The Washington times., 1901-10-22

smooth sea at five knots when I went
aboard her
By AIR Rayner:
Q.-when were the repairs of the Mer-
rimac completed?
A.-On The evening of May 2S
Q.-How long was she totally disabled?
A.--The first / learned of it was on the
morning of MAY 26.
Q.-How long did IT take you to COM
plete the repairs on the Merrimac?
AAFrom the forenoon watch of the
2Itha until the morning of the 18th. work
ing night and DAY
The witness said he had a further state
faent to make of personal nature, but
under the ruling of the Court, because of
its nature, he was not allowed to have it
entered upon the record.
When Lieutenant Cronan had completed
the correction of his testimony, the judge
advocate referred to the fact that on last
Friday he had requested the witness to
plot the distance covered by the Brooklyn
on the day of the battle. The witness
said that she ran little more than thirty
nile knots in a straight line from the
point where she started on her blockading
position to the point at which she arrived
when the boats were lowered for Captain
Cook to go to receive the surrender Of
the Colon. He could not plot her course
and so could not tell the actual distance
she had run.
The Witness Not Discrcdiied.
]. H. HunIey. chief machinist of the
Texas. was next recalled, and Captain
Lemly made desperate effort to break
down his testimony but was unsuccessful.
He adopted an extraordinary means, but
the Court declined to allow him to carry
out his purpose.
Mr.. Hunley stated on the stand on Fri
day that he had handled the port engine
of the Texas on the day of the battle
and that the engine was neither reversed
nor stopped. as ClaXton and other wit
nesses not in the engine room had testi-
fed
In answer to questions by the judge
advocate yesterday. he said he had re-
lieved Machinist Hill at the throttle OF
the port engine a short time before the
battle began.
The witness was asked about the blow
ers. but said that he did not look at them.
He did not see how the engine could have
been stopped or reversed without his
knowledge.
By Captain Lemly:
Q.-Were you on board the Texas when
she ran ashore at Newport. r. l.?
A-Yes. sir.
Q.-Were you at the throttle at that
time?
Mr.. Rayner Gnterrupting)-Wha has
the running ashore at Newport, R. l.. got
to do with the testimony of this witness
as to who was at the throttle of the port
engine OF the Texas on July 3? l fail TO
- -~v connection between the two incl
dents
Captain Lemly-It shows that this wit
ness has previously made mistakes with
regard to signals and with disastrous con-
sequences.
MIR Rayner-The fact that he has made
mistakes does not show that he has stat
ed faisehood. If it was a question of
his negligence, that is a different matter.
but this is not a question OF a mistake it
is a question as to who was at the throt-
tie of the pert engine at that time and
whether or not the engine was stopped
and reversed.
Upheld by the Court.
Captain Lemly made an argument for
the admissibility Of the question contend
ing that it had very important bearing
on the testimony which Hunley had given
on Friday.
This brought Mr. Rayner to his feet
again with very spirited argument, in
which he said that mistakes were one
thing and testimony under oath quite an
other; that everybody made mistakes at
one time or otner. but that that was no
reason why the crediblity- of witness
under oath should be attacked.
When Mr.. Rayner concluded his re
marks an enthusiastic female spectator
started to applaud, but as it was not ta-
ken up by the rest of the audience. it at
once subsided and the Court looked rath-
er stern.
Admiral Dewey asked what the law was
upon the subject.
Mr.. Rayner-There are some principles
OF law 50 well settled that the text writ
ers do not think it necessary to dwell
upon them. and this is one OF them.
Admiral Dewey-In the absence OF any
law, the Court decides that the tes-
timony is not admissible 1t can have no
bearing upon the question before the |
Court.
After this futile attempt to break down !
the testimony Of the witness. whom the |
Judge advocate had summoned and then |
was excused.
Lieutenant Wells Resumes.
a number Of other witnesses were call |
d TO correct their testimony, after which !
p. ". Wells. jr. who was nag secretary |
20 Commodore Schley, resumed his tesu- |
nouy. When the Court adjourned on Fri |
lay he had just reached the point wh5re |
he was to narrate the story Of the battle
Of Santis 90 as he saw it
Mr.. Rayner examined tue witness.
Q.-Now. want you 20 eve an account
of the battle of Santiago. so far as the
events of that battle fell under your per
sonal observation.
Al was sitting in the feet office when
heard the words passed along: Clear |
the ship for action" l went to my diyis-
ion and looked out Of one OF the gun ports
and saw the Spanish ships. two of them
at least, coming out of the harbor and
heading south and west The guns were |
immediately gotten ready and my Tecol- |
lection Is that We fired one or possibly two |
shots with the starboard guns at that |
time. We then manned the port battery /
and the ships head apparently moved TO |
the starboard because it brought the /
Spanish ships off our port bow and we |
then opened fire with our port batteries !
and continued as the Spanish ships drew 1
ait on our port side / have no rcCollec- I
tion OF the ranges as We moved in but | !
recollect that we used range of eleven !
hundred yards as the shortest This was |
nred with the port battery, ana was con-
tnued until the ship turned. After that (
the starbOard batteries were brought to /
bear and We continued aring at the
Spanish ships About the time the turn
was completed the range was 1900 to 25J0 /
yards. 1t varied some what Immediately !
after the turn ] cannot say what yes I
sells were in sight when the turn was 4
made. as do not recOllect seeing |
any during that time. After the I
turn We sighted the three leading ones. /
the course was to the westward. approx /
inately. and shortly after this one OF the |