Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1901-09-25
SCHLEY COURT
OF INQUIRY
Rear Admiral Cotton Tells Of Dis
patches He Delivered from Ad-
miral Sampson to Schley'
A, B, CLAXTON'S TESTIMONY
Attorney General Isidoro Rayner is Now
Leading Counsel for Admiral schley-
He is Assisted by Captain James
Parker and M. A. league.

Washington, D. c., Sept. 25.-Wher
the Schley court of inquiry convened
at IL o'clock today, the seat which had
been occupied from the beginning OF
the sitting by Judge Jere Wilson, was
vacant. Admiral Schley stated that
since the death of Judge Wilson, At
torney General Isidore Rayner will be
leading counsel in his case and be as
sisted by Captain James Parker OF
New Jersey, and M. A. league of Bal
timore. The wall back of the court
was adorned with a chart on a large
scale showing the site of the battle off
Santiago on July g. Also a number of
transparent charts, intended to illus
trate the various phases of the San
tiago campaign. The first witness
called today was A. B. Claxton, ma
chinist on board the Texas, who began
his testimony when the sitting of the
court was so abruptly terminated yes
terday morning by the death of Judge
Wilson.
Claxton said that 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
that morning, which had, within an
hour after beginning action. been
changed to ''full speed astern."
Rear Admiral Cotton, now comman-
dant of the Norfolk navy yard, who
commanded the auxiliary cruiser Har-
ward during the Spanish war, was the
next witness. He told of meeting the
flying squadron, under Commodore
Schley, off Santiago on May 27 1898;
and said that on that date he delivered
dispatches to the then commodore from
Admiral Sampson and the navy de-
partment. He said Commodore Schley
asked him if he thought vessels could
coal at the Mole St. Nicholas or Con
aives channel He told him small
ones could, but not battleships.
Amiral Cotton said that while he
was on board the Brooklyn the order
to start for Key West was given.
In response to further questions, Ad-
miral Cotton said he had the original
translation of the cipher dispatches ad-
dressed to the Harvard, which he de-
livered to Schley. The ditpatch of
May % was then read to him as fol-
lows: washington, May 25, 1898 Har-
ward, st. Nicholas mole, Haiti.-Pro-
ceed at once and inform Schley, and
senior officer present off Santiago as
follows: All the departments infor-
nation indicates that the Spanish di-
vision is still at Santiago. The de-
partment looks to you to ascertain the
facts, and that the enemy, If therein,
does not leave without decisive ac-
ton. Cubans, familiar with Santiago,
say there are landing places five or six
nautical miles west from the mouth of
the harbor, and there insurgents prob
ably will be found, and not Spanish.
From surrounding heights can be seen
every vessel in port. AS soon as as
certained, notify the department
whether the enemy is there. Could not
the squadron and also the Harvard
coal from the Merrimac leeward off
Cape Cruz, Gonaives channel, or the
mole, Haiti? The department will
send coal Immediately to the mole.
Report without delay the situation at
Santiago, Cuba. Signed Long"
Rayner called attention to the fact
that there were some material changes
in the ditpatches as printed in the Of
ficial reports by the navy department
Admiral Schleys reply to these dis
patches, dated May 29, in which he
said he could not obey the orders of
the department were then read, and
Rayner pointed out various changes
in the language of the ditpatch as
printed in the official report.
Witness said no effort was made by
Schley to comply with the depart
ment's order as far as he knew.
Captain VIM. G. Wise in command
of the auxiliary cruiser Yale, told of
his accommodating about Santiago har-
Dor on May % previous to the arrival
of the flying spadron. He was not able
to see anything Of the Spanish fleet.
At 1896 the Schley court adjourned.
There will be but one session tomor-
row owing to the funeral of Judge Will