Rock Island Argus., 1901-10-23
ISSUE VERY SWEEPING
As to Questions of Fact in the
SchIey Case Is Made
by Graham.
NEWSPAPER MAN or THE STAND
Contradicts the Department Witnesses
ON q Number of Points That
Are Important.

Washington, Oct. 2S.-At the be-
ginning of today's session of the
Schley court Rayner. counsel for
Schley, said he had but IL or 15 more
witnesses to examine. Boatswain
Hill, of the Brooklyn, testified he was
within five feet of Schley throughout
the battle of Santiago. The commo-
dore at all times was cool and collect
ed, was constantly sending word to
men below deck OF events as they oc-
Cured with cheering messages. Dur
ing the chase of the Colon witness
said Capt. Cook had put his head out
of the coming tower and said to
Schley: Don't you think we had
better close in q little ?" The COM
modore replied: No, don't you see
that point? Just as soon as that fell
low starts to come out I'm going to
head him off. I'll get him yet. dam
him; I'll follow him to Spain if l have
to-" This testimony was greeted by
applause, but the demonstration was
q aickly suppressed by Dswey-
Washington. Oct. 23.-The SchleS
ccurt or inquiry opened yesterday with
Lieutenant y. w. Wells, Jr., who was
Commodore Schley's flag lieutenant
during ;le Spanish war. still on the
stand. but lie was soon displaced to
allow CONAN Albert V. Mason. vino
had written the YBrooklyn's log for
the period covering the Santiago cam
paign. TO testify. Mason explained
the erasures on the log entry referring
10 the BrCOElyn's turn on the day OF
the battle on Santiago. He was fol-
lowed by George r.. Graham, who as
an Associated Press correspondent was
W itf Commodore Schley during the en-
tire campaign.
Makes an Issue With Sigsbee.
Graham's testimony was the most
Important cf the day. He covered
the DOmbaTdment of the Spanish ship
Colon OH May 81 and the battle off
Santiago Only July 81. But the inn
pCrtInt part was where he testified to
hearing 4 conversation between Com !
nodOre Schiey and Captain Sigsbce
when the Hitter came aboard the flag
ship brooklyn off Santiago Nav III |
He said he iiad distinctly heard Cap
tain SigSbee Tell the commodore that |
the Spanish fleet was not inside the
haIbor at Santiago. On this point he |
said Aat SigSbee, after he had |
reaC ned The quarIerdeck of the gang
way, stopped. and Commodore Schley |
said. Have we got EN-, S1gSOeeE
Captain Sigsbee said. No; they are not |
here. | have been here for i week |
ana they are not here Later. Com :,
modOrc Schley said. Are you sure /
they are not in there:' He said Il
have been very close to the harbOr /
entrance two or three times. Captain /
Cotton has been in and cut cable,
and they are not there This makes /
an issue of fact with Sigsbee.
Looks Like a Clincher.
Graham said he took some part III /
this conversation. and was asked. Did |
you record that conversation, and did
Captain Sigsbee know you recorded |
it,
Captain Sigsbee knew I was Il
newspaper man. and was there look
ing for information, and Captain SiSs-
Dee later took n dispatch written by /
me and vised by Commodore Schley.
lie took it aboard his ship. and he
was to deliver II tO one of the small
bats or else take it over himself"
Testimony IL CorrobOrated.
Graham's testimony was corrobo-
rated by Dennis J. Cronin. Schley's
orderly. who heard Schley ask Sigsbee
something he (Cronim could not quite
catch. and then heard Sigsbee reply:
THE Spanish fleet is not I'm there TSan-
tiago.l."