The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-08
A MEAN FLING AND FALSEHOOD

We add q few notes as to the naval
investigation. Captain Sharp admitted
that a number of discrepancies existed
between the original notes in the Vix-
ems log and as printed in the appen-
dix to the Bureau of Navigation's re-
port, and he admitted further that he
must have examined them very hur-
riedly or somewhat carelessly. This
vas o. cross examination. He tried to
put the responsibility of errors upon
Lieutenant Harlow. He stated that
the notes accompanying his report that
were SEM to Sampson were written by
ga yeoman named Wainwright" Lieu
tenan Doyle's testimony was most in
teresting and very favorable to the
great victor, Rear Admiral Sehley.
Mr.. Rayner's examination of Lieuten-
ant Doyle was chronological and very
direct, passing from point to point with
great rapidity. He bore testimony to
the admirable GOODNESS and courage of
Commodore Schley, and he served on
his vessel during the famous
fight. The other side tried to show that
Schley was ferrous He described the
whole part taken by the Brooklyn,
Schely's famous ship, at Santiago, tells
of the signals that were given and finds
they are not SO much as mentioned in
the log book. He says that the change
of direction made by the Brooklyn was
necessary to avoid running across the
course of the Spanish fleet. The mean
est thing in rapo ri tn Gol1ay VIZ have
seen is a statement in the republican
Providence Journal that Schley was
guilty of death nde the arti-
cles of the Ivy 1t sas the
punishment Of death, or such other
punishment as a court-martial may ad-
judge. may be inflicted on any person
in the naval service . who does
not do his utmost to overtake and cap
ture or destroy any vessel which it is
his duty to encounter" The enemies
OF Schley have been lying from the
start. They call hin coward and other
bad names. The only American killed
In the battle was standing by Schley
when he was hit and fell. The northern
paper is pleased to say by way of driv-
ms -hohie It's QuOldllOn Oh the law.
But al 1.-The testimony so far has been
to the fact that he did not do his ut
most to destroy the Colon, and that he
thus at least came perilously near vio-
lating the article above quoted"
Schley obeyed to the letter the COM
mand of the navy department. He did
all a wise, capable, brave officer could
have done. The evidence as to that is
satisfactory surely. No doubt sheets
like the Rhode Islander would like to
hang Schley or any other southern
born naval officer. unless Bob Evans
the blower, is excepted, for he was
porn in Virginia. The Charleston News
and Courier makes a capital, most eff
fective reply to the foul screed of the
Providence editor. We make a brief
extract that drives home the wedge:
1T consists in the fact, that never
before. we believe, has an officer, naval
or military. who commanded an i'm
portant force when it achieved a great
and decisive victory-to put the case
that way-been hauled up afterwards to
answer charges of neglect of duty or
opportunity at some previous stage in
direction of its conduct. Schley did not
pot the Spanish cruiser Colon on May
81. it is true. but he potted the whole
Spanish fleet to which she belonged on
July 3, leaving nothing afloat; and the
ship which he would not risk in use
lessly fighting the forts and batteries
on the former occasion did most Of the
effective work on the later Oneo