The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-09
SCHLEY IS OUT.
Admiral Goes on the Retired
List of Navy.
Circumstances Did Not Keep
Him From the Trial.
BRISTOL ON THE STAND
He Was Watch Officer on Board
the Texas.
Cross Examination by Rayner
Continued From Tuesday.

today marks an i'm pOrtant turning
point in the career of Rear Admiral
Schley being nothing less than the date
of his transfer from the active to the
retired list of the navy. he was in his
accustomed seat within the railing of
the Schley court of inquiry and gave
his usual attention to the proceedings
of the court. The retirement of Admiral
Schley is in accordance with law, he
having reached the age of 65 years. 1t
was generally remarked that he did not
look his age.
The formal proceedings of the day be-
gan with the reintroduction of Lieut.
M. l. Bristol, formerly watch officer on
the Texas, as a witness. He was under
cross examination when the court ad-
journed last night and Mr.. Rayner con-
tinued his questions today
Other witnesses on the list for the day
included Lieutenant Commander Temp
lin NJ. Potts, who was navigator on the
Massachusetts during the war with
Spain; Lieut. A. W. Grant, who was
also on the Massachusetts; Rear Ad-
niraI H. c. TAYLOR, who, as captain
commanded the battleship Indiana:
Commander William H. SchuetZe. who
was navigator on the Iowa and Lieut.
Jonas H. Holden, who, as an officer on
the Scorpion, made the log record OF
Ine communication VI
Switzerland to Commodore Schley, con-
cerning the condition off Santiago.
1t was not expected that all these
would be heard today. If not, they will
be called tomorrow.
CROSS EXAMINATION.
Mr.. Rayner began his examination of
Lieut. Bristol, with questions concern
ing the accuracy of the stadimeter for
the measurement of distances at sea
He asked if he would rather trust his
c1-Jz
range than the instrument. The wit
ness stated that the stadimeter was
more accurate for distances below 1000
yards than above that distance At that
distance, he would make several obser-
vations for confirmation of visual OBJ
servation THE error he said, be
comes greater, the greater the dis
tance."
Gould you give me-" asked Mr.. Ray
ner, "a point from which it is entirely
reliable?"
Yes was the reply, "at zero, it is
absolutely accurate"
The witness considered the sextant
much more reliable in measuring the
distance between ships
He had he said. taken several Obser-
vations with the stadimeter just before
the Spanish fleet came out of the har-
bor and had checked these with the
sextant. He found the distance from
the Moro to be 5,100 yards.
Lieut.. Bristol also was questioned by
Mr.. Rayner concerning the distance
out of the blockading ship and at Glen
fuegos but he declined to change his
estimate of yesterday, that it was from
eight to ten miles distant from the har-
bor.
SCHLEY,S REPORT.
Mr.. Rayner said: Il will read you
Commodore Schley's report to the
blockade off Cienfuegos. He says:A line
of blockade was established about four
los off q al nd a a H.
shore line was maintained, consisting
variously of the Scorpion, Dupont and
Castine, the last named vessel arriving
on the 3d. conveying the Merrimac.' If
ted what has not occurred when he says
"A line of blockade was established
about four miles off shore at Cienfue-
gos. That is not a correct staten ent
of the commodore's. is it?"
1.-THE statements 1 make, are what
thought and what I believe to be right.
1 do not question other peoples words
Now refresh your recollection with
an official report. The statements you
have made are that during the day
time, the squadron lay off Cienfuegos
from four to six to ten miles: and dur
ing the night, from eight to ten miles.
without ques tioning either Commodore
Schley or yourself, when I read you his
official report, do you still stand on
your statement, about to 10 niles?'
Speaking of the weather during the
cruise of the flying squadron Cienfuegos
to Santiago, the witness said there were
fresh breezeS and that there was mod
crate sea. A small boat could, he said,
have been lowered at any time during
the voyage.
Mr.. Rayner also interrogated Lieuten-
ant Bristol concerning his estimate, made
soon after the arrival of the fleet off
Santiago that the Spanish shore bat
teries amounted to but little He had
said yesterday that the elevation of these
batteries was from $50 to 200 feet Mr.
Rayner produced a chart to show that
the Moro battery was 220 feet above the
water line and the Zocapa battery 230
feet.
you as positive about the distance you
gave here as in other cases, in which
you have giyen?"
LEMLY OBJECTS
Captain Lemly objected to the form of
the question, saying that counsel was
putting language he had not used, in
the mouth of the witness. Mr.. Rayner
then made objection to the interruption
and after stating this objection, said to
the witness: IF you are not positive,
I shall submit to any correction"
Judge Advocate: THE witness has
not stated that he was positive
Admiral Dewey: "I would rather you
would not interrupt the testimony
Judge Advocate: IF the court tells
me 1 cannot do it, I will submit to the
order of the court
Admiral Dewey: ''If counsel for the
applicant has put words into the mouth
of the witness which he did not utter,
you addressing Captain Lemly) can
bring it out at the proper time. You
will have an opportunity to do that
advantageous time to do it. The ad-
VautaEeOuS time is when IL is dOn0.n