The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-19
JESTS FROM SCHLfY
WILLS SHELLS SHRIEKED.
Continued from First Page

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Commodore Schley's flag lieutenant dur
ing the Cuban campaign, was called.
Lieutenant Wells gave detailed account
of the entire campaign beginning with
the departure from Hampton Roads the
stay at Cienfuegos, the cruise to Santiago.
the retrograde movement, the blockade
Of Santiago, the bombardment of the
Colon and the battle Of Santiago. The
witness undertook to quote from memory
a pun by the Navy Department which had
he said, given him the impression that
the land battery at Santiago was manned
by large guns. Lemly objected saying
the pun itself should be produced.
Some controversy between counsel en-
sued and Mr. Rayner spoke of the OBJ
lection as merely frivolous To this
Captain Lemly responded: Il object to
this criticism. Counsel has been repeat
eddy criticising and throwing slurs on the
officers of the court. / beg that it be
stopped 1t is unbecoming in a court OF
this character. 1t is extremely unusual.
May it please the court, we are making
history here. How will these things read
in history, even if they do come from the
Attorney General of the Great State Of
Maryland? They are unworthy of a court
of the dignity which this court possesses.
1t has not been done once, but repeat
edly"
Mr. Rayner made no response, merely
asking the witness to omit the reference
to the publication and proceed, upon
Captain Lemly's assurance that the origi-
nal would be produced.
SCHLEY JEsTS AMID DANGER.
Referring to tie engagement of May
81, Lieutenant Wells said he had gone
aboard the Massachusetts. with Commo-
dore Schley. He gave brief description
Of that engagement He said he had
heard orders given to the New Orleans to
fire on the shore batteries. Continuing
he said: 81 saw during this action a
number of discharges of smokeless powder
from the slope TO the westward of the
entrance. Several shells passed over US
and dropped near us. The Commodore
at that time made number of joking
remarks about some of us lodging. l do
not think he lodged. He seemed to me
at that time thoroughly self-possessed
without any perturberation that l saw at
any time during that action"
WAS he laboring under any mental
excitement at that timer"
None at all that / could see. He was
in very natural frame of mind"
Mr.. Rayner questioned the witness at
considerable length concerning the re-
reipt of dispatches while the Flying
Squadron lay off Cfehfuegos and also
after it had arrived off Santiago. Wit
ness said two copies of the Dear Schley
letter had been received, one on the
23d, the other on the oath. But one copy
of the McCalla memorandum had been
received. in May 25th. Admiral Samp-
sons dispatch directing Schley to pro-
coed to Santiago was received S:l5 p. m,
May ed, and another copy the following
day. Mr.. Rayner read this message
from Sampson to Captain Gotten of the
Harvard: 1.-THE Spanish squadron at
Santiago IF previous TO May 18th,
scout off Santiago. Communicate with
Schley if he (they) moved west, ETC.
The witness said he did not remember
the receipt of this dispatch on board the
Brooklyn.
THE DISPATCH FROM THE EAGLE.
o. Mr.. Rayner questioned the witness
with the view of eliciting exact informa
ton as to the tineiof the Eagles def
mite report to Admiral Schley that the
Spanish feet was not in Cienfuegos. In
reply Lieut.. Wells said: 1T was during
the afternoon / saw half past three or
four"
What was the time between the re-
ript of this message and tine time you
set sail for Santiago?''
1--WE prepared several letters or dis
patches to Admiral Sampson, I believe,
and to the department, if I am not mis-
taken, and when they were finished the
Dupont left some time along about Z
o'clock. 1t, was shortly after that the
squadron stood out to southwark"
When did you first distinctly find out
where the Spanish squadron was?"
when we saw the Colon at the en-
trance to the harbor of Santiago on the
morning OF the 29th of May"
did you hear Commodore Schley say
at any time anything in reference to the
conspicuousness of his uniform at the
time of his reconnaissance, May 31?"
mo, sir, do not recall any such re-
mark