The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-27

at once to kinston to receive such
amount of coal as I could get there
suf1cient to enable me to return to the
nearest United States port. 1 left the
Brooklyn about noon, possibly a few
minutes before.
Immediately after my departure the
Brooklyn commenced steaming ahead
and L noticed that many of the ships
at that moment under Commodore
Schley's command were in motion, pre-
sumably preparatory to taking their
stations in steaming to return to Key
West. AS soon as 1 returned to my
own ship, after my boat was hoisted,
l steered to the southwest for Kings
ton"
WAR DEPARTMENT DISPATCHES.
In response to further questions
Admiral Cotton said that he had the
original translation Of the cipher dis
patces addressed to the Harvard. The
dispatch Of May 25th was then read ID
him as follows:
Washington, May %, 1898.
Harvard. St Nicholas Mole, Haiti:
Proceed at once and inform Schley
and also the senior officers present off
Santiago as follows:
"All departments information indi-
Gates Spanish division is still at Santi-
ago. The department looks to you to
ascertain facts, and that the enemy,
II therein, does not leave without q de-
cisive action. Cubans familiar with
Santiago say that there are landing
places five or six nautical miles west
from the mouth of harbor, and that
there insurgents probably will be found
and not the Spanish. From the sur
rounding heights can see every vessel in
port. AS soon as ascertained, notify
the department whether enemy is there
Could not squadron and also the Har-
ward coal from Merrimac leeward OF
Cape Cruz, Gonavies channel or Mole,
Haiti? The department will send coal
Immediately to Mole. Report without
delay situation at Santiago de Cuba.
LONG"
Mr.. Rayner called attention to the
fact that there were some immaterial
changes in the dispatches as printed in
the ofhclal report by the navy depart
ment.
ALTERATIONS IN SCHLEY'S DIS
PATCH.
Admiral Schley's reply to these dis
patches dated May 25th. in which he
said he could not obey the orders of the
department, was then read and Mr.
Rayner pointed out various changes in
the language of the dispatch as printed
in the official report. He addressed the
court briefly concerning these changes.
He said that Admiral Schley had
spoken of the weather as "boisterous'
and that that word had been omitted
from the printed copy Of the dispatch.
He said that, whereas the admiral had
said that $500 tons of coal would be
necessary. the printed copy made it TO-
900 tons. 1t was also stated in the orig
inal that the Harvard was going to Port
Royal, whereas Kingston had been in
serted in the printed copy. There also
were other irregularities.
Following is the text of the original
dispatch sent to the navy department:
Received dispatch of May 26th by
Harvard off Santiago de Cuba. Merri-
macs engine is disabled. and she is
helpless: am obliged to have her towed
to Key West Have been absolutely un-
BILE to coal the Texas. Marblehead
Vixen and Brooklyn from collier owing
to very rough seas and bOisterous
weather since leaving Key West.
Brooklyn is the only one in squadron
having more than sufficient coal to
reach Key West. impossible to remain
off Santiago in present state of coal on
account of squadron. Not possible to
coal to leeward OF Cape Cruz in sum-
mer owing to southwest winds. Har-
ward just reports to me she has only
coal enough to reacn Jamaica, and she
will proceed to Port Royal; also reports
only small vessels could coal at Coma
vies or Mole Haiti. Minneapolis has
only coal enough to reach Key West,
and same of Yale. which will tow Mer-
rimac. 1t is to be regretted that the de-
partment'S orders can not be obeyed.
earnestly as we have all striven to that
end. / am forced to return to Key
West via Yucatan channel for coal Can
ascertain nothing concerning enemy.
was obliged to send Eagle to Port An
tonic, Jamaica yesterday, as she had
only twenty-seven tons OF coal on board.
Will leave st. Paul here. Will require
$500 tons of coal at Key West
Admiral Cotton then related a con-
versat ton he had had with Admiral
Schley concerning a proposition of Lieu
tenant Beall of the Harvard to go
ashore and put himself in communica-
ton with the Cuban insurgents. He
could not, he said recall the exact
words of the conversation but at all
events Mr.. Beall had not been ordered
ashore.
Judge Advocate Lemly then said:
after you delivered the order and prior
to the dispatch which he delivered to
you to be sent to Kingston. what efforts
did he make to locate Cervera's fleet, to
your knowledge"
None, to my knowledge"
Did he with his squadron at that
time approach Santiago?"
He did not. I will qualify that to
this extent. The vessels Of course were
not at anchor; they were moving about
and there were no directions Tor move
ment toward the harbor Of Santiago"
Referring to that phrase in the dis
patch the department looks to you to
ascertain the facts that the enemy If
therein does not leave without decis-
i've action what within your knowledge
did Commodore Schley DO in obedience
to these instructions?"
Nothing, to my knowledge.
ONE OF SCHLEY'S DISPATCHES
MISSING.
Judge Advocate Lemly then started
to read dispatches received by Admiral
Cotton from Admiral Schley delivered
by the Scorpion.
Mr.. Raynor objected to the reading
of these dispatches unless Admiral
SIMPSONS dispatch. No. Z. to Admiral
Schley should also be read as Schley's S
orders were based upon that.
At this point Captain Parker remark
ed that this dispatch would not be
found. To this remark Captain Lemly
took exception, saying that it was ont
of place for counsel to make such COM
ment. Admiral Dewey sustained the
~.