The Washington times., 1901-09-12
ORGANIZING The COURT.
Preliminary Work of the Schley
Enquiry to Begin Today.
The Challenging of Admiral Howl
sop-Writcr of the Boston Inter-
view Ready TO Testify-Naps of
Santiago Battle by Naval Officers.

4
large room above the gunners' workshop
in the Navy Yard. All preparations have
been completed and arrangements more
! or less adequate have been provided fol
| the press of the country t. report tht
| proceedings of the enquiry. liany of tbs
| witnesses have arrived in the city, but II
| is not thought likely that any Of then
will be examined for several days.
| TSsc court will be occupied today in per
| fecting its organization. The question OF
| the eligibility of Rear Admiral Howisor
will probably be Immediately taken up
| as 1t is understood that Admiral Schley
will formally challenge him.
Admiral Howison reported at the Navy
Department yesterday, where he held q
short conference with Acting Secretary
Hackett. He also called upon Captain
Lemly, judge advocate of the court, and
| other department officials. Later he re-
ported to Admiral Dewey. president OF
the court
On Captain Lemly's desk. in the office
of the Judge Advocate General. yesterday
| morning, lay small oxford Bible, bound
in pliable black leather, with the gold edges
of the leaves showing such good care
| that the sex of its possessor could be cas-
lily guessed. even If the title page did
not bear this inscription: From Mamma
tto Addie''
The Bible is the one which is to be used
at the Court of Enquiry. All of the wit
nesses for both the department and Ad-
miral Schley will take the oath upon this
Bible before they give their testimony.
The book is the property of Miss Adelaide
Ellis. the daughter of Dornip Ellis, 1921
Harvard Street northwest.
yesterday morning by Pickens Neagie,
chief clerk of the office Of the Judge Ad-
vocate General. This morning it will be
taken to the gunners' workshop in
the Navy Yard. where it will
figure prominently in the opening
of the court. This Bible will be
closely guarded by Mr.. Neagle. as he real
izes that endeavors may possibly be made
by relic hunters to gain possession of it.
The Bible is an ordinary st. James
edition. 1t is of most convenient size for
the purposes of the court
Admiral Howison was seen by n Times
reporter yesterday at the Ebbitt House.
where he is quartered. He would not dis
cuss the questions involved in the Schiey
investigation of the Court of Enquiry.
Admiral Howison said:
Il have received no information
from official sources and could not
talk if it were permitted. All
my information is derived from
the newspapers, and one cannot be-
lieve all one reads. If the newspapers
were to be believed the people would
think. from recent statements. that 1
ought to be in Jail. hope they Will leave
me alone until my Standing as i member
of the court is settled
Il did not know / was a man of SO
much importance continued the admi-
raj, until the newspapers began to talk
about me. Rear admirals are not neces-
sarily distinguished personages. The
woods are full OF them. active and re-
tired, and one could not throw a stick
without hitting dozen"
In reply to a question as to whether he
knew anything concerning Admiral
SIMPSONS condition. Admiral Howison
replied that he knew nothing authorita-
tive.
Judge Wilson. of counsel for Admiral
Schley, returned from New York Tues
day night Yesterday he was c!oseted at
his apartments in the Shoreham Hotel
wiCh several important persons whose
names could not be learned. The confer
ence was a lengthy one, and apparently
Of some moment. A reporters ca rd was
returned with Judge Wilson's regrets and
"A request to call later in the day as at
that time he was engaged in conference
of Importance
The finishing touches to the Schley side
of the case were last night added by the
counsel for the admiral, and when at a
late hour the case, which has consumed
completed it was with the knowledge on
the part of all concerned that well done"
was the only thing left to be said
The only additional witness examined
sentative of the Associated Press. who
was on the Brooklyn during the battle of
Santiago. He will be one OF the chief
witnesses for Admiral Schley and his teS-
timony will add greatly to the showing of
strength already produced by the hard
working attorneys who have so success
fully conducted the preparation of the
case for the admiral. Mr.. Graham reached
the city last night and went Immediately
to the Shoreham, where he told what he
knew of the historical battle in Santiago
Harbor.
Francis A Frost, whose interview with
Admiral Howison in the Boston Record
will result today in the challenging of
Admiral Howison by Admiral Schiey, ar
rived in the city yesterday. He remained
for some time at the ShOreham. where to
Judge Wilson, Judge Rayner, and Cap
tain Parker he told in detail the entire
story of the now famous interview. He
convinced both Admiral Schley and his
counsel of the true facts of the interview
To-day Mr.. Frost will be placed upon the
stand if necessary and upon his testimony
will be based the challenge of Admiral
Howison. His testimony viii consist
principally of the sworn statement made
by Mr.. Frost in Boston on August q
Two additional civilian witnesses for
Admiral Schley, " nose testimony viii be
of the utmost Importance. are now in
Washington. on, is from this city, while
the other is from New York Their
names have not been given TO the public
of sol
is to make the Court of Enquiry as brief
as possible. Every effort will be made
to conclude the investigation within the
shortest possible time. The counsel for
the admiral it is unri rstood. will also
cndeaVor to have the hours for the ses-
sion OF the court charged. They desire
that the court shall be in session for
four hours each day, without break for
luncheon. They believe that in this way
the best results can be obtained From
10 a. m. until p. m. are the hours suS-
gvsted.
An amusing incident of the rigid in
vestigation Of all subjects bearing upon
the case has come TO light. in the shape
OF the various maps of the battle of San
tiago. which are now in the possession
OF Judge Wilson and the other counsel.
These maps were made by the officers
Of the various ships which took part in
the battle. Considerable confusion has
resulted to the counsel as no two OF the
maps were found % be alike.
Each map given to the counsel for
reference showed that the ship upon
which the map was drawn played the
most conspicuous part in the naval en-
gagemcnt. The map made on the Iowa
shows clearing that the Iowa first sunk
several torpedo boats, then captured the
Niscaya, next sunH the Oquendo, then
ran the Colon on a mud bank. and ended
up by totally destroying the torpedo boats
Furor and Pluton.
This map was studied with great in
tercSt by Judge Rayner and Captain Par
ker. They then took up the map made
on the TaSas II showed that tho T.NoS