The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-27
PART PLAYED BY THE TEXAS IN THAT
ENGAGEMENT OUTLINED
THE SCHLEY COURT OF INQUIRY
Devotes Most of the Day to b State
ments OF Commander Heilner on This
s~ubject-Some More Contradictions
of and Log Books-Schroed-
err and Harder Recalled-TfIts Be-.
tween Counsel over Question OF
Bringing Sampson Into the Contro-
versy.

Washington, September 23.-The part
played by the battleship Texas in the
naval battle off Santiago July 3, 1898,
in which the Spanish feet under Al
miral Cervera was sunk. was the basis
Of the greater part of today's proceel-
ings in the Schley naval court Of il
quiry. OF the four witnesses exami1-
ed during the day, three had been Off
GERS on board the Texas during the
battle and two Of them were new W.T.
nesses. These were Commander George
c. Heilner, who was navigator on the
Texas. and Commander Alex B. Bates,
who was chief engineer on that batta-
ship. Commander Harder, executive
officer and the chief surviving officer
of the ship since the death Of Captain
Philip, was recalled. The fourth wit
ness was Commander Seaton Schroeder
executive officer on the Massachusetts,
and now governor Of the Island of
Guam.
The testimony several times during
the day was somewhat exciting. and
it was especially so when Commander
Heilner described the battle and the
part the Texas had taken in it. He
said that When the Brooklyn made its
loop at the beginning of the battle. it
had passed across the Texas bow at a
distance not to exceed 100 or $50 yards
and at the command of Captain Philip
the Texas a been brought to a dead
stop.
Engineer Bates testified that the star
hanr1 nnrinn~ LoI h4o- IL
said he thought this also had happen
ed to the port engines.
Commander Heilner expressed the
opinion that three miles. had been lost
by the maneuver and the fact that
| part Of. the machinery was ~deranged.
He said he considered that the Texas
was in greater danger when the Brook
Ign crossed her bow than at any other
time during the battle.
The day closed with an animated con
troversy between counse as to the
| policy Of bringing Admiral Sampson's
name into the trial.
1t was authoritatively stated today
that the navy department has no inten-
tion, at present, of bringing Admiral
Sampson to Washington as a witness
or to participate in any other manner
at the inquiry.
COMMANDER SCHROEDER RE-
CALLED.
After the introduction of the log
books of a number of the vessels en-
gagged in the Santiago campaign, Com
mander Schroeder was recalled and
asked If he desired to make any cor
rections in the official record Of his
testimony of Saturday:
There is one omission from Admiral
Schley's remarks on the Massachu-
sets on the day of the bombardmen
of the Colon which I overheard, which
| should like to supply" he replied
1t IS this: He said when HI came
ABOARD that Admiral Sampson would
be there on the following day. He
made that statement in connection with
his remark that he was going in to
sink the Colon"
SCHROEDER CONTRADICTS HIG-
GINSON.
Commander Schroeder was then ask
ed concerning the coal supply of the
Massachusetts and when he replied
ne had no information on that point he
was asked to read the log to secure
tf1s information. The purpose of this
inquiry was to develop what Messrs,
Lemly and Hanna considered an error
In Admiral H~igginson's testimony.
He said hat the Massachusetts could
not have remained on blockade for
more than twelve days and tina then
the vessel would be without coal and
powerless to proceed to coal. Reading
from the log Commander Schroeder
says it showed that the Massachu-
sets had over 500 tons of coal aboard,
when it arrived at Santiago.
Commander Schroeder said the Massa-
chusetts could ave remained on
blockade during twenty days with that
supply of coal. or could have re-
manned sixteen days n had enough
coal left to reach Key West.
| THE NAVAL BATTLE DESCRIBED
BY COMMANDER HEILNER.
Lieutenant Commander L. c.. He'll
ner, who was navigator of the Texas
during the Spanish war, was next call
ed. He said he had heard no guns
fired when the squadron approached
Cienfuegos. TIC his knowledge no effort
was made to ascertain whether the
Spanish fleet was in the harbor at that
point or to destroy Spanish works
there. Nor had there been any effort
to communicate with Cubans on shore
until Captain McCalla arrived on the
Marblehead.
The witness was then asked to de-
scribe the battle of July Bird and said:
THE Texas had been heading about
east when the enemy was seer coming
out OF Santiago.
Lieutenant Bristol, who was officer
Of the deck at the time, rang to go
ahead full speed and put the helm hard
to starboard to make a turn. When 1
got on deck he Informed me of what
had happened n 1 e n him below and
assumed charge of the deck. The cap
tain told me that he had eased the
helm until he could find out which way
the ships were going, n also rang
half speed. I suggested full speed. He
said the battery was not ready. I told
him it could be ready before the ship
was in position to fire and then he
said: All right and rang full speed.
When the second OF the enemy's ship
followed the first to the westward he
put the helm hard to starboard I made
several reports to him about the Brook
Ign. regarding her signals. He said:
Never mind I also referred to the
way I thought the Brooklyn was stand
ing up to the fght-very nicely. The
captain exclaimed: oh, Cracker
Never mind h Brooklyn You look
out for this Ship The Brooklyn then
was about on her short beam. So I
said: All right, Captain 1 will look at
the Brooklyn no more and I turned