The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-21
SCHLEY SAID DAMN
He Also Said: I'VE are Near
Enough to Them Now"
NO NHITEWASH IN THIS
HeiIner Sticks to His Story,
CussWords and All.

Washington, June 2o-Following the
statement of Lieutenant Commander
Hodgson respecting the events that oc-
Cured on the bridge of the Brooklyn July
3, the navy department today made public
the following report from Captain Chad
wick, of his examination of Lieutenant
Commander Hetlner:
''U. 8. 8. New York,
Boston, Mass, June 10, 1899.
secretary Of the navy, I nave the honor
to make the following report Of an exam
ination of Lieutenant Commander Heilner,
with respect to his knowledge Of con-
versation reported to have occurred be-
tween Read Admiral Schley and Leuten-
ant Commander Hodgson, during the ac-
ton of July 3, 1898 Lieutenant Com
mander Heiiner states as follows:
"'At one Of the early sessions Of the
board on ships positions during the action
OF July 3, strongly expressed my doubt
as to the Brooklyns position before maxi
ing the loop as laid down by Mr.. Hodg-
son; several of the navigators, Mr.. Con-
ley and Mr.. Schultz, 1 know, sided with
me. Mr.. Hodgson and on this particu-
lar occasion walked up and down the port
side of the cabin of the Brooklyn in which
the board was sitting. 1t Is my impress
sion that Mr.. Hodgson claimed that the
Brooklyn was l. 100 yards from the lead
ing Spanish ship when the turn was made.
The board, 1 think, put It later at 400
yards. Mr. Hodgson told me that he felt
certain that they were closer than 1,4OO
yards and that their standimeter gave 800
yards. He said: 1--WE were so close that
Ischley gave the order 'hard-a-port.'
said to him, "You mean starboard, do
you not?" The commodore said: NO,
1 mean port; We are close enough TO them
now"
"'Mr. Hodgson called attention to the
position OF the Texas and told the COM
modore he thought there was danger Of
running her down. The commodore re-
Piled: Damn the Texas: let her look out
for herself" This conversation was re-
peated to me ON several occasions.
"'Bverytahing I say now was contained
in Mr.. Hodgsons statement. The words
may have. been little different. He may
have said: Don't you mean starboard,
commodore" instead Of the first phrase
ology. He certainly said: 1--WE are near
enough to them now" and also "Damn
the Texas; let her look out for herself"
"'He repeated this conversation at least
three times during the sessions OF the
board because every time a discussion
arose, required to the position given
by him, which did not think correct. 1
placed no dependence on any observation
by stadimeter or sextant during gun fire.
My experience was that during the action,
I could not get q single observation by
the stadimeters and had a man in the con-
ming tower with cleaning material, whose
only duty was to try 90 keep the glasses
clean. With the utmost care, this could
not be done. 1 tried keeping the stadi-
meter under my coat but 1t was Of no use.
1 mention this as a reason for the doubts
which brought up the discussion.
1.-The report as published was prac-
tIcally the conversation as repeated TO me-
Lieutenant Commander Heilner APP
ponds his signature as an attestation Of
the correctness OF the foregoing as here
with given.
VERY respectfully,
"F. E. CHADWICK,
Captain U. S. V.