The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-23
PROMPTNESS.
It Is Apparent in Everything
Pertaining to Schley Case.
A Number Of Witnesses on Hand
This Morning.
WHITE CLOTH CEILING
Was Added to the Building Dur
ing Sunday Vacation.
Captain McCalIa Among Those
Testifying Today.
CLOTH CEILING

Washington. Sept. 23-The members
of the Schley naval court of inquiry
found the accommodations in the tool
shop at the navy yard somewhat i'm
proved when it met there at the usual
hour of II o'clock today. The long
bare room which hitherto had been
open from floor to roof had been, in ap-
pearance at least, completely trans
formed over Sunday by the addition of
ceiling Of plain white cloth This had
the effect also of improving the acous-
tics Of the hall, SO that the court and
others had less difficulty than formerly
in hearing the witnesses.
The member of the court were
prompt as usual in reaching the navy
yard, but when they arrived they found
Captain Lemley and his assistant, Mr..
Hanna, already there busily engaged in
getting ready for the days work.
Among the witnesses who reported
this morning We're: Admiral c. S. Cot
ton, Commanders James Madison Mil
Ter. A. 3. Bates and S. C. Heilner Cap
tains B. H McCaIla and William c.
Wise and Lieutenants John Hood and
Spencer S. Wood.
Admiral Schley and his counsel ar
rived at 10.45 o'clock It was authori-
tatively stated that the navy depart
meRt has no intention at present of
ington as d witness or to participate in
other manner at the inquiry.
The hands of the old-fashioned hall
clock standing back of the seats occu-
pied by the SQUIRT pointed directly to
the hour of IL o'clock when Admiral
Dewey with sharp rap of his gavel
called the court to order. There was
a t that time a somewhat larger at
tendance on the part of the general
public than there has been heretofore
since the beginning of the sittings, but
there were fewer distinguished person
ages occupying the reserved seats.
Captain Lamley presented the deck
log books of the Brooklyn. Texas, Iowa,
Castine, Marblehead, massachusetts,,
Minneapolis, New Orleans, oregon, St
Paul, Scorpion, Yale, Vixen, Eagle,
Dupont, Hawk and Merrimac.
How about the Brooklyn?" asked
Judge Lemley-
7 wanted to expedite the proceed
ings."
Z have objections responded Judge
Lemley. Il, too, want to hasten the
proceedings as much as possible"
Proceeding Captain Lemley said he
had suggested such logs as he cOnSid-
cred essential, and that ne would have
printed the points considered pertinent.
He then indicated the time that he de-
sired covered by the matter to be print
ed, but Admiral Schley'S counsel object
ed and asked that the entire logs from
the time that the fleet left Key West
until after the Battle of 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 Lemley 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
Christopher Colon presented.
Very well, if we can find a Spanish
scholar to go through it and select the
facts wanted" said Captain Lemley
Admiral Schley is a good Spanish
scholar and he can make such selec-
tions as we may DESIRE responded Mr..
Raynor.
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 remarks on the Massachusetts
on the day of the bombardment of the
Colon which I overheard which I should
like to supply" he replied.
1T 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 to sink the
Colon.
Commander Schroeder was then asked
concerning the coal supply of the Mas
sachusetts, and when he replied that he
had no Information on that point, he
was asked to read the log to secure
this Information. Counsel for Admiral
Schley objected, but Assistant Judge
A dvocate Hanna insisted, saying that
Admiral Schley's counsel We're merely
creating delay by their objections
Il propose to develop the facts in this
case, and technical objections will not
avail to prevent he said.
The purpose of this inquiry was to |
develop what Messrs. Lemley and !
Hanna considered an error in Admiral |
Higginson's testimony. He had said |
that the Massachusetts could have not /
remained on blockade for more than II |
days, and then the vessel would be I
without coal and powerless to proceed |
to coal.
The objection to the question was not |
pressed, and upon reading from the log |
Commander Schroeder said it showed |
that the Massachusetts had over 800 |
tons of coal aboard when it arrived at /
Santiago.
Mr.. Hanna: assuming that the
Massa chusetts. on blockade duty would /
use 80 to 40 tons of coal per day, how /
mained on blockade before Santiago |
with that supply Of coal?"
That would depend entirely upon the /
nature of the blockade and upon /
whether we had to go some distance to
replenish the coal supply BY keeping I
under way at night as we did to the 1
first of June. we of course used little /
more coal than we would by keeping /
stationary coal blockade, as was done /
afterWard. do not remember the coal /
per day. Ny recollection
was that during the stationary block
ade the noon signal was to go to 25 or
30 tons day
assuming it then to be 90 to 40 tons.
how long could the Massachusetts have
remained on bloekade2"
AT 40 tons day of course she would /
remain about 20 days, If there was a
eoa1 supply at hand SO we would not