The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-10-03
ADMIRAL SCHLfY
DROPPED DEAD
ON street !.
Noted Figure in Naval History
Expired in N. Y. Club District
RECALLS FAMOUS DISPUTE
Controversy Over Destruction Of AID.
mral cevera's Fleet During
Spanish-Amerlcan War

New York, Oct 3.-Rear-Adniiral
Winfield Scott Schley dropped dead
yesterday afternoon ust before ! o.
clock near the corner of Forty-foErth
street and Fifth avenue while on his
way down town. Admiral Schley lad
been out of town over Sunday and on
his return to New York had gone to
the New York yacht club on West
Forty-fourth street. After short
stay at the club Admiral Schley left
the clubhouse and started to walk
along Fortyfourth street toward
Fifth avenue, when he was taken sud.
denly i'll. A hurry call was sent for
physicians and an ambulance, but be-
fore aid could reach him the naval
officer was dead.
Admiral Schley came of sailor stock
his father having served with distinc.
ton in the navy in 1851. Win.
field Scott Schley was born near
Frederick, Md, in 1899, was appoint
ed an acting midshipman in 1856 and
was graduated at the head of his
class at Annapolis in 1860. He went
In the same year, on the Niagara to
China and Japan, returning the follow
Ing year and being assigned, with the
grade of master, to the west gulf
blockading squadron. He saw con
siderable service in the operation on
the Mississippi, taking part in all of
the engagements leading up to the
capture of Port Hudson, La, from
March 16 to July 9, 1863. His com
mission as lieutenant was dated July
Is, 1862. He continued effective ser
vice in southern waters, being again
lhonorably mentioned. From 1864 un-
til 1866 he served on the Pacific stat
ion as executive officer of the gun
boat Wateree.
Capt. Schley was placed in com
mand of the New York in 1895, was
Chairman Of the lighthouse board In
1878 and in the February before the
Spanish war received his commission
as commodore. When the war broke
out he was placed in command OF
the famous flying squadron" and
ordered TO look for the Spanish feet
under Cervera. The squadron sailed
from Hampton roads May 10. The
Spanish fleet was found in the harbol
of Santiago on the goth and promptly
bottled up" by Schleys ships. Or
the LIST of June the squadron was
united with the Atlantic feet under
command Of Rear-Admiral Sampson
The battle of Santiago was fought
on July 3. Admiral Sampson was t
the eastward whittier he had gone IL
order TO communicate with the Amer
can land forces. He was not, how
ever, beyond signal distance from
the nearest ships. The controversy
between Sampson and Schley par
tisans arose from claim of the lat
ter, that in the absence OF Sampson
Schley was in actual command
hence that the glory of the victory
belonged chiefly to him as the mar
on the spot. The Sampson side no
only denied this contention, but tool
up the action of Commodore Schley
in the battle. condemning particular
| ly the now famous loop" This was
maneuver sanctioned by Schley, by
which the flagship Brooklyn to es
cape the enemy's fire, in the opinion
OF the court Of inquiry-turneC
sharply about to starboard, out OF the
course of the approaching Spanish
warship, and clear around into posi-
ton again to the rear of the fleeing
vessel. The making of this loop gave
the battleship Texas a scare, If not
actually endangering 1t, and
cause It speedily to back water
Other charges were made against
Schley by his critics and finally Ed
gar Stanton Maclay, in a History
Of the United States Navy" capped
the climax by referring to Commo
dore Schley as "catlff, poltroon and
coward"
The court of inquiry for which
Commodore Schley applied and Of
which Admiral Dewey was president
decided against Schley.
Admiral Schley appealed from the
findings of the court of inquiry tc
President Roosevelt, who, however
approved them. On recommendation
Of the court, Gin view of the length OF
time which had elapsed since the oc
ourrence of the events OF the Santa
go campaign" no action was taken
on the findings. The incident closed
when several bills Introduced in Con
gress by friends of Schley were
pigeon-holed. Schley became rear ad
miral in 1898, and retired on reaching
the age limit, October 3, 1901.