The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-03
THE COURT OF INQUIRY
Admiral Evans Said He Did
 Not Intend to Brag.
Court Will Not Allow Questions Con- corning Blockade After Samp-
 son Arrived-Commander
 Sharp Principal Witness.

Washington, Oct 2-An interesting turn was given to the Schley court of inquiry today by the introduction of the first witt ness in Adimarl schley's behalf. This was Lieutenant James J. Doyle. who was a watch officer on board the flagship Brooklyn during the war with Spain.
 Lieutenant Doyle explained his part in the battle of July 3rd, and his original entry. in the ships log. concerning the famous loop and his alteration of that entry because he subsequently, discovered that his first entry had been erroneous. Lieutenant Commander Sharp who com- manded the Vixen during the Spanish war gave special attention in his testimony to notes of the battle of July 3rd made by Lieutenant Harlow of his ship.
 Admiral Evans, Captain Sigsbee and correspondent Dieuaide were all recalled for the purpose of correcting their tes- timony as given yesterday and all made additional statements.
 Just before the adjournment for the day the court announced its decision not to allow any questions concerning the block ade of Santiago after July 1st, when commander-in-chiefA Admiral Sampson ar rived there.
 The proceedings of the court of inquiry today began with the usual call of former witnesses for the correction of their tes- timony in the official record.
 After these came Chief Yeoman Becker, who had begun his testimony yesterday afternoon and wa son the stand when the proceedings closed. He was at that time under cross-examination by MT. Raynor, and that gentleman continued his ques- tons this morning.
 The formal proceedings of the day were begun with brief explanation of the large chart of the southern coast of Cuba which hangs on the wall of the court room This explanation. vas made by Captain Lemly, who said that the chart mad been prepared from data collected glnce the war with Spain and was more correct than former charts. Captain Parker on behalf of Admiral Schley said that with these explanations he was will ing to accept the chart as authentic.
 Admiral Evans Recalled.
 Admiral Evans was the first of the wit nssses of yesterday who appeared for the puruose of making corrections in his tes- timony. Having made these corrections. Admiral Evans arose and formally ad- dressing the court said
 May 1t please the court, Tn connection with one of the questions asked me yes- terday unless Admira! schley or ms coun- seI object, should like to make state- ment and produce a letter. IT at any moment counsel objects or Admiral schley objects, I will withdraw 1t and stop.
 Mir Raynor: Could we look at the Iatter?"
 certainly" handing 1t to Mir. Ray nor.
 "It is A matter enterely personal to me, sir, The way the question was put to me yesterday placed me in the position of having bragged on board the 3rooklyn of having destroyed the whole spanish fleet The identiaL words were used in a letter purporting to come from the Brooklyn and published in Washington rewsnaper of July 25 1898. I immediately went to the editor of the paper to ascer- tain the author of such a letter and he. after a good deal of trouble, ascerta4ned that 1t was a woman who had given this information. Whether she was paid Tor it or not 1 could not find out At the same time l wrote to Captain COOK or the Brooklyn, inclosing the article, and there is his reply. I should like that letter to go in the testimony"
 MT. Raynor: 'I do not object to any explanation at all that you make. There was nothing wrong in the ques- tion itself"
 'The question was put to me as if stated had shot the bow off the Futon; raked the ship and knocked out another one, etc. There is Captain Cooks letter denying that such a conversation took place."
 MT. Raynor: "The point is whether the conversation was between you and Com modore Schley."
 MT. Raynor said he would object to the
 af kha at but not at the proper time. He said the proper time for this would be when Captain Cook is on the stand.
 Admiral Evans: 'I withdraw it."
 MT Raynor: 'I am perfectly willing you shall submit it at the proper time" After some further colloQuy the incl dent closed.
 correspondent when called to correct his testimony of yesterday made brief ad- dition to his response to one of Admiral DeWey's questions. The question put by the Admiral was whether he Oieuaide) had heard Captain Philip give orders to back the engine when the two were on the bridge of the Texas during the battle off Santiago. MT. Dieuaide replied that he might have heard the order and he might not. Today he said in explanation of this statement:
 .The next thing I heard was the range given, and just then the starboard twelve inch gun was fired almost fore and aft of the ship. I jotted that down and went around the port side of the coming tower to see the captain. He might have given several orders about that time that did not hear. Of course I did not note everything I heard"
 Yeoman Becker was then recalled and was excused after brief questioning con- corning the dispatches prepared by him at Key West for Admiral Sampson for Admiral Schley. He again said that according to his recollections these dis patches were forwarded by the Iowa and Dupont, but said his statement was based entirely upon his memory.
 Commander Sharp Testifies.
 Lieutenant Commander Alexander M. Sharp. who commanded the converted yacht Vixen during the Spanish war. was the first new witness of the day. He testified that he had first fallen in with the flying squadron on the morning of May "A of Cienfuegos. He said that the