Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-10-22
MORE SANTIAGO STUFF
Santiago Campaign is Told Again
This Time by Commodore Schley's
Private Secretary.
Most Of His Testimony Devoted te
the Matter of Dispatches and
Time of Receipt.
Witness Says the Commodore Was
Thoroughly Self Possessed and
Fearless in Battle.


Fearless in Battle.
Washington, Oct. 22.-The Schley
court of inquiry resumed it's sessions
at IL o'clock. After the witnesses of
former days had been recalled for the
purpose of correcting their testimony
Lieutenant B. W. Wells, Jr., secretary
to Commodore Schley during the Gu
ban campaign, resumed the stand.
Among the former witnesses recalled
was Captain Francis A. Cook, who re-
turned to the stand for the purpose of
making an explanation of his former
testimony regarding the boilers of the
Brooklyn.
Lieutenant Wells testified regarding
the battle of July 8. He said he did
not remember the ranges at which the
Brooklyn fired, but thought LOO yards
was the shortest. He described the
turn of the Brooklyn and the chase
nfter the Spanish ships. After the
Viscaya ran ashore the Colon was
about 10000 yards ahead of the
Brooklyn and for time firing ceased.
He said that he had received orders to
get quantity of rapid fire ammuni-
ton. Owing to the character of the
coast it was expected that the Brook
lyn and Colon would come to close
quarters. He was ordered to have this
ammunition ready to close with Colon
and give her rapid fire when they got
close together. He then described the
rest of the chase and the final sur
render of the Colon. He said he had
not seen the Texas when the Brooklyn.
the battle he said the Brooklyn
seemed to be alone, engaging three
ships.
When Lieutenant Wells had finished
his description of the battle the ques-
ton OF dispatches was taken up.
A number of dispatches were shown
to the witness and he was asked as to
their receipt by Commodore Sohley.
One from Secretary Long to the Amer
ican consul at Kingston, dated Wash
ington, May. 2S, saying that it must be
delivered to Schley at once and in
forming him (Schley) that unless un-
safe for his squadron, the department
wished him to remain off Santiago and
asking him if he could not take pos
session of Guantanamo as a coaling
station; ALSO a dispatch from Secre-
tary Long to Captain Cotton Of the
Harvard, dated Washington, May 20,
enclosing a dispatch to Commodore
Schley telling him '~.~
To Hold On at All Hazards,
that the New York, Oregon and New
Orleans we're on the way; also two
dispatches from Secretary Long to the
dispatch boat Harvard, dated Wash
ington, May 30, one informing him that
the commander-in-chief had started to
join him and the other telling him that
Sagua, rs miles east of Santiago, had
been reported as a good place to land
from which it would be easy to reach
the heights in the rear of Santiago,
witness said had been received on
May 81. ..'''%
The cablegram from Secretary Long
dated Washington, May 27, to cable
Office at Mole St. Nicholas, Hayti, di-
recting that it be delivered to the next
American war vessel to arrive and in
forming Commodore Schley that the
most absolutely urgent thing now is
to know positively whether the Span
ish division is in Santiago, etc." was
shown the witness. He stated THAT 1t
had been received by Commodore
Schley on May 80. The Colon had
been discovered in the harbor of San
tiago by Commodore Schley on the
morning of May 20. T5:# %:T $.S -
| Mr.. Rayner at this point exhibited
a. fchart upon which there were nota'
tions regarding the soundings taken
In the vicinity of Santiago harbor and
the strength of the batteries there, this
| information being given as of date OF
April S, 1885, = II -.
% aNow give me the date the navy de
| partment issued the order which has
been referred to in this case about NOT
crippling ships by, the shore batteries,
asked Mr.. Rayner.
| April 6, 4898,". was the response.
Mr.. Rayner asked witness If he had
any other information in reference te
the batteries at Santiago except thai
| given on the map referred to. He
stated the commod dore had received g
1 memorandum Of information from the
bureau OF naval lligence, embody
ing about the same facts as contained
| on the chart. 8 /: NIL 4
/ 4 Mr. Rayner---.''A Am L right in saying
that you perhaps saw more Or as much
/ OF Commodore Sch1ey during the
whole OF this Spanish war ais any one
else and came IN contact with him az
much as anybody q 81
{at:3...T saw him daily and all through
each day, generally speak,
hat was his general bearing con
duct and manner on any day iii Whicl
| there was a battle on any other time q
schiey Mas Thoroughly fearless.
i / f5 $50 far as my bservati lon went Iii
il was thorough fearless and, selfpos
lsessed on all occasions &
Nv as he at any time within 81 youl
kno Wledge laboring under any naenta
/ element ?,' ?'
i D. air. u
Hanna CROSSE ned the wit