The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-09-22

Between The MetlldS Pursued by
Schley and by Sampson
is TO BE INSTITUTED
During The Court of Inquiry by the
Counsel for Schley.
QUESTIONS ARE TO BE PRESSED
Having that Object in View, Though Oh.
iectien Be Made.
ONLY ONE NEW WITNESS INTRODUCED
He Had Considerable Criticism to Make
OF the Manner in Which the Fleet
Was Handled.
ONLY ONE NEW WITNESS INTRODUCED

Was Handled.
Washington. September 2I-only one
new witness was introduced today to the
naval court which is Investigating the CON
duct of Admiral schlcy during the Spanish
American war. This witness was Comman-
der Scaton Schroeder. who was executive
officer Of the bSttleship Massachusetts, dur
ing the war and is now governor of the
island OF Guam.
His testimony dealt with the cruise OF
the dying squadron from Cienfuegos to san
tlago and the bomhardment Of the Spanish
cruiser Cristobal Colon as she lay I'm the
mouth Of the harbor Of Santiago on May
n. The commander said that the cruise
was not as expeditions as It should have
been. He said I'm the bomhardment of the
Colon the feet had not acted MS deliberately
as the commander in chief had announced
1t to be his purpose to have it act
While Commander Schroeder was giving
his testimony Judge Wilson, counsel for
Admiral Schlcy sought to have him make
a comparison Of the distance Of the fleet
from the shore under admiral Schlcy with
the distance under Admiral Sampson after
the latter officer arrived and took com
mGnd but the judge advocate objected
and Mr. Wilson withdrew tho question, say
ing, however that he did SO only tempo
rarly and that he would raise the point at
a later stage In the investigation
The forenoon sitting was devoted mainly
to the cross examination OF Captain Iar-
her and Admiral Higginson. the latter hav.
ing been recalled Admiral lIgglnson cor
rected his statement made yesterday con
Isl slt. al Vaf
by the heel turing To s'urkade of san
tiago. He said that early in tho blockade
the fleet was Eve or six miles out to sea,
moving Up closer later
Admiral Dewey observed his usual rule
of promptness IN calling the Schley court
OF inquiry to order at IL O'clock All the
members OF the court were present on the
minute and Admiral Schlcy sat with his
counsel at the table set apart for them
on the left Of tho witness seat The at
tendance Of the public was some larger
than on yesterday The first witness called
was captain HARDER, executive officer OF
the Texas during the Spanish war, who
was on the stand when the court adjourned
yesterday.
The judge advocate asked no questions OF
him and he was Immediately turned oyer
to Mr. Raynor of counsel for Admiral
SChley who questioned him concerning uis
statement made yesterday 10 the efGcct that
he did not recall that there was any picket
line established inside the line Of blockade
at Cienfueg0s
report by Admiral Schley was read 10
the effect that Il picket lne had been NUN
tanned, but the witness declined to change
his statement
Asked II the Brooklyn had not on MAY 4
signaled the Texas 10 go alongside the col
lier and coal he said he did not recall any.
thing Of the kind Mr.. RHynOr read the
signal message as follows
n 81 nUgin hp nj mr. nnh
rapidly as possible hut no amount of
pressing could bring the witness TO say
that he remembered the incident. He had.
he said, had very little to do with the
signaling. The same replies practically
were made in response TO questions regard
ing other signals,
Mr.. Raynor quoted several of he,e. one
transmitted from the Texas TO the Brook
lyn. said: "On afterthought the cap, ain
thinks II Is unsafe to put collier between
the battleships.'
Another from the Texas said: .'Do not
think It safe 20 collier. The two ships
VIII surely crush her.
Captain HARDER replied that he remem.
bered there was some talk OF the collier,
but he could not recall what IL was.
Speaking of the signals observed of Glen
fuegos' he said his superstition was that
Of the other officers, which was that they
were between the Spanish forces
Captain Harder was also questioned close.
~ concerning the rate Of speed of the feet
on the sail from Cienfuegos to Santiago on
and the sea moderate; that IT, was hard
for small vessels, but II was nothing
much. He thought the Texas could have
made from ten 90 twelve knots. Mr. RAY.
nor had the witness read logs OF the Massa.
chuseTts. the Iowa, tho BrOOislyn aud other
vessels concerning the weather at that
time Mr.. Raynor read report from Cap,
tain Higginson saying that the weather
had been trough and squally" ON the 25th
Captain HARDER stated that the report Of
Captain Hgglnson was not borne out by
If
correspond with the log" he said, and he
added that having given his best recnilec
ton concerning the weather, he thought
Mr. Raynor had an Interior motive in his
qUcs sions.
Mr.. Raynor declared that he had no such
end In view.
Then" said the witness, 81 have given
YOU any best recollection concerning tnC
wea ther."
That Is what want" responded IN,
attorney
THAT is what I have given YOU" repeat
| ed the witness.
Captain Lemly objected TO the examlua
! tion Of Captain HARDER on the record OF
ship which he had no part In preparing.
The court retired to consider the point
| After an absence Of ten minutes, the cour
announced It's decision sustaining the oh
! lection that the witness could not be ex
amlned upon the log OF the Massachusetts
| Continuing his testimony, Captain Harbe
insisted that the weather on May % wai
! not rough He also malntsined that 4
was further ont at night than In the da,
| time. when his attention was called I,
| son, the witness said that q was not ma
| teria 10 him what any other man ha,
! said; that he had given his estimate an,
was not concerned about the stNement
] OF others.
"Then you object 10 having your memor,
| refreshed?" said Mr.. Rayner
81 said nothlng. OF the kind" replied tn,
4 and object 10 being spoken to In the wa,