Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-10-17
uf SCHLEY
COURT OF INQUIRY
Witnesses Called to Correct
Their Testimony.
AS TO FLYING SQUADRON

1t Is Understood That Schley's Entire
List of Witnesses VIII Be Practically
Confined to Persons Who Were on
Board Brooklyn and Oregon.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16-The Schley
court of inquiry began proceedings to-
day as usual with the correction of tes.
timony given on the previous day, the
witnesses summoned for this purpose
being Captain Cook and Lieutenant
Commander Sears, who testified yester-
day. When they had left the stand
Commander Newton E. Mason, who
was executive officer of the Brooklyn
during the war with Spain, was called
to relate his observations Of the conduct
Of the Santiago campaign.
It is the purpose of Mr.. Raynor to first
examine officers OF the Brooklyn and to
follow these with a number Of those
| who were on the Oregon during the bat
his entire list of witnesses is practically
| confined to persons who were on board
| these two vessels.
| OOnF0Fn1HS O0FIdlu
In connection with today's proceed.
ings, Mr.. Raynor presented a number
| Of questions to the court which he said
| he desired to ask one of Admiral Schley's
| witnesses concerning certain signals
which were sent from Admiral Samp.
sons flagship, the New York, on the
morning of July 3, before that vessel
| left for Siboney for the purpose of al
| Of Of
naval forces to consult with General
Shafter. These signals, Mr.. Raynor
contends, had the effect of placing the
entire fleet under the command of Com
modore Schley, and On this account he
urges their relevancy.
While Captain Cook occupied the
witness stand for the purpose of correct
ing his testimony Mr.. Hanna asked
| him:
referring to your statement in re-
| gard to the steam required to be keptup
/ in connection with the uncoupling of
| the BrOoklyn's engines, that II was the
order Of the commander in chief while
lying off Santiago on the blockade, was
that written order?'
"My recollection is that it was bull
letin. The exact words I do not re-
member"
"The particular point was with re-
spect to the uncOupling Of the engines.
Was there any thing in that order on
this subject and in pursuance of which
that was done?'
"My impression is that there was.
They all, as I understand it, had their
engines uncoupled.
''IJ is a general recollection of it
only?''
''Yes That we should have our for
ward engines uncoupled all the time"
Scan you aid us any in identifying
the bulletin from your impression?"
''No, we could not have moved the
four engines with the steam we carried.
I know that we had an order about the
speed in circular bulletin. -
Captain Cook also was questioned
again concerning the voyage OF the fly
ing squadron from Cienfugeos to Santi
ago, as follows;
squadron Made All Haste.
'Did the flying squadron, when pro-
ceeding from Cienfuegos to Santiago,
proceed with all disparch?'
| Throwing out Of consideration the
surrounding circumstances and condi-
tions that have already been testified to,
I should say no.
Mr. Raynor-"But putting in the
surrounding circumstances and condi.
tions you would say yes, would you
not?''
eyes"
"What de you mean by the surround
ing circumstances and conditions7"
81 mean that, as l understand the
question, we could have gone from
Cienfuegos to Santiago and arri we'd
there the next day after we left Glen
fuegCs with some, if not all. this larger
| vessels" p"
''What were the circumstances. and
conditions you speak OFF"
1.-The coaling conditions that existed
at the time. We certainly could not
have made the dispatch by turning
back"
"What do you mean when you speak
of turning back.
81 mean that we went to the eastward
( with the two columns, and that then be-
! ing unable to coal the Texas, as I have
stated before, we turned back for that
purpose If you had thrown that con-
| sideration out we would have made dis.
patch. I mean in this sense: we did
not go in the quickest possible time from
Cienfuegos to Santiago.
Mr.. Raynor-"I think that I either
misunderstood the question or you mis-
understood both questions, and especial.
| " by the other side. I thought my ref
ence was from Cienfuegos to Santiago.
leaving out reference to the retrograde
| movement.
Mr.. Hanna-'I did NOS intsnd to
leave that out at ALL"
Mr.. Raynor-"1 know, bat I want to
bring 1t in between Oepfuaeos and the
point you reached soabh ok Santiago,
4A1oxe yon started the Eetraasde. move