Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-11-13
Mr.. RAYHER's CLOSING SPEECH.
Admiral SchIeys Counsel Is Sarcastic, and
Eloquent In his Closing Argument.


Eloquent In his Closing Argument
In the Schley court of inquiry las,
Wednesday Mr.. Rayner, counsel fol
Admiral Schley, spoke for three
hours in defense of his distinguished
client, moving the spectators in the
court room to tears at times, and at
times convulsing them with laugh
ter by his sarcasm. Nearing the
close of his minute rehearsal of the
evidence Mr.. Rayner discussed the
testimony of Heilner and Hodgson,
and in this connection ridiculed the
chart prepared by the navigators OF
the ships in the battle.
"That navigator's chart" said he,
"is thing of joy forever. 1t is like
the obliterated epitaph upon an anti
quated tombstone. Six navigators
met and after three months of unre-
mitting labor they resolved to give
the world chart of the battle of
Santiago, which, for all purposes of
historical accuracy, might as well be
chart of the battle of Thermopylm
or the field of Waterloo. AS dis
astrous failure the chart is a magnifi-
cent success"
| RIDICULED POTTS.
Mr.. Rayner then returned and
took up the first specifcation-Ad-
miral Schley's conduct during the
campaign. "Now we come to Mr..
Wood and Mr.. Potts." he began.
"Mr. Potts and Mr.. Wood; Mr..
Wood and Mr.. Potts" daughter
in COURT After reading the testi-
mony of several officers as to the
splendid bearing of Admiral Schley,
MIR. Rayner read the testimony of
Mr.. Potts to the effect that the ad-
miral appeared nervous; that he got
up and sat down.
"Lieutenant Potts." went on Mr..
Rayner, "has covered himself with
renown. His name will echo through
the ages of undying fame. When
Manila shall be forgotten and Santi-
ago will be buried in oblivion, the
name of Potts shall live. Whenever
an admiral or commodore or a cap
tain is engaged in the carnage of
mortal conflict, beware of Potts. Be-
ware of your looks. BE careful no W
you walk. Be careful how you sit
down. Be reserved and reticent in
your speech. Model your entire
course and conduct of action accord
ing to Potts, that precious child of
the Kindergarten, who confesses that
he was always scared when he was
in battle, but who, unfortunately,
was never engaged in any battle
sufficient enough to arouse his
timidity."
BRILLIANT PERORATION.
Mr. Rayner then closed as follows !:
81 have now briefly presented this
case as it appears to mo in it's gene
raj outline. Such trial as this has
never, to my knowledge, taken place
in the history of the world. It seemed
to my mind that this case had hardly
opened with the testimony of Capt.
Higginson before it commenced to
tottcr, and from day to day it's Wis
ionary fabric dissolved from view.
"Whcn Capt. Cook, their last wit
ness, was put upon the stand, the
entire structure collapsed and now
when the witnesses from our own
ships and the gallant captain and
crew Of the Oregon and Admiral
Schley have narrated their, unvar-
nished tale, the whole tenement,
with all it's compartments, from it's
foundation to it's turrct, has disintc-
grated and lies here like a mass of
blackenod ruins.
GOD BLESS TIE OREGON.
cit has taken three years to reveal
the truth. There is not single
witness, friend or foe, that casts the
shadow Of a reflection upon the hon
orcd name of the hero of Santiago.
He has never claimed the glory of
that day. No word to this effect
has ever gone forth from him to the
American people. The valiant
Cook, tho heroic Clark, the lamented
Philip, the intrepid and undaunted
Wainwright and all tho other cap.