The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-23
SCHLEY COOL UNDER FIRE.
A Witness Declares He Was Calm
Amidst Bursting Shells.


Guiry, OF the CommodOre's Bray-
cry in the Heat OF BHttIe-Enthus-
iasm Of Spectators Twice Breaks
Out in AppIauSe-MOre strong
Evidence for the Applicant
William I. Hill chief boatswain Of the
Brooklyn, was the principal witness be-
fore the SchIey Court Of Enquiry today,
| lie gave an interesting description of the
battle Of Santiago and a very dramatic
recital of events incident to the sea fight.
Twice during the time the witness was
upon the stand he was interrupted by Wig
orous outbursts Of applause from the
/ spectators present His declaration that
while other heads We're "ducksd- as the
shells from the Spanish ships flew thick
| and fast over the deck of the q: gship.
Commodore schIcy stood with his head
| erect. created a demonstration Ii did not
/ subsidc for half "a minute. despite the
attempt Of the Court TO qucu #.
Again, when the witness said that Com
modore SchIey stamped his foot and with
an eNpletive declared that he would fol-
/ low the CristobaI Colon 20 Spain. If need
be- but what he would get her finally.
there was another demonstration.
Throughout, the witness gave q most in
| teresting narrative.
James II. Hare. a representative Of
Golfers Weekly" was the first witness
! His testimony was brief. but it was i'm
! portant to Admiral Schley. II further es-
| tablished the fact that Captain Sigsbee
| did not believe Ceryera was fin Santiago
! HarbOr when the Flying Squadron arrIv-
| cd of that port. and that he made the
statement that the Spanish fleet was not
| there
MeERphOninR to SiEsbee.
In answer 10 preliminary questions the
| witness said that he was aboard the press
boat Summers y. Smith curing the naval
| campaign. and that this boat was of San
/ tiago on May %. The boat met the scout
( St Paul on that day
BY Mr. Rayner:
Odd YOU have any conversation with
Captain Sigsbee by megaph0ue at that
! time2
A--Yes. sir.
Q-Statc % the Court what Il was?
Ave asked the st. Paul about the
/ Spanish feet auI Captain Sigebea told lIs
: that 1t was not there-thaJ Ce-ysra was
not IN Santiago and that Schiey had gone
away.
Q.-Is there any particular incident that
/ impre sses that upon your migdg
A--4es. sir We intended to 60 to Ja-
MalGa 70 coal, but i'm view of Captain
I ~igshee.s statement that Cerverd was not
there
The Judge Advocate Interposes.
Captain Lcmly interrupted with an OBJ
| lection as 20 the purpose Of this part OF
| the testimony.
Mr.. RayHer read from Captain Sigs-
I bees evidence denying that he had meg
aphOned 10 q press boat that Cervera was
not at Santiago. Sigsbee did not recoI-
lect making any such statement. but he
did recolIecr talking with some press boat.
Mr.. Hanna said he did not object II the
/ purpose was C. imptach the cr-dibultv Of
/ a witness otherwise he did His object
I'm making TINS declaration was 90 have
counsel state that he intended impcacIs-
/ iug SiEsbce's testimony.
Mr. Rayner replied that every time he
contraaioted a witness he did not irnuugn
! his crsai5liIy or lmpeach his veracaty.
Admiral Dewey said that he saw no OBJ
( lection TO the question
Mr. Eavu,r-TLcu you may state What
/ u was that Impressed this message uu8u
your mind at that time and upon Your
memory now
A-Thc fact that on Captain Sfesbee-s
l statement shat Ctryera was not in San
taEo we went back to Key West To coal
! instead OF going % Jamaica. AMI the first
news we got when We arrived there was
/ that Ceryera was bottled up I'm Santiago
Roll CuI of Correspondents.
/ Cross examination by Captain I.enIv.
/ Glow near did you go 20 the St.
A--Witlia I'D yards: We drIfted pretty
/ Close Part Of the conversation was with
meEaphnne and part without.
| Q.-Nh0 else was preseut2
/ A-SylEester ScovcI, of jhe New York
NJ orlo. stephen Crane. also Of the
World" MI Pepper don't know what
paper he represented. Mr.. Shaehau. Of the
{ New York Herald Mr Wilson. an ar
| tlst from the same pauer. and Mr.
1 Lynch. Dt The London Chronicle
| 2-N no carried on this conversation
I with Captain Sgsheey
| A.-ScUvel opened the conversation
Captain Sigshee said: .'Eho else gf INV
/ friends are ON board. and Pepper fuwu,,
/ up and said that he was there Crane SAID
/ h' Has there, and / declared that J was
there
Q-What was said 10 ScoveI by Captain
Slgsaee about the whereabouts 8f ScHI-v2
I -'-lhat Sclley had gone 10 the west
Q--Did he say whore na had gomez
I Al DO not reTuoU Der that ] was more
interested in the Photographic end uf ft
/ Q.-D1 you remember that Siesh-s de-
g-in~d 70 answer question put TO him 1y
SC0Ne12
Al do rot remember.
DO yuu know whether SicsSoc said
anything JDut the SHauiar.ley
Ale said that The Spanish fleet was
noJ inside tho harJor.
Ry Mr.. Rayncr.
Q.-Do YOU know anything about tho
/ other mon who were on board the press
I boat with yoU2
A--Stcphen Crane is dead have heard
/ that Mr- Shsohau is dead. ScovsI was iu
/ Havana the last 1 heard of him.
BY the Court.
Q.-Who used tho msgaphoue on board
| the St Paul during the conversation TO
which you hive to-Jiued2
1 A--Captaiu SiEsJee.
A Picturesque Honts,vnIn.
Mr. Hare was then excused and VII
4 liam l. HW chief boatsUaiu OF the
Brooklyn. was next called He proved to
! De one Of the most picturesque and in
! tsrestiug witnesses 10 whom tho Court
has listened. In answer tu preliminary
! questions he said D.. had been twenty
eight years iu the se-yic, and sixteen
] wears at sea. lia was examined uy Mr.
| RaEucT
Q-On the voyage from Key West TO
/ Cleufg' pas. state Co the Court whether
| YOU heard any guns fired.
! A! did On Saturday during tho first
dog watch We heard guns 10 tho east
! ward
Admiral Dcwcy-You heard them
! A.-Yes, sir; J heard them
! Mr.. EaEuer-Can You ten me anything
| about the blockade at CicufuyEosr Any
| thing within your personal cb-,yyatiou
I as 10 its character
| A--The vessels steamed about IN,
| mouth Of the harr0r slowly and on ON.
| occasion there Was au alarm Of q tor
Tedo boat coming out, and we steamed
into about Oue-haE "a mile OF The Iafnor