The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1901-10-12
THE ESCHLEY.INQUIRY
BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE PRO.
cEEDlNes OF THE COURT
THE PAST WEEK.
Blockade Of cienfuesos and Santiago
and the Battle Of July 3, 1898, Gone
Into at Great Lensth-Navy De
partment Has Not Vet Concluded
the Presentation Of Its Side of the
Case.

the Presentation Of Its Side Of the
Case.
Washington, Oct. 3-An interesting
turn was given to the Schley court of
inquiry Wednesday by the introduce
.tion Of the first witness in Admiral
Schley's behalf. This was Lieutenant
James j. Doyle, who was watch officer
on board the flagship Brooklyn during
the war with Spain. He was called by
the department, but as he is one Of the
admirars witnesses advantage was
taken to question him as an original
witness for the applicant. Lieutenant
Doyle explained the change made in
the Brooklyn's log regarding the ia.
nous loop. Relating the particulars
of the blockade Of Cienfuegos he de-
scribed the signal lights on shore but
neither he nor anyone else on the
Brooklyn had been informed of the
secret code and the signals could not
be read. Commander Sharp was the
other principal witness of the day and
he corroborated the evidence of for
mer witnesses for the department on
the principal points in controversy.
Washington, Oct. 4.-Lieutenant
James ]. Doyle of the Brooklyn con.
tinued his testimony before the Schley
court of inquiry Thursday, detailing at
great length the Santiago campaign.
Doyle pictured the Brooklyn as a
fighting ship, relentlessly and vigor-
ously searching the enemy, with
commander who was cautious, alert
and valiant. Doyle was brought in the
case at this time to tell why he had
changed the log book of the Brooklyn
to show that the Brooklyn had turned
on starboard helm instead of port
helm, as originally written. He re-
newed his explanation to the effect
that he vas deceived by his view from
the limited aperture in the turret and
changed his words when Lieutenant
Sharp called his attention to the mis-
take. Captain Dawson, signal officer
of the Indiana, gave an account Of the
behavior Of the various ships during
the engagement. He said the Brook
lyn had gone 1000 yards southwark be-
fore joining in the pursuit of Cervera's
ships.
Washington, Oct. SIN the Schley
naval court of inquiry Friday Mr.. Ray
ner, chief of counsel for Admiral
Schley, asked Judge Advocate Lemly
to summon Admiral Sampson as wit
ness in the case. The request grew
out of difference in the construction
of a sentence in Admiral SIMPSONS
letter to Commodore Schley, written
from Key West, May 20, while Com
modore Schley with the flying squad
ron lay off Cienfuegos. While Com
mander Rodgers of the board Of sur
vey was on the stand Schley's attor-
neys submitted computation of shells
showing that at least "a per cent Of
the shots which struck the Spanish
fleet were fired by the Brooklyn.
Commander Hodgson gave graphic
description of the battle of Santiago.
describing the part taken in it by the
Brooklyn and explaining the change
in the entry of that vessels log. He
testified that he warned Schley that
he would run into the Texas, and the
commodore replied, Damn the Texas.
She must look out for herself"
Washington, Oct. THE Schley
court of inquiry held but one session
Saturday and that was devoted main
ly to reading the correspondence be-
tween Admiral Schley and Command
or Hodgson, who was navigator of the
Brooklyn in the Spanish war, relating
to their dispute over the way the YES
sci was handled. The question of con-
struction Of Sampson's "Dear Schley"
letter was again brought up and two
"original'' copies produced, one by the
department and one by Schley's at
torneys. They were identical with
the exception that in the departments
copy the word ".Cienfuegos" had been
erased and Santiago" substituted.
Washington, Oct. s.-1n the schley
court Of inquiry Monday Commander
Hodgson repeated and extended his
story of the battle of July 3, giving the
opinion that Commodore Schley's con.
duct on that occasion was such as
that Of . commander-in-chief should
have been. He also explained at some
| length his correspondence with Ad-
miral schley concerning the alleged
colloquy between them while the San
tiago engagement was in progress.
He said he had had no controversy
with the commodore, but he repeated
that the commodofe had said Damn
+ Lu6 1SAdS, WuSu IudL VS0SSl WIS Ill
danger. Captain Folger said that the
bombardment of the Cristobal Colon
on May 81 had Deen emtnently SIC
cessful in developing the strength Of
! the Spanish shore batteries and had
shown them to be very weak. He also
said that if the Spanish vessels had
could not have been seen by the
| din aaok ha
Washington, Oct. 9.-Commander
Wainwright was the principal witness
before the schley court Of inquiry
| Tuesday. Mr.. Wainwright's testimony
dealt largely with chart-making He
| was for a time senior member Of the
board Of navigators which prepared
the official chart showing the position
Of the American ships during the bat
tie of Santiago. He said he did not
consider the positions assigned in that
| drawing accurate, but that they we're
given as record of compromise Of
| the views OF members of the board.
| lieutenant Bristol of the Texas was
the other new witness Of the day. He
did not see the loop made by the
Brooklyn, the greater part of his tes-
timony turning upon chart he had
made, showing the positions Of the
various ships of the American feet at
different times during the Santiago
battle.
Lieutenant Commander Hodgson,
Captain Folger and Lieutenant Dyson
made additions to their previous testi.
moEy.
| - =