maintained that II was his recollection
as stated yesterday that the fleet was
further out at night than in the day
time. When his attention vvas called
TO = contrary statement by Admiral
Higginson, the witness said that it was
not material Co him what any other
man said; that he had given mis- csti-
mate and was not concerned about the
statements Of others.
Then yo'I object 10 having rom.
memory refTtsBedc said Mr.. Ravnttr
I said nothing OF the kind, repiied
the witness u am here to give nv
testimony. and 7 object to being spoken
TO in the way you speak 20 me"
He also objected To AIr Raynor's
shaking his ger At him. saying he
constructed IL rs a menace.
Nr .,aynor insisted that he meant
10 ne entirely respectful and rot to
menace the witne IS.
Witness Egades Pitsall.
Counsel questioned the Witnesses
corning his estimate that az might the
vessels CT the fleet steaIaed eight miles
to the eastward and /seven miles 10
the westward O. tha, mouth OF the har-
Dor The point MAS sought to be- made
That to make thiS sail of sixteen miles
would require greater speed tlG.s three
knots an hour, which the witness had
testified was madel but Captain HARDER
maintained his posftion. saying ne had
given bis best impression. Slnle of
useless as evideueL
Admiral Higgins0A. who pr.sceded
Won on stand