The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-07
A TRIBUTE Of TEARS
REfARKABLE SCENE AT CLOSE OF
AN ADDRESS IN sCHLEY
COURT
RAYNER's oRAToRY MAGNETIC
Many i'm the Audience Wept, schley
Almost Gave In, and Even Mem
beers of the Court Were
Deeply Moved

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6-The climax OF
the Schiey court of inquiry came this
afternoon, when Mr.. Rayner, the cha {
counsel for Admiral Schley, concluded a
brilliant argument of over three hours
with a peroration so ELOQUENT and i'm
passioned that all within the sound or
his voice were profoundly touched. This
remarkable trial, he said, sought to con-
denim the man who had brought to a sue
cessful termination as great q naval
triumph as was ever won In vivid cO1orS
he painted the picture of the Brooklyn,
with Commodore Schley on the bridge,
fighting the entire Spanish fleet until the
Oregon appeared out of the smoke. The
thunders of the Brooklyn, music for the
ears. of his, countrymen, he said, aroused
Admiral Schley.s envious foes. He pictur-
ed the victorious sailor suffering as few
have suffered for three long years, while
the fires of persecution leaped around
him. and now awaiting the hour of his
yindication in, the verdict of the court.
And when it comes he concluded, ''he
can,- from the high and exalted position
that he occupies. look down upon. his
traducers and malgners and with excel
lent pride exclaim: I care. not for
venemous gossip of clubs, drawing rooms
and cliques, and the poisoned shafts of
envy and of malice. I await under the
,
dict of posterity.' {"
Many Moved to Tears.
The scene in the court room as he fin
ished with these words was thrilling.
The attendance had been large all day.
and at the morning session a lady had
tainted from excitement. AS Mr.. Ray
ner began his eulogy of Admiral Sehley,
those in the audience, many of whom
were ladies, leaned forward in their seats.
The spell of his oratory was over them,
and when he described the admiral's gal
liant deeds. and the long persecution to
which he had been subjected, many Of
them broke down and wept.
The members of the court displayed
evidences of emotion, and Admiral Schley
himself was plainly moved. He sat- lean
Ing back, with his hands behind his head.
His chin twitched, and as his counsel
said he could afford to await the verdict
of posterity, two big tears rolled down
his cheeks. He moved uneasily to con-
ceal his emotion, and under the pretense
of adjusting his glasses, brushed the tears
aside. For fully thirty seconds after Mr..
Rayner closed there was not sound.
The the tension broke in loud burst
of applause.
Admiral Dewey, after about a half min
ute arose to remind the spectators that
such a demonstration was out of place.
A moment afterward the court adjourned.
the judge advocate pleading that he could
not well go on today.
Even LemIy Congratulated.
Then another remarkable thing happen
ed. AS soon as the gavel fell, the entire
audience surged forward to shake the
hands of Admiral Schley and Mr.. Rayner
But the on-coming spectators fell back
moment as they saw Admiral Dewey and
his two associates move around the table,
as if by a common impulse, and congrat-
ulate Admiral Schley and his counsel
Even Capt Lenlly, the Judge advocate,
came forward to join in the congratuia-
tions. Then the public had its inning,
and for fifteen minutes after the court
adjourned. Admiral Sehley and Mr.. Ray
ner were kept busy shaking hands.
Mr.. Rayner's argument today consumed
the whole day of the court except for
half an hour at the opening. which Capt
Parker. his associate counsel, occupied in
concluding. Mr.. Rayner took up the spe-
cifications one by one, reserving those re
lating to the retrograde movement until
the last. So far as he was able to dc
so, he used the testimony of the depart
mentS witnesses to prove his contentious.
With regard to the retrograde move
ment which he discussed with greater
seriousness than the other specifications,
he adduced in justification not only all
Admiral Schley's reasons for believing
the Spanish fleet was not in Santiago,
but argued that every officer charged
with the responsibility of command nee
essariIy must be clothed with discretion
in carrying out instructions. He display
ed good temper in adyerting to the testi.
mony of most of the officers, especially
the ranking officers, who seemed to con-
tradict his client, giving them in each
case credit for honesty of purpose. But
with few he dealt unsparingly. Ideuts.
Hood Potts and Bristol, he held up to
ridieule.
Rayner's Opening.
Mr. Rayner began his argument at II: 25
a. M He made plea for the considera-
ton of questions from what was at that
time Commodore Schleys point of view.
LET u.s." he said, put ourselves in his
place and see what the circumstances
were. We all know now what it would
have been wise to do Without impugn-
ing any officer of the American fleet,
Mr. Rayner declared that Admiral Schiey
was the victim of an unfortunate COM
bination of circumstances that left him
in total darkness as to the location OF
the Spanish feet.
Concerning the question of coaling at
sea, Mr.. Rayner read the testimony of
several witnesses to prove the great diff
culties such task involved, and said all
they wanted to prove was that admiral
Schley was honest when he informed the
department of his increased anxiety re-
garding coal supply and that he acted
according to the dictates of his own con-
science.
After recess Mr.. Rayner discussed the
ninth specification, which dealt with the
loop of the Brooklyn on July and the
possibility of colliding with the Texas.
He said he stood upon the. testimony of
Capt. Cook, who, all things taken to-
gether. had the best opportunity to give
all the information about the loop. What
might have happened had the Brooklyn
turned to port was purely matter of
conjecture. The turn in the other direc-
ton was completely successful. AS to
the Hodgsen incident. he again fell back
upon Capt Cooks testimony as decisive
OF the point at issue. Capt. Cook had
said, Mr.. Rayner stated. that the danger
Of collision had never entered his head
A Dramatic Incident.
At one point Capt. Lemiy protested
against Mr.. Rayneris structures of Lieu
tenant Commander Potts, and his protest
led to dramatic scene in the court room