Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 October 1901 — REPUDIATED BY SEARS [ARTICLE]

REPUDIATED BY SEARS

Alleged Remark Made in Irritation at the Delay in the Reconnaissance. HOW SOHLEY ENCOURAGED HIS MEN Am Told by HU Signal Oflioer-More About the Loop and tbe liloo'tade. Washington, Oct. 17.—The officers Of Admiral Schley’s flagship, the Brooklyn, occupied the attention of the Schley court of Inquiry all of yesterday. The proceedings began with the recall of Captain Cook and Lieutenant Commander Sears, and they were followed In succession by Commander N. F. Mason, executive officer of the Brooklyn: nontenant Edward McCauley, Jr„ signnl officer, and Lieutenant Charles Webster; who had charge of the forward gun-deck battery of tbe Brooklyn during the battle off Santiago. Captain Cook’s new testimony related to the voyage of the flying squadron from Cieufuegog to Santiago, explaining 1n some detail the causes of the slow progress made on that occasion, which were bad weather and the Inability of the smaller ships to keep up.„ Was Irritated at Hliglnaon, Commander Sears spoke of a conversation reported ns having taken place between himself and officers of the Massachusetts in tne ward room of that vessel on May 81. In which he was alleged to hnvp said that it had been difficult to get Commodore Schley up to tbe point of undertaking thd bombardment of the Colon. He said: “I do not recollect It at nU. It poo id not be possible I said such a thing. They have misunderstood what I said. I was irritated at the delay • * * at not going immediately to work. • * * As I recall, I was irritated at Captain Higglnson’s request to delay the reconnolssance until after the men's dinner. I remember that very well.” Hanna called attention to the fact that the conversation was heard by several officers, but Sears declared I he couldn’t have said what was nl- j leged. TTigg'iiKon commanded the Massachusetts, which Schley used as his flagship during the bombardment of the Colon May 31. He told Schley It would be Ix'tter to postpone bring until after dinner, and the latter adopted the suggestion. Certifies in Schley’s Bravery. When Mason was <*alled ltayner asked the witness how many times he had seen Commodore Schley under Are. to which he replied: ‘‘During all the engagements.” "What was his general conduct, manner, and bearing on these occasions?” Raynor asked. "Excellent In every particular. He was calm, collected and brave.” Then the commander told the story Of the loop and the battle as he saw it, without adding anything material to the evidence. MAION AXD MOACLKY Isttur Heard Schley Use Cuss Words In Encouraging the Hen. . Commander Mason detailed the movements of the squadron on blockade without adding much that was material to the story. Of the blockade at Santiago be said that the vessels were In column, steaming slowly, perpendicular to the north and south line of the harbor at a distance of from four to tlx miles. “The custom was,” he said, “to steam a certain distance to the eastward, turning in toward the shore . or out and then to the westward, the I total run heiug about two hours. As the Brooklyn could not steam slower than three knots, I should say that the length of the line would be from six do she and a half miles; that Is. three miles each side of the entrance.” He said the progress of the squadron from Clenfuegos to Santiago was delayed by the smaller vessels, and that | be watched the bomtumlment of the i ■Colon from the foretop of the Brook- j 'lyn and thought that some of the shots amn the Spanish batteries reached beyond tbe Massachusetts. Ensign Edward McCauley, signal officer ou the Brooklyn, testified that the flying squadron was delayed on its way from Clenfuegos to Santiago by the lalmring of the smaller vessels—the Vixen and Eagle. From the Brooklyn signal book the witness read extracts corroborating this statement and explaining why Schley was so long going to Santiago In obedience to Sampson’s orders, McCauley aroused much enthusiasm In the court by saying that during the battle Schley frequently exclaimed: "Give ’em h—l, bullies’.” It was also brought out that Schley was within fifteen feet of Yeoman Ellis when the latter was killed. McCauley was about to throw Ellis’ body overboard when Schley ordered him to desist and cover the remains decently with a •heet. Referring to the signal ordering the Oregon to uae her thlrteen-lnoli guns, the witness said he sent It himself during the engagement of July 3.

■AW SUSPICIOUS MOVBHKNTS X*l»ufc WebtUr Tell* of Smoke Imr In Santine* Harbor July I. Lieutenant Webster, watch officer on the Brooklyn, said of the trip from Clenfuegos to Santiago that the weather wa* bad for the smaller vessels and that the custom on blockade at Santiago was to lie off from the port four or five miles during the day. The vessels steamed back and forth at night •bout the same distance out Asked If he bad seen any suspicious movements on shore at Santiago during the ■evening of July 2 the witness replied: “I remember being on deck on July -2 and seeing columns of smoke rising and apparently moving, as though vessels were steaming In the harbor. Also In my watch I remember the burning of block bouses to the westward of Santiago, which 1 reported to the commanding officer." Lieutenant Webster gave a brief account of the battle of July a. He said he bad sees the Texas and the lowa a little abaft of tbs Brooklyn’s beam. When the engines were started tbs Brooklyn had beaded directly toward

f.ie harbor, the helm being changed frequently until after firing was begun, when the helm was put hard aport. He estimated that the eqgmy’s vessels were 1,400 to 1,000 yards distant when tbe Brooklyn began its turn, and that after the loop was completed it was 2.300 yards. Increasing to 2,800 yards when the Vizcaya turned in. Speaking of the bonihardmdnt of the Colon May 31 the witness said he had observed It from the Brooklyn and that while he had noticed that the first shots fell shprt he had seen one later which he thought had fallen under the Colon’s counter. He bad gotten the Impression from this engagement that the shore batteries were stronger than they were previously supposed to be. He thought after that time that those batteries were manned with eight-inch guns. On cross-examination Captain Letnly had the witness read from the log of the Brooklyn an entry to the effect that the Brooklyn had steaithd out at night. The court put a few questions and then adjourned for the day.