The Washington times., 1901-10-22

I
| was gotten up for the purpose Of pouring
a continuous and rapid fire into her.
Captain LeInly Gnterrupung)-Whom
! did this order core from?
| Witness (continuincl-We were to close
| with the Colon and give her a rapid fire
| when we came up to her. The chase con
! tinued for probably an hour. In the
| meantime the guns were spunged and the
machinery oiled. The oregon and the
| Brooklyn then opened fire, the oregon
| with her forward S-inch guns and the
| Brooklyn with her S-inch guns. a num-
| ber of shcts were fired and we could see
! them fall. As the shots came near the
Colon she ported her helm and turned in
! shore and hauled down her colors. Dur
| ing the chase of the Colon. before the
| firing was resumed, / went upon deck and
saw Admiral Schley: at that time he was
upon the upper bridge.
Q.-Dtd you see the Texas on the turn?
A-No sir.
Q.-Have you given everything you wish
to with reference to the Oregon
A.-ShOrtly after we completed our turn,
and as | recollect II when we were some
what near Cabanas, the oregon came
through the smoke. ] first saw her bow
wave and then her military mast She
had an answer pennant flying and signal
quarter. Before her arrival we seemed
to be alone and engaging the three ships
that were of our starhoard beam.
The Written Despatch Not Printed.
Q.-What knowledge have you of The
despatch sent by Admiral Schley to the
department on May q, as to whether this
was the despatch Commodore Schley
sent? tHanding the witness the press copy
book containing the original of Schley's
alitgod ''disoOediencc of orders des-
patch.
| A.-That despatch was written on that
day, the 9th, in answer to a despatch re-
ceived from the department which was
Commodore Schley was always very
careful with the phraseoioSy he used,
and insisted that ii be translated in CT
pher as he had dictated it. This despatch
was written out in plain English, as II
appears here, and handed to Captain Cot
ton to be put in cipher on the way to
Jamaica This is the despatch which he
sent.
The witness identified the copy of the
original despatch. He then went On to
state in answer to que ostions, that the
original letter had been sent in to the
Navy Department by Admiral Schley by
mail. after its contents had been cabled
TO the department The inference which
was plainly shown by this testimony was
that in preparing its official documents.
especially the naval appendix, the depart
ment had printed a document which had
twice been translated from cipher rather
than the original. dictated in plain Eng
lish by Commodore Schley 1t was thus
able to make a charge of disobedience Of
orders.
Q.-What do you know. if anything. of
a despatch received from the department
after you finally arrived at Santiago?
Any recollection is that there were a
number OF dispatches brought to the
commodore by the Harvard when she
returned from jamaica after trans
mitting the despatch which Commo-
dore Schley had sent. Among them were
several directed to the commodore, or al
least asking about where the other Span
ish vessels We're. In the despatch We sent.
mention was made Of seeing the Colon
and another vessel of the Nizcaya class.
The despatch from the department asked
for further information as TO where the
other -sSsels We're.
Q.-What date was that?
continuing the witness identified a
number Of dispatches and told the days
upon which they We're received and the
attendant circumstances.
Absence of 0HcIaI Stamping.
Some dispute arose as to the day upon
which one despatch was received. and
Captain Parker said that the trouble
could be avoided If all of the documents
which Admiral Schley nad sent in to the
department were produced as the pa
pers would show the dates upon which
they were received. To this Captain Lem
ly replied that the absence of the receiv-
ing stamp upon Commodore Schley's pa
pors was very marked.
BY Mr. Rayner:
Q.-Were there any vessels which pass
ed the blockade either at Cienfuegos or
Santiago without the permission of Com
modore Schley?
A-No. sir; not without his authority.
The Adula passed in at Cienfeugos with
his permission and Commodore Schley
granted It, but she withdrew without en-
tering.
The witness was then shown the original
plat and maps regarding the fortifcations
and shore batteries at Santiago which had
been sent out to the fleet and to which he
made reference last Friday. This infor-
nation, he said. was received on May 5.
Q.-When DID you receive the order not
against the shore batteries?
Q.-This was one day after you received
this plat. or map. about the batteries?
A.-Yrs. sir.
Praise for Schley's Conduct.
Q.-Am l right in saying that you saw
as much If net more, Of Commodore
Schlcy than any enc else during the San
tiago campaign, and. if so, what was
your intimacy with him2
A.-Yes. sir; ! saw him almost daily
Odd you see him at the time of the |
reconnaissance on May 81?
A.-Yes, sir.
Odd you see him during the battle
Al only saw him during :he chase of |
the Colon on the day of battle / also |
saw him on the occasion of one or two |
commandments, the dates of which 1 do |
Q.-Give us his general bearing and CON
duct on the day of the battle OF at any
other time?
A-So far as I know he was fearless
casions
Q.-Was he at any time Iaboring under
any mental excitement?
A.-No. sir.
The witness was cross-examlned by Mr. |
Hanna.
% ha |
the inquiry was taken up by Mr.. Hanna. |
1t was not interesting TO most of the |
spectators, for few Of them understood, |
but il had a vital bearing on the case
This matter was the question Of when
Commodore Schley received certain des- |
patches addressed TO him by the Navy |
Department and Admiral Sampson and |
dispatches TO other naval officers to give |
certain information TO Schley.
Lieutenant Wells testified that he kept |
no book for recording letters and tele-
grams received. This is required by
the regulations. Lieutenant Commander
Sears, Commodore Schey's flag neutcn-
ant. said there was such a book.
Lieutenant Wells sand there was no rec
ord Of any kind kept in regard to letters
received, except 10 brief and stamp each
on its back. Then they were placed I'm
their appropriate files Mr. Hanna showed |
Lieutenant Wells a book kept on board
the Brooklyn In 1898 marked Letters and !
papers sent" and Lieutenant Wells said
that this title meant merely that it was
record OF letters and papers that passed
through Commodore Schley's Office on the
Brooklyn from the commanding officers Of
ships.
Copies Of the Dear Schicy'' letter,
known as despatch No. T. and tho order
from Sampson directing Schley to proceed
TO Santiago II Ntisiicd the Spanish fleet
was not at CionfucgOs. this despatch be
ing known as No. 9. were produced by Mr.. |,
Hanna and handed 70 Lieutenant Webs
The Dear Schey' letter. dated May %
WAS from Sampson. and as has frequent
l.ap stated tg1I G,Itf.,-