The age-herald., 1901-09-26
Sch|ey Court Devoted Time Yesterday to the VarI-
 Ous Dispatches
REGARDING THE COAL|NG
Admiral Schley Was Unable to Obey Orders Literally on Account of Coal Famine In the Squad
 ron Off Santiago.

Washington, September 25.-Two new witnesses were introduced in the SchIey court today. They were Ad- miraI Cotton, who as captain com. manded the auxiliary cruiser Har- ward, and Captain Wise, who com manded the auxiliary cruiser Vale during the Spanish war. Both these vessels were used as scouts, and both came up with the flying squadron 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 Schey's flag ship, the Brooklyn, on that date to take dispatches to him, and he said at first that he gave him four or five dis patches addressed to the commander of the squadron. He afterwards modi- fled this statement, saying that prob- ably all but two of these dispatches were addressed to himself Admiral Cotton), but that they contained n- formation which he thought should be in Admiral Schley's possession. One of these was copy of dispatch from Admiral Sampson, which had not been printed in the official records, stating that the Spanish fleet was at San- .tiago. He also said that coal could have been taken from the Merrimac on the 27th of May, the day on which the retrograde movement to Key West was begun fer the purpose of coaling. Captain Wise testified that on the 27th of May he had signaIIed Captain Philip of the Texas his opinion that Cervera was inside the harbor at San tiago, but the testimony was ruled out.
 During the day Admiral schley an- nounced that he had selected Mr. Rayner as his chief of counsel, to suc-
 
 ceed Judge Wilson.
 Machinist Claxton.
 The first witness called today was Mr. A. B. Claxton, the machinist on board the Texas, who had begun his testimony when the sittings of the court were so abruptly terminated yesterday morning by the death of Judge Wilson.
 Before Mir Claxton took the stand Cap tain Heilner was recalled to make verbal corrections In the official copy of his tes- timony He said he had several correc- tions he desired to make. In one case he was recorded as giving the bearing and the distance" of the Brooklyn. He said he had given the bearing but not the dis tance. lie made various other changes. but they were not material.
 MT. Claxton said that on July 3, 1898, he had been on duty in the engine-room of the Texas. The engine indicator had called for full speed ahead early in the morning, which had, within an hour af- ter the beginning of the action. been changed to full speed astern."
 To his knowledge there had been no signal for the reversal of the engines He said that he had been excused from serv- ice in the engine-room, but still he knew that the engines were reversed for about two minutes
 The witness had said that the engine was stopped.
 What was the next change made in the indicator of the port engine of the Texas?" he was asked.
 Full speed ahead"
 What was the next after that?'
 "There was no other given for some time afterward''
 When was a further signal received by the indicator and what was the sig nal?''
 within the first hour of the engage ment the direction was changed to full speed astern."
 The Signals.
 Can you not give estimate of the time when the signal was given full speed astern and how long after the beginning of the action?"
 ''I should say within the first hour" Was there any other signal given dur ing the watch within your knowledge for the port engines to reverse?"
 There was none to my knowledge"
 You were on duty in the port engine room throughout that day, were you not ?'
 ''Where else were you on duty, if any where, at the time?''
 'I was excused for time on account of heat"
 "As a matter of fact were the engines reversed?'
 '"rhey were for about two minutes" MT. Caxton was not questioned by Mir. Raynor.
 Rear Admiral Cotton.
 Rear Admiral Cotton, now commandant of the Norfolk navy yard, who command ed the auxiliary cruiser Harvard during the Spanish war, was the next witness. He told of meeting the flying squad ron" under Commodore Schley off Santia- go on May 27, 1898, and said that on that day he had delivered dispatches to the Commodore from Admiral Sampson and the navy department He had, he said. boarded the Brooklyn about 10:30 o'clock. rba vuaa thar was then moderate and ha