The sun., 1901-09-24
HEILNER ON THESTAND
Navigator of the Texas Before the
l.,.y Schley Court.
DESCRIBES NAVAL BATTLE.
Says His Ship Was Endangered by
the Broolslyn's Loop-Commandcr
Schroeder Reoalled-LogboOks
of Vessels introduced.


of the Schley court of inquiry were
prompt, as usual in reaching the navy /
yard, but when they arrived they found
Captain Lemly and his assistant, Mr..
Hanna, already there busily engaged
in getting ready for the days work.
Among the witnesses who reported
were Admiral G. S. Cotton, Command
ers James Madison Miller, A. B. Bates
and S. G. Hellner Captains B. II. Nc
Gala and William G. Wise, and Lieu
tenants John Hood and Spencer S.
Wood
Admiral Schley and his counsel ar
rived at 10:45 o'clock.
At IL o'clock Admiral Dewey called
the court to order.
Captain Lemly presented the deck
logbooks Of the Brooklyn, Texas, Iowa,
Castine, Marblehead, Massachusetts,
Minnesota, New Orleans, Oregon, st.
Paul, Scorpion, Yale, Vixen, Eagle, Du-
pont Hawk and Merrimac.
At Judge Wilson's request the log
book Of the New York was added.
Proceeding, Captain Lemly said that
he had suggested such logs as he con-
sidered essential and that he would
have printed the points considered per-
tinent. He then indicated the time
that he desired covered by the matter
to be printed, but Rear Admiral
Schley's counsel objected and asked
that the entire logs from the time that
the fleet left Key West until after the
battle off Santiago be made available.
After some exchanges of opinion on
the part of counsel the understanding
was reached that such parts of the logs
as either side desired could be printed.
Captain Lemly also presented the
steam logs of the Brooklyn, Texas,
Massachusetts, Iowa and the Marble
head Admiral Schley's counsel asked
to have the log Of the Spanish ship
Cristobal Colon presented. Captain
Lemly agreed to this.
Commander Schroeder Recalled.
Commander Schroeder was recalled
and asked If he desired to make any
corrections in the official record of his
testimony Of Saturday. There is one
omission from Admiral Schley's re-
marks on the Massachusetts on the day
of the bombardment of the Colon,
which overheard, which should like
to supply" he replied.
at Is this: He said when he came
aboard that Admiral Sampson would
be there on the following day. He
made that statement in connection with
his remark that he was going in to sink
the Colon"
Commander Schroeder was then ask.
ed concerning the coal supply Of the
Massachusetts, and when he replied
that he had no information on that
point he was asked to read the log to
secure this information. Counsel fol
Admiral Schley objected, but Assist
ant Judge Advocate Hanna insisted
saying that Admiral Schley's counsc
were merely creating delay by theil
objections Il propose to develop th'
facts in this case, and technical objec
tions will not avail to prevent, he said
The purpose of this inquiry was t,
develop what MeSSrs. Lemly and Han
na considered an error in Admiral IIig
ginSonS testimony. He had said tha
the Massachusetts could not have re
mained on blockade for more tina
twelve days and that then the vessC
would be without coal and powerles
to proceed to coal.
The objection to the question was nc
pressed, and upon reading from the 10
Commander Schroeder said il Shove
that the Massachusetts had over sc
tons Of coal aboard when ii arrived {
Santiago Tie said that with 500 tor
the Massachusetts could have RENAME
sixteen days OH blockade duty an
have coal enough left to steam to Ke
West.
When Commander Schroeder left IL
stand, he was requested to return al
correct the official copy of his testim
ny. if necessary. He said he would {
so aud asked If he could then be e
cused. Il desire to make my prepar
tions for returning to Guam" he sal
He was told that he could do so.
Heilner Takes the stand.
Lieutenant Commander l.. c. He
ner. who was navigator of the Tex
during the Spanish war, was next ca
ed He said he had heard no guns fir
when the squadron approached Clio
fuegos To his knowledge no effC
was made to ascertain whether t
Spanish feet was in the harbor at til
point or to destroy Spanish wor
there, nor had there been any effort
communicate with Cubans on she
until Captain McCalla arrived on t
Marblehead.
He told how the fleet had proceed
from Cienfuegos to within twel
miles Of Santiago I'VE had" he sa
''gOod weather, n fresh wind and a S
that was moderate to rough None
the fighting ships had delayed the tie
he said, but some of the smaller yess
had The fleet was signaled that
rendezvous would be twenty-five mi
due south of Santiago
Commander IIeilner said that VIII
the Texas was not in the engagemC
with the Colon on May 81 he had sc
some Of the shots from the enel
which had fallen short
The witness was then asked to
scribe the battle of July and sa
",rhe Texas had been heading abe
east when the enemy was seen comi
out of Santiago. Lieutenant Brist
who was officer of the deck at
time, rang to 90 ahead full speed a
put holm hard to starboard to max,
turn.
when got on deck. he informed
of what had happened, and I sent