When Admiral Schley stopped in Salisbury a hundred years ago this past Feb. 7, he was right in the middle of a possible nomination for president and denying he was in command of the American fleet in Santiago,Cuba, that destroyed the Spanish fleet and brought America into being as a world power.
The Salisbury Daily Sun reported on Feb. 8 that “Admiral W.S. Schley, the hero of Santiago during the Spanish-American War, was in Salisbury for 30 minutes last night.
“The admiral arrived here on the Western train at 7:44 o’clock and was traveling in the private car of W. H. Peddle, superintendent of transportation of the Southern.
“When the train backed into the station about 200 people were waiting to meet him. They gathered around the car and the Admiral came out on the platform. Three cheers and a hearty good will were given him. The Admiral stated that he was hoarse and could not remain in the night air long. He desired, he said, however, to express his gratitude to the people of Salisbury for the attention shown him.
“Tell something about Santiago, Admiral,” said someone in the crowd.
“I feel very great pleasure in the fact that I was there,” he responded.
“How about the talk of your becoming a candidate for the Presidency?” he was asked.
“It is too far off,” he replied. “I should dislike to sacrifice the love of the people by making any mistakes that would jeopardize it.”
“The admiral was appraised of the fact that counsel for Admiral Sampson had filed papers with the President protesting to the statement that Schley was in command at Santiago. He expressed some surprise but refused to discuss the matter.”
Salisbury’s rival paper, The Salisbury Semi-Weekly Truth-Index, however, had a different story about the Admiral. Dated Feb. 7, 1902, the headlines read: “President at Work. Getting Full Particulars of the Santiago Naval Battle.”
The story said: “President Roosevelt has begun consideration of the appeal of Admiral Schley. He is in a way fighting over again the naval battle of Santiago.
“With the President for a long time today were four of the commanders of vessels of that memorable conflict between the navy of Spain and the United States. These men were Rear-Admiral Evans, who commanded the battleship Iowa; Rear Admiral Taylor, in command of the Indiana; Captain Clark, of the famous Organ, and Commander Wainwright, who handled the Gloucester.
“The officers arrived at noon, and after that the President denied himself to all comers. It is exceedingly rare that the President becomes so deeply engrossed in any matter as to deny himself to callers for the remainder of a day, and this goes to show the importance he attaches to this case.
“Maryland’s representatives Wachter and Schirm were among the visitors who were asked to call again.
“The four naval captains were with the President in his office until after 1:30 o’clock and then went down to lunch with the chief executive continuing to discuss the Schley case until they left the White House several hours later. The President is securing from these men every available fact in connections with the case. It is regarded as certain that he will have interviews with other naval captains and officers who were at Santiago before he will reach any conclusion as to the appeal of Admiral Schley.”
On the same front page of that issue of the Truth-Index another story was headed: “Action Predicted. Rumors that President’s decision will be unfavorable to Admiral Schley.”
The story said that it appeared that “Roosevelt’s reply to Schley’s appeal will be highly unsatisfactory to the admiral.
“He (the president) will declare that Admiral Sampson was technically and actually in command of the forces that destroyed the Spanish fleet; that the battle was fought in accordance with a plan prepared by Sampson; that Schley acted in accordance with this plan till the Brooklyn made the famous loop, which left an opening in the blockade line through which the Spanish fleet steamed; that both Sampson and Schley posted signals at the beginning of the battle, which were not observed, or if so, were unobeyed, as the captains were acting on the plans determined on before the battle; that during the chase of the Colon Schley was technically in command of the fleet, but that he hoisted no signal and gave no orders which influenced any ship save the Brooklyn; and by retaining Schley after his arrival at Santiago, Sampson condoned the ‘reprehensible conduct’ of that officer.”
So it’s possible that Admiral Schley’s hoarseness on the platform that night in Salisbury might have come about because he didn’t want to do too much talking about affairs. Maybe he didn’t know whether to run for President or run for cover.
When war broke out in 1898 Schley was placed in command of the Flying Squadron, which was ordered to search for the Spanish fleet and when the enemy fleet was destroyed at the Battle of Santiago on July 3, 1898, Schley was in active command because the chief commander, Rear Admiral William Thomas Sampson, was temporarily absent. The question of whether Schley or Sampson deserved credit for the victory became the subject of bitter controversy.
Because of the criticism, Schley requested a court of inquiry to investigate the charges brought against him. The judgment of the court was that Schley’s management of the engagement had been negligent.
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