The news & observer., 1901-10-16
SCHLEYS GALLANTRY
EVOK[S GLOWING
TRIBUTES
IL Cannot Imagine Any Con-
duct in Battle More
Admirable" "
so DECLARES CAPT. COOK
Commander Sears Says Schley's Bear
ing Under Fire Was Model
For Any One.
HAD SEEN HIM IN FIVE ENGAGEMENTS
schIey's Flag Lieutenant Says He Was Always
Cool and That in Battle His Faculties
Seemed Clearer Than at Any
Other Time.
By the Associated Press.)


Washington, Oct 15.-Only one new
witness was heard in detail by the
Schley Court of Inquiry today. This was
Lieut.. Commander Jas. H. Sears. who
was Admiral Schleys flag lieutenant
during the Spanish War He gave de-
tailed account Of the entire Cuban naval
campaign.
While Commander Sears was on the
stand Capt Lemly asked his age, but
the court after quite prolonged consul
tation in retirement, decided that the
question was not admissible. 1t held,
however, that the time of service could
be inquired into.
Mr.. Rayner sought to secure the iden-
tification of a report of the battle of
July 9rd which Commodore Schley pre-
pared for transmission to the Secretary
of the Navy 1t was stated that Com
mander Sears had taken this dispatch
ashore to be cabled to the secretary, but
that it never had reached that official.
The dispatch was ruled out on the
ground that as it was not received it
was not an official communication. 1t
was not read in the court room. but the
following is copy of it:
ITO the Secretary of the Navy, Wash
ington, D. c.:
Spanish squadron came out of San
tiago this morning, July 3rd( at $3.50 and
were all captured or destroyed in run
ming fight to the westward of about three
and one half hours. Very few casualties
in our fleet; Ellis, chief yoeman, killed,
and one man wounded on the Brooklyn.
Reports from other ships not in yet. The
The commander in chief now superin-
tending transfer of prisoners from the
Cristobol Colon which surrendered to
the Brooklyn and Oregon at lis p. M.
About 1000 prisoners in all including
Spanish Admiral Victory complete de-
tails later.
SCHLEY."
CAPT. COOK RECALLED.
Capt. Cook was recalled during the
day and in response to a question by
Capt. Lemly made an additional state
ment concerning the retrograde move
May 2S. He also said in answer to a
question by the court, that Commodore
Schley during the battle of July 3rd was
cool brave and enthusiastic. I cannot
imagine AMI conduct in battle more ad-
mirable.'
SEARS ON THE STAND.
Lieutenant Commander Sears in re-
m
Flying Squadron arrived off Cienfuegos
he knew nothing of code of signals
for communication with the Cuban insur-
gents. The McCalla memoranda, he said,
had been brought to Commodore SchIey
by the Hawk and by no other vessel to
his knowledge
Commander Sears gave a detailed ac-
count Of the encounter with the British
steamer Adula. He said: 1.-THE Commo-
dore directed me to go aboard the Adula.
an Englishman, to put himself out
little to tell us something what was
going on inside Of Cienfuegos The cap
tain said. of course, he would be very
glad to do it, as he was coming under
some authority from our fleet in jamaica
He suggested that when he came out on
the next day we should bring him to
with shot, so tht anybody observing it
from shore would see that he was act
ing under force and that anybody who
could speak Spanish could find out all
they pleased from the refugees she had
on board
Did he come out the next day?"
He did not
Describing the blockade of Cienfuegos,
Commander Sears said that it had been
maintained from l to miles out. ard
that the Dupont was stationed inside with
instructions to keep close in to the mouth
oof the harbor
COALING AFTER 9TH UNSAFE.
The witness. in giving the details of
the cruise from Cienfuegos to Santiago.
said the weather was boisterous with a
heavy sea, and that coaling at sea would
not have been safe before May 27 when
it was undertaken.
With reference to the blockade at San
tiago the witness said that it had been
maintained at varying distances of from
8 to miles to suit the commander-in-