Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-09-26
COTTON AND CLAYTON
ON WITNESS STAND
Former Quotes Talk With
Schley About Coaling.
CHANGES IN THE COUNSEL

CHANGES IN THE COUNSEL
| Captain James Parker of New Jersey
and Mr.. VI. A. league of Baltimore
Will Assist Mr.. RaynOr la Conduct
| ing the Case.
| WASHINGTON, Sept. 25. - When the
Schley court of inquiry convened at the
| navyyard at II O'Clock today there was
general comment upon the fact that the
| seat that had been occupied from the be.
ginning of the sittings by Judge Jere
| Wilson was vacant. He had endeared
himself, not only to the member of the
court, but to all persons about the court.
The business of the court, however, was
promptly resumed at the usual hour.
In answer 60 a question from the AS.
sociated Press, Admiral Schley today
stated that since the death of Judge
Wilson, Attorney General Isidor Ray
nor would be leading counsel i'll his case
and that he would be assisted by Cap.
tain James Parker of New Jersey and
by Mr.. NJ. \. league of Baltimore as
expert assistant.
Mr.. Raynor will continue to conduct
the cross examination of witnesses as
he has been doing, and the other gen
tlemen will continue III the same ca.
paclty they occupied up to the time of
Judge Wilson's death. Mr.. Raynor
stated that if it became necessary in the
preparation Of abstracts of the volumin-
Gus documents i'll the case to employ as
sistant counsel or if he should be una
vOidably absent at any time, that proper
arrangements will be made for that
purpose.
Charts of Santiago Campaign.
The wall back of the court was adorn.
ed today with a chart ON a large scale
showing the ground site of the battle of
Santiago on July 3. The southern coast
of Cuba in the vicinity of Santiago was
plainly marked and the points at which
the Spanish ships went to the bottom or
to the shore were all indicated Ia plain
lettering. There were also number of
transparent charts, which had been pre-
pared over night, sitting about in the
rear of the room and which were in
tended to illustrate various phases Of
the Santiago campaign. All these had
been prepared with a view of expedit-
ing the work of the court and all were
on large scale.
The first witness called today was Mr..
A B. ClaxUon, the maChinist on board
the Texas, who had begun his testimony
when the sitnngs of the court were so
abruptly terminated yesterday morning
by the death of Judge Wilson.
Mr.. Claxton said on July 3, 1898, he
had been on duty in the engine room of
the Texas. The engine indicator had
called for full speed ahead early in the
morning which had, within an hour af.
ter tho beginning of the action, been
changed to full speed astern."
To his knowledge there had been no
signal for the reversal of the engines
He said that he had been excused from
service in the engine room, but still he
knew that the engines were reversed
for about two minutes.
Signals on Texas.
"What was the next change made in
the indicator of the port engine of the
Texas?" he was asked.
Full speed ahead. -
"What was the next after that?"
There was no other given for some
time afterward."
"Whep was the further signal re.
ceived by the indicator and what was
the signal?"
within the first hour of the engage
ment the direction was changed to full
speed astern."
"Can you not give an estimate of the
time when the signal was given for full
speed astern and how long after the en-.
gagemenR"
II should say within the first hour. I"
"Was there any other signal given
during the watch within your knowl.
edge for the port engines to reverse?'
There was none to my knowledge"
"You were on duty in the port engine.
room throughout that day, were you
not?''
"Off and on, sir. -
"Where else were you on duty, if any.
where at the timer"
II was excused for a time on account
of the heat"
GAS matter of fact were the engines
reversed"
"They were, for about 2 minutes. -
Mr.. Claxton was NOT questioned by
Mr. Raynor.
ant of the Norfolk navyyard, who
commanded the auxiliary cruiser Har-
ward during the Spanish war. was the
next witness.
He told of meeting the flying squad
ron under Commodore Schley off SAM
- on Nav q 1893 and said that or