The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-15
Admiral Will Close the Testi-
mony in His Own Case
With a Review of the History of
Entire Campaign.
IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
Thinks His Side Will Finish in
That Time.
Day Opens With Lieut.. Comman-
der Sears on the Stand.

Washington, Oct t15.-The presentation
of the Schley side of the case was con-
tinued in the Schley court of inquiry to-
day. When yesterdays witnesses had
been recalled and had made the verbal
corrections necessary in their testimony
they were promptly dismissed and at
the instance of Mr.. Rayner, the judge
advocate summoned Lieutenant Com
mander James H. Sears, who as lieu
tenant was Admiral Schley's flag officer
on board the Brooklyn during the war
with Spain. He testified to many de-
tails connected with the campaign AMI
was promptly succeeded by a number
of other naval officers who served on
the BROOKLYN.
The list for the day included Lieuten-
ant Commander w. L. Mason, executives
officer of the Brooklyn; Lieutenant
Commander I. d. Griffin, who had
charge of the powder division of Ad-
miral Schleys flagship and Lieutenant
Edward Simpson, who was in charge OF
the eight inch turret of the Brooklyn
and opened fire on the Spaniards when
they came out of the harbor at San
tiago; Charles Webster and Edward
McCauley, the former being a watch Of
fcer and the latter signal officer on the
Brooklyn. 1t was the understanding
that if this list could not be completed
come on tomorrow.
Admiral Schley thinks it quite proba
BILE that the presentation of testimony
in his behalf can be completed this
week and next He will be the last OF
the witnesses to be heard, and when he
goes viii make review of the en-
tire campaign, covering the points in
controversy.
Eduardo Nunez, the Cuban pilot was
among those who were called to correct
former testimony. He added to his
statement of yesterday that he had seen
the Brooklyn firing on May 81 the day
of the bombardment of the Colon,
whereas the records show that that Ves-
sci was a that time coaling and did not
participate in the engagement. He also
made correction in his former state
ment concerning his conversation with
Commodore Schley on first meeting
him. His corrected statement Of thar
incident was presented by his interpre-
ter in written form and read as fol-
lows:
During the conversation 1 had with
Commodore Schley 1 said that the wa
ter was not deep enough, but in accord
ance with the information / have had
in Kingston, Jamaica. in regard to the
dimensions of the Spanish ships, they
We're of such a large size that they
could not get in the harbor in considera-
ton of the narrowness of the channel
and the quick turn they had to make
at the Diamond ShOal in front OF the en-
trance and L still believe vessels of such
size cannot enter Santiago not being
under the most favorable conditions OF
weather. l also was asked by Admiral
Schley if / thought his flagship could
enter the harbor and L answered him
that ! did not consider ii advisable for
the conditions before mentioned. and
because there were no buOyS to mark
the c:.@nneI for the Spaniards had pick
ed them UP to prevent the American
fleet from coming in the port and be-
sides that they had many torpedo lines
across the entrance
SEARS ON THE STAND.
Lieutenant Commander Sears followed
Nunez. Mr.. Rayner questioned him,
saying at the beginning Of the examina-
ton that he would ask him concerning
the points of the precepts and request
ing that replies should be as concise as
possible. Mr. Sears said that when the
flying squadron arrived off Cienfuegos.
he knew nothing of a code Of signals for
communication with the Cuban insur-
gents. Questioned concerning the Nc
Gala memoranda he said that IL had
been brought to Commodore Schley by
the Hawk and by no other vessel to his
knowledge.
Commander Sears gave detailed ac-
count of the encounter with the British
steamer Adula, the examination on this
point being as follows:
Now. coming to CfenfuegOs, give US
the principal incidents that took place
while the feet lay off Cienfuegos and
especially an incident with which you
are familiar, the coming in OF the
s.The Adula arrived off the port there,
and was boarded at first under orders
from Commodore Schley by the Castine
and after Captain Berry, of the Castine
had made his report to the commodore,
the commodore sent one of the officers Of
the Brooklyn aboard her. After he had
returned and made report the comrno-
dore directed me to go aboard the Adula
and see if could contrive some manner
of inducing the captain Of the Aduia,
an Englishman to put himself out
little to tell us something about what
was going inside of Cienfuegos. The
captain said, of course he would be very
glad to do it, as he was coming under
some authority from our fleet in
Jamaica
ssHe suggested that when he came out
to with a shot, that anybody observing
it from shore would see that he was
acting under force and that anybody
who could speak Spanish could find
out all they pleased from the refugees
she had on board
with what understanding did they
go into port2 Was there any under
standing with you2"
THAT he was to come out next day
and it would be possible for us TO get
that information, in fact that it would
be very easy to do so"
did he come out the next day2
He did not"
The witness also stated that Com
modore Schley had told him that Cap
tain McCalla had brought a code OF
signals for communication with the
insurgents on shore near Cieniuegos.
Describing the blockade of Cienfue-
gos. Commander Sears said that II had