The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-01
THE BATTLE OF SANTIAGO
AS DESCRIBED BY THE COMMANDER OF
THE FLYING SQUADRON.
A STRAIGHTFORWARD ACCOUNT
OfEveuts Connected With the Block
ade of Cienruexos and Santiago and
the Destruction of C~ervera's Fleet.
>amp-on's Arrival-Notsce to Him
July End or Expected Battle n
BroosIyn's Turn Objections From
Lemiy Overruled


Washington. October 25-when he
Schley court Of inquiry adjourned to-
day. Admiral Schley had not completed
his testimony in chief. He took the
stand about 11:5e o'clock. after former
witnesses had been recalled for the
purpose OF making corrections in and
additions TO their testimony. and on
tinued his statement uptil the court
adjourned at $40 o'clock p. IN. This
adjournment twenty minutes in ad-
vance or the usual time was due TO The
fact that the admiral's throa had be-
come somewhat sensitive as a result
of his continuous talking yesterday and
today. He had made complaint to the
court of the condition OF his throat i'm
mediately after concluding his recital
OF the story Of the battle Of Santiago.
and Admiral Dewey. h evidently
himself had noticed the difficulty, Re
sponded by showing a willingness to
adjourn the court. Mr.. Rayner, how
ever, expressed a desire to proceed,
saying hat he had a number OF ques-
AlOllS ~ "ASAAS ~ "@h S-A1 $50
miral Schley assented to his counsers
suggestion.
A quarter OF an hour later Admiral
Dewey himself renewed the suggestion
for an adjournment and. all concerned
agreeing TO this proposition, the cou
adjourned until Monday at IL o'clock.
The day was a notable one in the
court. By large odds the largest crowd
tina has yet attended any of the sos
cinpC y-oc rncnn nn1 ~ IN ora
was manifested throughout the pro-
ceedings. Long before the beginning
of the morning session all the seats re-
served for visitors in the court room
were occupied and the greater portion
of the space in the rear of these seats
was covered by men n women stand
ding. They not only stood upon the
floor, but upon window stills and tables
and even the elevator machinery in tha,
portions of the hall was covered by
men d. On only one occasion was there
any effort at applause and this was
suppressed before it had reached any
magnitude.
The chief event of the day was the
admiral's relation of the events OF
July 3rd when the American fleet sent
Cervera'S squadron to the bottom OF
the sea or to the beach. He told his
story of this historical occurrence IT
plain words and in Unaffected style
but the narrative was straight forward
and to the point, indicating close famil-
iarity with all the phases of that event
He said that the Brooklyn for a time
had sustained the fire of all four OF
Spanish ships and also the fire of tie
Spanish land batteries.
Explaining the historical urn of his
own flagship, the Brooklyn, he said
that she had not approached to within
less than 600 yards of the Texas, AID
that he never had considered that yes
sci in the least danger. He also stated
in response to an Interrogation from
Mr.. Rayner that he had never durine
the battle engaged in any colloquy with
Lieutenant HOdgson and that he had
not used the expression attributed to
him by Hodgson. This refers to the
alleged colloquy in which the admiral
is charged with having said: Damn
the Texas" Admiral Schley also gave
the details of the reconnaissance OF
May 31st when the Spanish ship Girls
tobol Colon was bombarded. In this
connection he denied the statements at
tributed to him by Commander Potts
Of the battleship Massachusetts.
SAMPSON WARNED OF AP-
PREACHING BATTLE.
At the opening of court Lieutenant
Commander Harlow of the Vixen was
~ ~tS ~ II u
Did the Vixen carry a verbal report
from Commodore Schley to the COM
mander-in-chief July End that there
was unusual activity shown by tina
enemy in the harbor?"
I the best of my recollection the
Vixen received by megaphone from an
officer or the quarterback of the Brook
Ign on the night of July End such a
message as that and to the best of my
belief did. as Re usually did, carry such
message to tie flagship and to other
vessels of the squadron"
In response to Captain Lemly the wit
ness said he a no recollection of the
oliver of this message to the COM
mander-in-chief.
SCHLEY TAKES THE STAND.
Admiral Schley Their took the stand
n resumed his story. With the
courts permission he said he would ga
back to Cienfuegos in order that his
narrative might be clear. He said nc
a not bombarded the earth works a:
Cienfuegos because he was convinced
that such bombardment would be una
Va1ling. Subsequent experience in rbe
war, he thought, bore out this opinion
LEMLY DOwNED AGAIN.
Admira Schley was proceeding to "a,
that dispatch No. 10 concerning whic}
Lieutenant Marsh had testified Cthe dis.
pdlcn concerning positive informatior
that the Spanish fleet was in Santiago
was not received by him until June 10th
when the judge advocate objected tc
the witness making an
Mr. Rayner contended that Admira
Schley was not giving an opinion: tina,
he was simply t~estifying to facts with.
in his knowledge. Admiral Dewey an.
nounced n courts decision as follows.
The court Is OF the opinion that 4,
Is eminently proper for the witness tc
make the statement that the dispatch
was dated MAJ 9th and not received
until June 10th, then drop 1t. just give
the facts"
To this Admiral Schley responded
that this was all that he had intended
to do. Thirteen days had elapsed be-
fore he received the dispatch.
proceeding, Admiral Schley testified
that he believed Captain Cotton's state
ment regarding the offer of L~ieutenan,
Field to go ashore at Santiago to learn