Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-10-18
BRAVE UNDER FIRE.
More Evidence as to Schley's Bear
ing in Battle.
FLAG OFFICER OF BROOKLYN HEARD
Speaks in Terms of High Praise Of
SchleY's Conduct - Capt. Cook
ReAterates His Former
EncOmium.

SchleY's Conduct - Capt. Cook
Reltecates His Former
Encomium.
Washington, Oct. 1e.-The presenta-
lion of the Schley side of the case
was continued i'll the Schley court of
inquiry Tuesday. When Mondays
/. witnesses had been recalled and had
made the verbal corrections necessary
in their testimony, they were prompt
" dismissed and, at the instance
of Mr.. Rayner, the judge advocate
summoned Lieutenant Commander
James n. Sears, who as lieutenant
was Admiral schley's flag officer on
board the Brooklyn during the war
with Spain. He testified to many de-
balls connected with the campaign
and was promptly succeeded by a
number of other naval officers who
served on the Brooklyn.
Schley Himself to BE Heard.
Admiral schley thinks it quite
probable that the presentation of the
testimony in his behalf can be COM
pleted this week and next. He will
be the last of the witnesses to be
heard, and when he goes on will make
a review of the entire campaign, cov-
ering the points in controversy.
The Meeting with the AduIa.
Commander Sears gave a detailed ao-
count of the encounter with the British
steamer Adula. He said the commodore
directed him to go aboard the Adula and
&
inducing the captain Of the Adula, an Eng
lishman, to put himself out little to tell
us something about what was going on
inside of Cienfuegos. The captain said of
course he would be very glad to do 1t, as
he was coming under come authority from
our fleet in Jamaica.
''He suggested that when he came out
on the next day we should bring him to
with shot, SO that anybody observing 1t
from shore would see that he was acting
under force and that anybody who could
speak Spanish could find out all they
board"
With what Understanding did they 20
into the port? Was there any understand
Ing with you?"
That he was to come out the next day
and 1t would be possible for US to get that
Information, in fact. that 1t would be very
easy to do So"
HE did not"
blockade ut Santiago.
With reference to the blockade at San
tiago the witness said that 1t had been
maintained at varying distances of from
three to six miles, to suit the commander
In chief In thick weather and at night
the distance was less than in fair weather
and in the daytime.
The witness also described the recon
Nuisance of May 81. when the Colon was
fired upon, and giving his conclusions with
reference to that event, he said 1t had de-
veloped the strength of the land batteries
and they had proved stronger than he had
supposed they were.
Inc Dursre va-o-H.-o.
The witness described the engagement
Of July 8. After stating the preliminary
incidents, he said:
Il was in my room when heard the cry
of the executive officer: Clear ship for ac-
ton / knew what that meant and ran to
the quarter deck looked aloft to see If
the prescribed signal: Enemy Is escaping
was up. and saw that 1t was. ! met the
commodore on the quarter deck. He d.
rected the signal: Clear ship for action
followed by the signal to close in, ell of
which were made.
Just about tho time the yiscaya turned
Heoman Ellis, who was q trained observer
psatfoEsn and sntd that his stadimeter
showed eoe yards to The Viesaya.
The Loop.
when the order was given hard aport,
I looked at the next vessel In our fleet
the Texas-and in my Judgment we were
completely clear of her, and as we turned
we passed well clear of her. After the turn
was completed we found ourselves abreast
Or perhaps little abaft the beam of the
leading Spanish ship, with slowly con-
yerging course toward the leading ship
After about 10 to 70 minutes we were
very holly engaged with these three yes
sells. The Oregon vas astern of US and
the Texas astsrn of her. Tho Viscaya be-
gan to blaze up. flames would rise and
subside. and she turned in toward shore
Surrender of Colon.
''After we began to gain upon the Colon
the commodore directed the Oregon to try
her guns at her. Then the Oregon and the
Brooklyn Aired deliberately at the Colon.
After our fire she began to wayer in toward
the shore. Her coarse was unsettled, and
the commodore said he thought she had
enough of 1t and was looking for soft spot
to lie upon. which proved to be the case
She fired occasionally at us, rather rapidly
at lrst, and then 1t became weaker. She
was close into shore at that time and at
Lbs hauled down her flag. Capt Cook and
Lieut.. Wells were sent on board the Colon
TO receive the surrender"
schIey's Report Never Sent.
When Mr.. Sears had concluded his de-
scription of the battle. Mr.. Rayner asked
him If Commodore Schley had given him a
dispatch to be sent to the navy department
making a report of the battle. The witness
replied in the affirmative Admiral Dewey
then asked If this dispatch had been sent,
and was informed by Mr.. Rayner that II
had not been forwarded to the depart
ment, although 1t had been taken to the
cable office. The court decided that as the
dispatch had not reached the department
It could not appear
Suppose 1t was not Commodore schley's
fault that the dispatch was not forward.
ed?' asked Mr. Rayner.
Dewey Rebui<es Rayner.
To this inquiry Admiral Dewey respond.
ed: You can't ask questions of the court
We are not in the witness box. Commodore
Schleys report is in evidence and that ii
sufficient"
Mr. Rayner then passed to other point.
of the inquiry, asking as to the distance
between the Brooklyn and the Texas wher
the former made her turn. The witnes!
replied that he had only given sufftejent at
tention to see that there was no danger s
a collision between the two vessels and dit
not feel able to give exact figures. He wa
sure there was wide gap of wateT-pos
sibly about 600 yards.
SchIey's Bravery.
In reply to question. Commander Scar
said he had been with commodori
Schley in five engagements, all told III
was then asked as to the bearing Of tina
officer under fire. and replied:
His bearing to me was model for any
body. worthy of emulation at all times
Under fire his faculties, II 1t was possible