The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-18

Washington, October 15-Only one
new witness was heard in detail by the
Schley court of inquiry today. This
was Lieutenant Commander James H
Sears, who was Admiral SchIeys flag
lieutenant during the Spanish war. He
gave a detailed account of the entire
Cuban campaign. While Commander
Sears was on the stand. Captain Lemly
asked his age, but the court, after quite
a prolonged consultation in retirement,
decided that the question was not ad-
missible. 1t held, however, that the
time of service could be inquired into
Mr.. Rayner sought to secure the in
PRODUCTION Of a brief report of the bat
tie of July 3rd which Commodore Schley
prepared for transmission to the secre-
tary of the navy 1t was stated that
Commander Sears had taken this dis
patch ashore to be cabled to the secre-
tary. but that 1T never had reached that
official. This dispatch was ruled out on
the ground that as it was not received,
it was not an official communication.
1t was not read in the court room, but
the following is a copy of it:
ITO the Secretary of the Navy, Wash
ington, d. c.:
AC opeiLlSh out Oh
Santiago this morning, July 3rd at $50
o'clock and were all captured or de-
stroyed in a running fight to the west
ward of about three and one half miles
There were very few casualties in our
fleet, Ellis, chief yeoman, was killed,
and one man wounded on the Brooklyn.
Reports from other ships are not in
yet. The commander-in-chief is now
experimenting the transfer of prisoners
from the Cristobal Colon which sur
rendered to the Brooklyn and Oregon
at lis o'clock p. m. There are about
1000 prisoners in all, including the
Spanish admiral. Victory complete,
details later. SCHLEY."
q Captain Cook was recalled during the
oay and in response to a question by
Captain Lemly made an additional
statement concerning the retrograde
movement of the flying squadron, May
&c TO 2Sth. He also said, in answer to
question by the court, that Commo-
dore Schley during the battle of July
3rd was 'cOol, brave and enthusiastic.
I cannot imagine any conduct in battle
more admirable
TESTIMONY OF COMMANDER
SEARS.
Lieutenant Commander Sears in re-
sponse to questions said that when the
flying squadron arrived off Cienfuegos
he knew nothing of a code of signals for
gents. The McCalla memoranda, he
said. had been brought to Commodore
Schley by the Hawk and by no other
vessel to his knowledge.
DECEIVED BY CAPTAIN OF THE
ADULA.
Commander Sears gave a detailed ac-
count of the encounter with the British
steamer Adula. He said: ''The commo-
dora directed me to go aboard the Aduia
E Il anI116 otriTr mo n
ner of inducing the captain of the ship,
an Englishman, to put himself out a,
little to tell us something about what
was going on 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 Jamai-
ca. He suggested that when he came
out on the next day we should bring
him to with shot, so that anybody OBJ
serving it from shore would see that he
was acting under force, and that any
body who could speak Spanish could
find out all they pleased from the refu-
gees she had on board"
Did he come the next day."
He did not"
THE BLOCKADE OF CIENFUEGOS.
Describing the blockade of Cienfue-
gos, Commander Sears said that it had
been maintained from one to four miles
out, and that the Dupont was stationed
inside with instructions to keep close in
to the mouth of the harbor.
The witness in giving the details of
the cruise from CienfuegoS to Santiago
said the weather was boisterous, with
a heavy sea and that coaling at sea
would not have been safe before May
27th, when it was undertaken.
THE FLEET BEFORE SANTIAGO.
With reference to the blockade al
Santiago the witness said that it had
been maintained at varying distances
of from three to six miles to suit the
comander-in-chief. In thick weather
and at night the distance was less than
in fair weather and in the day time.
The witness said the reconnaissance of
May 31st had developed the strength OF
the land batteries and they had proved
to be stronger than he had supposed
they would. Commodore Schley had, he
said. told him that his purpose was to
ascertain what the batteries were. He
said he had been with Lieutenant
Potts On the Massachusetts, on that
day and had not heard any converse
ton between that officer and Commo-
dore Schley.
BATTLE OF JULY SRD.
The witness described the engage
ment of July 3rd. After stating the
preliminary incidents he said:
at met the commodore on the quarter
deck. He directed the signal: Clear
ship for action followed by the signal
.to close in,' all of which were made.
From my position I had good view
of the entrance. Our ship was heading
at the time I should say, to the west
ward of north, not on her regular head
ing which was about northeast by
north. The engines had been started by
the time I got on deck and she was
gaining way and swinging toward the
enemy.
LAS the ship swung toward the Te-