Naval Court OF Inquiry.
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experiment.


Naval Court Of Inquiry.


WAsHINoToN. Oct. l3, ls45.


This morning, on the opening ef the court, Passed
Midshipmsn NoLASp called.


ByLlcut. McLhUGfLtN.-Whlisti acted as LIST Leuten-
ant in the Firt believe did all the bills that
had any thing to do with. was first Lieutenant Of
Commander McLaughln's vessel-tae Flirt-during the
last year QSIO was in Florida. | cannot remember
Lieut. McLaughlin's having left any o shore
at Indian Key when he went aw ay IL he had done so
think would have known H. belonged to his mess;
room was very comfortably fitted up in Lieut.. Nc
Laughns house for the sick officers and he sted
me to say TO Ar Allen, who sick occasion-I
remember it distinct!y-that he had better
shore and occupy tnat fitted up Tor the sick
officers.


BY the JUpGE ApvocirE-They used, on board of the
vessel aconsiderabe quantity OF lumber in fitting berths
on the deck tor the and comfort OF the sick. don't
remember OF any of the sick officers ever having
pied Lieut. McLaughn's house; don't know whether,
il there was any colusion &c on the part Of Lieut. Me-
Laughiin; should have known it, was generally paid
in Spanish douboons Shores always passed them for
the same that received them att don't think
cesed any Patriot OF Mexican deu blooms have dped
the mess o the surgeons at the Hospital indian Keys
have taken wine at the table; do not remember par
tcuarly what in the mess; did not believe then
nor do now that any OF the hospital stores ever
used on those occasions.


By the CouRT.-Ido not remember the number of ca.
used any OF the expeditions; think on the
last expedition made there it from 35 10 40
Canoes saw some ofthe canoes on their arrival did
not observe particularly their condition, and know very
little about them; don't remember ever noticing any
crack la the canoes





ries in the surgeons messes than did in the officers
shore.


w. w. SWEET was here called and sworn


By the JUDGE ApyocATE-l was me reliant in Florida
sold goods at ST. Josephs in the western part dealt
groceries, &c, and was shipchandler was in Florida
from the spring Of 1896 to November 1910; never laid
In stock OF groceries in Chareston there nd.
the Florida prices in ST Joephs compared with
New York OF about so TO so per cen upon leading art
Giles, such sugar coffee, salt provisions fine wines
and liquors generally about 40 cent for shpchand
ery about 50 per cent? the goods were sold in the ctv of
n fagfn hnntf frns
rates perhaps common liquor there about Is per
per cent advance; bought my lumber at New Orleans
which delivered at Josephs al about $40
sand lumber sold at ST. Josephs afterwards for less
sum than that.


By Lieut.. McLAuGHLlN-I lived at Tampa Bay six
months, from December ls4o to June ls4 fresh prov
sons were exceedingly highs milk sold as high as IS
cents gallon; butter from % to so cents per b poul
Try oi every description exorbitantly high me-
yer bought any at Tampa Bay, sold any at ST. Jo-
sephs fresh pork and beef sold at Tampa Bay cts
per ID; don't know what preserved milk costs; groce.
ries generally shade higher there than ST. Jo.
sephs-perhaps 10 per cent; poultry sometimes car.
ried from ST. Josepns Tampa Bay; frequently paid in
Josephs s6 dozen occasionally 81 90, and one time
$sa dozen; do not know the cost of either
Tampa or St Jo'ePhs have paid house carpenters St.
the same price at Tampa Bay


II A. WISE, passed midshipman in the U s. Navy,
was next called and sworn.


By the JUDGE ApyocATE-I was in the Florida expedi.
tion under the command OF Lieut. McLsushli was at
tached to Van Buren, and in the squadron from semi
lSil to August 1912


By Lieut. MeLArsHlIs--I do not know OF any waste
&c by Lieut. Mclaughlin, of the hospital provisions on
Indian Key do know of any collusion Sc by
Lieut.. Mclaughlin any other person. whereby the
government detrauded If at all if there had have
existed any thing OF the kind | think | should have
known IT. because 1t was at my option procured
the articles on the vessels requisiou procured the
most OF them at other places than Mr. Centers there are
three or four stores at Indian Key and West there
were OF the buildings erected on Indian Kew by
Lieut. Mclaughlin unnecessary for the public service:
did not consider the canoes purchased by Lieut. Nc.
LaughliD unn cessary, there larger number
purchased than were required do know if either OF
the buildings erected on the Key by Lieut. Mclaughlin
were improperly employed, sc, by persons connected
with the government do not know, nor have | any
reason to believe that Lieut. Lsughn ever derived
any emolument as acting purser, by exchanging the
money paid him by the government for other money or
funds; do not know the fact and in my own case was
paid in Spanish doubloons, my request and got
Tor them their full value refused be paid in silver
having told Mr. Marshall OCCASION that prefer.
red the doabloons remember it distincty to the best
OF my recollection, the prices OF articles at Mr. g. Cen
,ers were not higher than elsewhere except u the mat
yer o. knives exsmineo the bills, accounts myself
out am not certain the nder al all times an
everglades. "'e 1''e"' ~ ''''
By the JuDeE ADvooArE.-on Indian Kew there was n
isrse nosps rongh shed for officers sick quarters
the house occupied by Lieut., Mclaughlin as his rssi
dsnce' an Zoe mouse an ohice and Mr. Cen,ers store
which was probably owned by him there was also a
large store house which was used 8 such there was
also, bake house near the ice house / don't
know how many canoes were purchased nor do
know the price We were frequently in want
Of after the expedition, owing 10 the in.
jury some of them sustained ! have seen the
canoes their arrival; they very good condi.
ton; saw two cargoes; examined every one of them
for the purpose of selection and they all in good
condition.. The average length and breadth of them
were about thirty feet long aud three feet broad; had
one feet long ard three feet broad she the
longest canoe in the expedition; do not remember the
breadth; the generally carried about SIX men
each have seen tho canoes, large number OF them
laying totally unfit for use; they had been worn through
sevce all the canoes that arrived ft for


a meie usen those that were piled up good;
was specially appointed TO examine them, not only
once put uozen times aud they were all unfit for use
received some Patriot douboons at SI6 each M INV
own request and was offered silver but refused 10
take NJ never knew any one else 10 nav or receive


em there were thiak forty canoes emnlov ed nm
one occasion have no TO suppose nor d a;ana
that any person received hospital stores or fnaa
Key, not under medical treatment; went to COO - = %
men frequently at the hospitals was aImost Jy,, ow
and about the hospital on Indian Key, have saa G AZ
OF the men in the hospital drinking porter; cann, @
how much; never any other liquor drank bx ,ty
examined the beds in the hospite thew weys sii
single beds with very nice white sheets with brew,
covsrlds; have recolectio oi the material III
sheets were composed; there more than FORTY he'd
IN the large room cannot tell what the number of he
SICK was tnere was room for medical stores the ds
pensaryi large cellar underneath for salt provisions
ana me upper lott was used for waste spare sail, &c


ny the COURT never heard any complaints from the
cn persons OF want OF proper treatment the part
oi the officers or surgeons FsIEn


JOSHUA NJ. HALL, was the next witness sworn


ny the JuDoe ADyouArE.-I was attached 10 the Flo.


squadron as Captains Clerk and had charge of the