The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-16
HIS CONDUCT
 ADMIRABLE
Continued from Page one.)
Chase After the Colon.

While we were engaged on the beam of the Vizcaya, the Colon had passed in. side of the Vizcaya, firing. but gradually drawing away. We were increasing oui | speed as rapidly as the fires could be forced, and after the Vizcaya had gone In, we continued the chase after the Colon. When we began to gain upon the Colon, the Commodore directed the oregon to try her guns at her. The Oregon and Brooklyn fired deliberately | at the Colon. After our fire she began to waver in toward the shore. Her course was unsettled and the Commodore said he thought she had enough of 1t and was looking for soft spot to lie up. which proved to be the case. She fired occasionally at us, rather rapidly at first, then it became weaker. She was close into shore at that time, l and at Ills hauled down the flag. Captain Cook and Lieutenant Wells were sent on board the Colon to receive the surrender ' When MT. Sears had concluded his des- cription of the battle. MT. Raynor asked him if Commodore Schley had given him dispatch to be sent to, the Navy De- pertinent, making a report of the battle The witness replied in the affirmative. Admiral Dewey then asked if this dis patch had been sent, and was informed by MT. Raynor that it had not been for warded to the Department, although it had been taken to the cable office. The court decided that as the dispatch had | not reached the Department it could not appear.
 Suppose it was not Commodore | Schley's fault that the dispatch was not | forwarded?" asked MT. Raynor. Admiral Dewey: You can't ask ques- tions of the court. We are not in the witness box. Commodore Schley's wit ness is in evidence and that is sufficient. ' Mr. Raynor then passed to other points of the inquiry, asking as to the distance between the Brooklyn and Texas when the former made her turn. The witness replied that he had only given sufficient attention to see there was no danger of a collision between the two vessels and did not feel able to give exact figures. He was sure that it was a deep gap of water possibly GOO yards.
 MT. Raynor questioned the witness aeain concerning his ass ocittion with Lieutenant Commander Potts on the Mas sachusetts and asked If he had heard the Commodore say on the occasion of the Colon reconnaissance anything in the presence of MT. Potts concerning the con spicousness of the uniform of the of- ficers as they stood on ihc turret during the firing of the enemy's batteries. The witness replied in the negative.
 
 ming tower on that occasion?"
 "He was both behind and in front of 1t; he was moving about"
 Schley No Coward.
 In reply to a question Commander Sears said he had been with Commodore Schley in five engagements all told. He was then asked as to the bearing of that officer under fire and replied:
 His bearing to me was model for any body, worther of emulation at all times. Under fire his action, if possible seemed to be clearer and more in possession than at any other time"
 Was he in any state of excitement?"
 Not the slightest. He was absolutely cool and calm"
 How about points of danger, would he get away from them or did he expose himself to them?''
 He was always putting himself on ex- posed positions. I requested him many times not to expose himself as it was useless to do so."
 On cross-examination the witness said that he had reached the understanding that Cienfuegos was a Spanish stronghold early in the war He also said that be- yond the standing in of the American fleet at Ciefuegos and the sending in of the Adula no effort had been made before Captain McCalla's arrival to discover whether the Spaniards were in the harbor there. He also said that he could not admit the possibility of the receipt of the McCalla memorandum by any other yes sel than the Hawk or on any date before May g.
 Commander Sears said that when the retrograde movement was begun the Tex as had only a little more than sufficient coal to carry her to the nearest coaling station. He had. he said, been averse to the westward movement, but Mir. Raynor suggested that such a course of inquiry would open the doors to a wide range of