Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1901-09-27
SCMEY TRIAL CONTINUES
ADMIRAL COTTON rEsrIFIEs.
ne Was Conn.ansler " the Harvard
seat Formerly Occupied by Judge
Wiiso" Was VAcant-Attorney
H"snor In Now $chies's seaiOe
COumsel-Chartn In Court.

Washington, sept. CO When tho Sehiey
court OF inquiry convehed at the navy
yard there We're general comments upon
the fac: that the seat which had been oc-
cupied from the beginning Of the sitting
by Judge Wilson MAS vacant. He had
endearea himself not only Ia the members
OF the court, but 10 al persons about
court. and SORROW was shown on every
cauntenance.
In answer to question by the Asso-
ciated Press, Admiral Schley stated that
since the death of Judge Wilson. At,or-
ney lsadore Rayner " euld be the lead
ing counsel in his ease, and that he would
he assisted by Captain James Parker OF
New Jersey, and by VI. A. league OF
Baltimore as an expert assistant. The
business OF the court was promptly re-
| sumed AZ the usual hour.
The wall back OF the court was adorn-
ed with large chart showing the
groundsite 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 ship, went to the bottom or To
the shore were all Indicated in plain let
tering. There were ais number Of
large transparent charts, sitting about in
! the rear Of the room and which were in
tended to illustmte various phases Of the
Santiago campaign. All THESE had been
prepared with view OF eXpediting the
work of the court.
! The first witness called was 4. Is. Clax-
ton, the machinist on board the Texas,
who had begun his q -timony when the
sitting Of the court " h. 80 abruptly ter
minated by the death pf Judge Wilson.
Before Mr.. llaxinh took the stand
Commander iieiincr as called 10 make
a few minor corrections in the official
| copy Of his testimony
| Hear Admiral Cotton. now commandment
Of the Norfolk navy yard, who com.
manded the auxiliary cruiser Harvard
during the Spanish war, was the next
witness. He told of meeting the flying
| squadron under Commodore schIey of
Santiago ON May 81 1898, and said that
on that date he had delivered dispatches
10 the commodore from Admiral Samp-
son and the navy department. He had,
he said, boarded the Brooklyn about
| 1890 o'clock. The weather was then
moderate, and he hah had no difficulty
in going aboard the Brooklyn from his
boat. He had worn his sword.
| In response to furt her questions Admi-
raj Cotton said that he had the original
TRANSACTIONS Of the cipher dispatches adj
dressed To the Harvard. The dispatch Of
May d was then read to him as follows:
Washington, Ma 8, 1898. --liar-
ward, st. Nicholas Mole, Hayti: Pro-
coed at once and inform Schley and also
the senior officer present off Santiago as
follows:
"'All department information indicates
Spanish division is still at Santiago. The
department looks to YOU to ascertain the
facts, and that the enemy, II there, does
not leave without decisive action. Cubans
familiar with santiagb say that there are
landing places five OF six nautical miles
west from the mouth Of the harbor. and
there insurgents probably will be found
and not the Spanish. From the surround
ing heights can see dsery vessel in port.
As soon as ascertained notify the de-
partment whether the enemy il there.
Could not squadron aud also the Harvard
coal from Merrimat lecward Of Cape
Crnze. Gonalves chan mel or Mole, Hayti,
The department will send coal immedi-
atcly 10 Mole. Report without delay the
situation at Santiago Cuba. LONG"
Mr.. Raynor called attention to the fact
that there were some material changes
in the dispatches as printed in the Official
reports by the navy department.
Admiral Schley's reply TO these dis
patches. dated May -. in which he said
he could not obey the orders Of the de-
partment, was then tad, and Mr.. kaynor
pointed out various changes In the Ian
guage NJ the dispatch as printed in the
official report. He addressed the court
briefly concerning fUe-a ehanue-