The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-10-03
NEWS in GENERAL
scHLEy COURT OF INQUIRY

witnesses were introduced in the
.Schley court of inquiry yesterday.
They were Admiral Cotton, who, as
captain commanded the auxiliary
cruiser Harvard, and Captain Wise,
who commanded the auxiliary cruis-
err Yale during the Spanish war. Both
these vessels were used as scouts and
both came up with the flying squad
ron off Santiago on the 27th of May,
before the retrograde movement to
Key West was begun.
Admiral Cotton testified that he
had gone aboard Admiral Schley's
flagship, the Brooklyn, on that date
to take orders to him, and said at
first that he gave him four or five
dispatches addressed to the COM
mander of the squadron. He after
wards modified this statement, saying
that probably all but two of the
dispatches were addressed to himself
admiral Cotton) but they contained
information which he supposed
should be in Admiral Schley's pos
session. One of these was copy of
dispatch from Admiral Sampson,
which had not been printed in the
official records, stating that the Span
ish fleet was at Santiago. He said
also that coal could have been taken
from the Merrimac on the 9th Of
May, the day on which the retro
grade movement to Key West was be-
gun for the purpose of coaling. Cap
tain Wise testified that on the 9th
of May he had signaled Captain
Philip of the Texas his opinion, that
Cervera was inside the harbor at San
tiago, but the testimony was ruled
out.
Washington, Sept. 27-The Schley,
court of inquiry was only in session
for an hour and three-quarters yes.
terday, adjourning at 1:45 in order to
permit its members and others en-
gagged there to attend the funeral of
Judge Wilson, late chief counsel for
Admiral Schley. Captain Wise con
cludcd his testimony, Admiral Cotton
made brief statement on recall, and
Lieutenant Spencer S. Wood, who
commanded the dispatch boat Dupont
during the Spanish war, began his
testimony. Machinist Gray, who was
in charge of the starboard engines
of the Texas on the day of the battle
of Santiago, also testified briefly. He
said that on the day of the battle the
starboard engines were stopped and
the machinery reversed. Captain
Wise was questioned at considerable
length as to what he had done before
the arrival of the flying squadron Off
Santiago toward locating Cervera's
fleet in the harbor. He said that
while he had satisfied himself of the
presence of the Spanish fleet, he had
been content to communicate his
knowledge to Admiral Schley,
through Captain Sigsbee, not consid-
ering it necessary to make direct
communication with the commander
in-chief.
Washington, Sept. 2s.-In the
Schley court of inquiry yesterday
letter was presented from Rear Adj
miral Sampson asking to be allowed
to be presented in the court by coun-
sci, but the court refused to grant
the request on the ground that "the
court does not at this time regard
you as party to the case.''
The principal witnesses of the day
were Lieutenant John Hood, who
commanded the dispatch boat Hawk
during the Spanish war. and Captain
Bowman H. McCalla, who was in
command of the Marblehead. The
testimony of both these officers dealt
with the delivery of dispatches from
Admiral Sampson to Commodore
schley and both related conversa-
tons with the latter. Captain Nc
Gala gave in detail his part in ar
ranging code of signals with the
Cuban insurgents, and said his COM
munications with them near Cienfue
COS on May "a, 1898, when it was
learned definitely that Cervera's fleet
was not in the harbor there. He
said that Captain Chadwick, who was
Admiral SIMPSONS chief of staff, was
the only person at Key West to whom
he had communicated the signal code.
Captain McCalla expressed the opin-
ion that the coaling was feasible Oft
Santiago at the time Schley began
his retrogade movement.
Washington, Sept. 29.-In the
schley court of inquiry yesterday
Captain McCalla, of the Marblehead,
concluded his testimony which was,
begun yesterday, and the court heard
the testimony of Lieut., Commander
W. II. Fl. Sutherland, who commanded
the Eagle during the Spanish war,
and also that of Lieut.. Cassus B..
Barnes. --s=-ss=s==s==-
The latter is cipher expert in
the navy department, and his evil
dence was devoted to showing that
the dispatch from Commodore schley
to the navy department of May %,
1898, saying that he could not, much
to his regret, obey the orders of the
department, as printed in the official
reports, was correct translation of
the message as forwarded from the
Harvard at Kingston.
Commander Sutherland explained
the condition of the Eagle during the
campaign and told of the part that
vessel played. He said the slow
progress made in the cruise to San
tiago was due to the fact that the
vessel was one-third full of water.
He also told of signalling the. scor-
pion to inform Commander Schley
that the Spanish squadron was not
in the harbor at Cienfuegos.
Captain McCalla said that he had
suggested to schley after the bat
tie off Santiago that there was glory
enOuph in tha rio+ory, Gov Ill