The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-10-23
sCHLEY COURT.


Schley court on Tuesday. This was
Lieut.. James II. Sears, who was Admir-
al Schley's flag lieutenant during the
Spanish war. He gave detailed &C
counts of the entire Cuban campaign.
He placed the dista ice out OF the
bluckading line at Ciedfuegos at from
one to four miles and at Santiago at
from three to six miles. He expressed
the opinion that in the DatLle oi July 3
it had been the Viscaya's intention TO
ram the Brooklyn.
Mr.. Rayner sought TO secure the in-
troducuon OF brief report of the bat
tie OF July 3 which Commodore Schley
prepared for transmission 10 the secre.
tary or the navy. 1t was stated that
Commodore Sears cabled to the secre-
tary, but that it had never reached tn at
official. The despatch was ruled out
on the ground tnHt as it was not re-
eelved II was not an official communal
cation. Ii was not read III the Court
room, but the following is copy OF it:
"The Secretary of the Navy, Washing
ton, d. g.:
"Spanish squadron came out of Santa
go narbor this morning, July 3, at $3.50,
and were all captured or destroyed in a
running fight to the westward Of about
three and one-half hours. Very few
casualties in our feet. Ellis, chief yeo-
man, killed and one man wounded on
the Brooklyn. Reports from other
ships not in yet. The commander-in-
chief now uperintending transfer of
prisoners from the Crlstobal Colon,
which surrendered 10 the Brooklyu and
Oregon at Ills p. NJ. About 900 pris-
oners in all, including Spanish admirals.
Victory complete; details later.
SCHLEY."
Commander Sears gave detailed &C
eount OF the encounter with the British
steamer Adula and the battle OF San
tiago. When Mr.. Sears had concluded
his description of the battle Mr.. Ray
ner asked him if Scnley had gwen him
. dispatch 10 be sent TO the navy de-
partuent making report of the battle.
The witness replied IN the affirmative.
Admiral Dewey then asked ii this
dispalc had been sent and was inform
cd by Mr.. Rayner it had not been for
warded To The department although II
hsd been taken to the cable office. The
court DECIDED that as the despatch had
not reached the department it could
not appear.
suppose it was not Commodore
Schley's fault that the despatch was
not forwarded" asked Mr.. RAyner. To
this inquiry Admiral Dewey respond
ed: you can't ask questions of the
court. We are not in the witness box.
Commodore Schley's report is in cyl
dence and hat Is sufficient"
Cook by the court, one of these in re-
gard TO the conduct of Commodore
Scbley in the battle of July 8. He re-
piled: 81 cannot imagine any conduct
more honorable. He was cool, brave
and enthusiastic from the beginning to
the end of that action" He said in
reply to question from Rayner that
On the occasion of that engagement the
commodore's position had been one of
as great danger as had been that of any
other person.
Commander Sears was asked what
orders, if any, were signalled to the
squadron by the Brooklyn from the time
the Spanish squadron appeared coming
out until the Colon ran ashore.
"The prescribe signal was that the
signal Was Close in. There was
lessly out of it for the Oregon to cease
firing. The next signal was to the
Oregon TO open fire with her 13-inch
guns"
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16. - Captain
Cook was recalled this morning and
sharply questioned as TO his recollection
of the order from Sampson, or derlDg
the engines of the ships of The feet un-
coupled. He said his impression 10
thai The order came in bulletin direct
ing the amount of steam to Carry, aud
that this amount was not sufficient to
move all four engines. The forward
engine WAS uncoupled. He said further,
that the ships proceeded with all des-
patch from Cienfuegos to Santiago, the
conditions being considered.
WASHINGTON, Oct. H.-Command-
or Sears Was recalled on Wednesday
in the Schley court. He spoke again of
the conversation reported between him
self and officers of the Massachusetts
on May 81 in which he was alleged to
have said that 1t had been difficulty to
get Commodore Schley up to the point
OF undertaking the commandment OF
the Colon and he again denied that he
had said anything rejecting upon his
superior officer.
When asked il Commodore Schley
had said anything during the battle for
the encouragement of the men, replied
that he several times had said "Give
'em hell bullies." Witnesses testified
that the conduct of the commodore
when under fire was cool and courage
Gus.
1t is the purpose of Mr.. Raynor first
to examine the officers of the Brooklyn
and follow these with number Of
those ON the Oregon during the battle
of Santiago. 1t is understood that hii
entire list of witnesses is PRACTICAL,
confined to persons on board these two
vessels.
Lieut.. Webster of the Brooklyn wa
called Wednesday afternoon. The sci
was moderate, he said, between Glen
fuegos and Santiago on the occasion o
the flying squadron's voyage, "makin