The San Francisco call., 1901-11-07
ADMIRAL SCHLEY IN TEARS WHEN THE PRAISE
OF HIS CONDUCT AT SANTIAGO is SPOKEN

Raynor-I have borne willing testimony to the
impartality with which he has tried his case
and the delicate position he occupies. But l
do ask my brother not to get up and contradict
me and say that am unreliable when read
the testimony that sustains me. l appreciate
the position he is in. He has filled that posi-
tion well and faithfully as it could possibly
be filled by any one have not said word
in criticism of his conduct 1t is only when he
refers to my traducing an officer that 1 have
the same right to refer to his traducing Ad-
miral Schley.
all the testimony that has been given. We will
be governed by the testimony We know ex-
actly what Lieutenant Commander Potts said.
He said he was scared. but counsel did enlarge
little on It.
reviewed the testimony of the various wit
nesses against Admiral Schley. He closed as
follows:
II now have briefly presented this case as it
appears to me in its general outline Such a
trial this has to my knowledge taken
place in the history of the world. 1t seemed
to my mind that this had hardly opened
with the testimony of Captain Hgginson when
II commenced to totter and from day to day
Captain Cook, their last witness. was put upon
the stand the entire structure collapsed. and it
was when the witnesses from our own ships
and the gallant captain and crew of the Oregon
and Admiral Schley had narrated their unvar-
nished tale that the whole tenement. with all
of its compartments, from its foundation to its
turret, has disintegrated and lies here like a
mass of blackened ruins
Three Years for Truth.
1T has taken three years to reveal the
truth. There is not a single word that has
fallen from the tongue of a single witness.
friend foe. that casts the shadow of a re-
fection upon the honored name of the hero
Of Santiago He has never claimed the glory
of that day. No word to this effect has ever
gone forth from him to the American people.
The valiant Cook, the heroic Clark the la
mented Philip, the intrepid and undaunted
Wainwright and all the other captains and
every man at every gun and every soul on
board of every ship are equal participants
upon that immortal day. We strike
down his figure standing upon the bridge of
the BROOKLYN. There he stands upon the
bridge of the Brooklyn, his ship almost alone,
and receiving the entire fire of the Spanish
foe until the Oregon. as ii upon the wings
of lightning. sped into the thickness of this
mortal carnage.
" God bless the Oregonl' was the cheer that
rang from deck to deck and they went,
was fired from the Cristobal Colon and the
despotic colors of Spain were swept from the
face of her ancient possessions Well done
congratulate YOU on the victory was the
streamer that was bent from the hayard
of the Brooklyn, and from that day to this
has ever heard from Admiral echIev
the slightest whisper or intimation that he
usurped the glory of that imperishable hour.
bled on the waves have been discordant music
to the ears of envious foes, but they have
pierced with a ringing melody the ears of his
the hreside of every American home And
what is more than all which has been re-
Vealed in this case, matchless as is his
courage and unsullied is his honor is
his beautiful character and the generous
spirit that animates his soul and the for
giving heart that beats within his bosom
Yes. we cannot strike him down. Erect he
stands as the McGregor when he stepped on
his native heather and his eye was on the
peak Ben Lomond. His country does not
want to strike him down nor cast a blur on
the pure escutcheon of his honored name
For three long years he has suffered. and
now. thank God. the hour of his vindica ton
has come. With composure with resignation,
with supreme and unfaltering fortitude he
awaits the Judgment of this illustrious
tribunal. and when the deliverance comes he
csn, from the high and exalted position that
he occupies. look down upon his traducers and
malfgners and with exultant pride excIafm:
I care not for the venomous gossip of clubs
and drawing rooms and cliques and cabaIs
and the poisoned shafts of envy and of
malice. I await, under the guidance of di-
vine Providence. the verdict of posterity'
Raynor closed at $3.50 o'clock having spo-
ken about three hours The large audience
broke into applause when he concluded and
the members of the court, well as others
congratulated him upon his speech. Admiral
Schley was visiby affected by the concIud-
ing remarks and attending scenes The court
adjourned until n. m. tomorrow when Cap
tain Lemly will deliver the closing argument
for TIE Government.