Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-09-28
ADMIRAL HIGelNsOHt
CRITICIsES SeHLEy
Commander Of BattIeship Massa.
chusetts First Witness Before
Court of Inquiry.
COULD HAVE DESTROYED COLON
Dos Not Believe schley DID All That He
Should Have Done 10 Accomplish
That End-schley's Counsel
Enters Objection.

yard at IL o'clock today. All the MEM
bers OF the court. Dewey, Benham and
Ramsay, were present, as was Schley.
The general attendance was small.
The court was called TO order by a
simple word from Dewey. The first
order OF business was the reading, by
Judge Advocate Lemly. of the navy
department order appointing Ramsay
to a place on the court in place Of How
ison. Captain Lemly turned to Schley
and asked him whether he had any OBJ
lection to urge against any member Of
the court.
The admiral arose and replied: Il
have not
The Judge advocate then swore the
members of the court collectively and
was in turn sworn in as judge advo-
cate. The court then retired for con-
sultation to discuss methods Of pro-
cedure. 1t was decided that when the
occasion arose the court would with
draw, instead of clearing the court
room, as is the usual method.
When the court returned Lemly pre-
scented the report of the bureau Of navi-
cation for 1898, the photographic chart
OF the West Indies and adjacent seas,
and other charts. He stated explicitly
that they were introduced not as tes-
timony, but as books of reference.
Captain Parker made objection to the
photographic chart, stating it was
grossly incorrect, but withdrew the OBJ
lection when assured the chart was
not to be used as evidence.
The FIrst Witness.
Rear Admiral Higginson was intro
duced as the first witness. Before he
began to give his testimony Judge Ad-
vCcate Lemly rea the order placing
the command OF the North Atlantic
squadron in the hands of Sampson and
giving him the RAM or rear admiral,
and then Schley command OF the fly
ing squadron. Higginson, who COM
manded the Massachusetts, during the
Spanish war, part Of the time attached
to the flying squadron" under Schley,
testified he arrived at Cienfuegos May
%. Nothing to his knowledge was done
TO secure communication with the Gu
ban forces ashore but he understood
Information concerning them was re-
ceived through McCalla later on He
told of the presence OF the collier Mer-
rImac and the arrival at Santiago on
the 26th. The Massachusetts at that
time had taken on $50 tons Of coal, but
the weather was rough and coaling
was very difficult.
In reply to a question from the court
Higginson said he did not believe
Schley had done all he should have
done to destroy the Colon while she lay
at anchor. The defense objected.
Dewey said the court considered itself
obliged to get at all the facts.
Judge Wilson, for Schley, said he
would reserve the right to later take
exception to requests for opinions Of
witnesses, even when put by the court.
Fleets E~nixrnatic Movements.
Higginson told of the fleets leaving
Santiago for Key West on the night of its
arrival at the former place n of how
after steaming westward for some time
all tho vessels, In response to Schley's
signals, returned and steamed to within
two or three miles Of the mouth Of tho
harbor.
What happened to cause the decision
to return to Key West?'
Il don't know"
what was the condition Of the wealth
er at the time for coaling at scar
1T was not impossible TO coal, j think
"Did you nave any conference with the
commanding officer In regard to return
ing 10 Santiago after you had gotten on
the way to Key West?"
None. We acted under general or
upTS, All We ull was 10 lollO" ~ siE
nails Of the commander In chief"
Speaking of the conditions when IN
tic go narbor was again reached, Admiral
Higginson said he could see well into the
harbor. He saw the Spanish ship Colon
living I'm the outer harbor. He did not re-
member seeing the other vessels, but the
Colon was then LOCO yards beyond Morro
castle. The vessel had lain there until
she was fred upon, which was done on
May 81, and had h retired.
Fired on the Colon.
Describing this engagement Higginson
said II was on the day before the ARRIVAL
OF reinforcements under mpso he
said Schley had come aboard ana sald ne
wanted Ito go i'm and fire on the Colon.
$50 we went in and fred on her. con-
timed witness. He said the shots fell
short of the Colon and the Spanish shore
batteries had In turn fired at the bonn
harding ships.
In reply TO questions as to what had
been accomplished by the bombardment,
witness replied It had served to draw the
fire of the Spanish shore battery and give
an idea wha 1t was composed OF.
What idea did you get of It's compo-
sition?"
Il didn't think it amounted to any
thing"
where was Schley during the lombard
ment?'
AT one time he was with me in the
coming tower, but most OF the time he
was on the outside Of 1t. l was near him
most Of the time
Acted Like n Commander.
Describe the admirars n In this
engagement
II hardly know how to answer the ques-
ton except TO say his manner was that OF
q commander-in-chief."
why did you not go in and destroy the
Colon in the engagement on May S1?'
lemly asked.
Because we were not ordered to do So"
Later on witness volunteered the state
ment:
~ think the Colon could nave been de-
stroyed where she lay at anchor that
day
Higginson stated there were no written
orders and so far as he could recall the
only verbal orders were to ''go In"
nIETRIcH uOMS FROM MANI