Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-21
WHAT HE|LNER SAYS,
His Statement Respecting the
Sch|ey-Hodgson Co||oquy'
REPORT AS PRINTED RIGHT.
Practically The Conversation as Re-
ptattd 10 Him.
WORDS MAY BE DIFFERENT.
HOdgsOn Certainly Said, However,
"We Are Near Enough to Them
Now, and Cd the Texas Let
Her Look Out for Herself"
WORDS MAY BE DIFFERENT.

WASHINGTON, d. c., June 2O-Fol-
lowing the statement of Lieutenalt-Com-
mander Hodgson respecting the events
that occurred on the bridge OK the Brook
lyn, July 3D. the Navy Department TO-
day made public the following report
from Captain Chadwick, Of his examina-
ton of Lieutenant-C Commander Heilner:
United States Steamship New York,
Boston, Mass, June 10, 1879.
"sr; In obedience TO the orders of the
Secretary Of the Navy, j have the honor
to make the following report OF an ex-
animation of Leutenant-C Commander He'll
ncr. with respect to his knowledge OIL d
conversation reported to have occurred
between Rear-Admiral Schley and Lieu
tenant-Commander Hodgson during ne
action of July 9, 1898. Lieutenant-Com-
mander Heilner states as follows:
CAT one of the early sessions Of the
board on ships positions during the &C
ton of July 3D. l strongly expressed my
doubt as to the Brooklyn's position be
fora making the loop. as laid down by
Mr. Hodgson. Several other navigators-
Mr. Comfy and Mr.. Scheutze-l KNOW
sided with me. Mr.. Hodgson and l, on
this particular occasion, walked up ana
down the port side Of the cabin OF the
BROOKLYN. in which the board was SIT
ting If is nv impression that Mr.. Hodg-
son claimed that the Brooklyn vas l'lVO
wards from the leading Spanish ship when
the turn was made. The board, l THINK
mn Il LATER at ]. 100 yards Mr. Hodgsoh
told me that he felt certain they were
closer than LOO yards, and that Their
stadimeter gave 500 yards. lie haiu'
we were so close that Schley gave the
order Hard a port / said TO him: YOU
mean starboard, do you not" Inc Coih-
modore said: No, l mean port; we are
close enough to them now.
"'Mr. Hodgson then SAID ne caneu az
tention to the position OF the texas, anu
told the Commodore he thous"t as,
,-ae danger of running her down. Inc
commodore replied: D the 1eA"s'
let her look out for herself.
CONVERSATION REPEATED.
mrbis conversation was repeated 10 me
ON several different occasions
Everything l say now was cohtalneu
in Mr.. Hodgson's statement ne VIZ 80
NV have been a little different. lie may
naye sid Don't you mean starDoaid'
Commodore?" instead OF the hia'
,traseolocv. lie certainly said We are
,oar enough TO them now ana also'
IN N the Texas, lee her look out Tor
herself" ....,,o., % mo
az least three times during the sessions
- ne board. because every time a dis-
o,,,stor arose | REQUIRED to the position
,,t,,o, IN, him. which L did not think cor
raot I placed no dependence on any oo-
r,-o+ion nv stadimeter or sextant during
@,,r-fre Nv experience was that uurihs
~ oction could not get single ooset
,atto,, If the stadimeter on when cOuiu
49,, a,,v confidence, though ! was using
10 etodimeters and had man ii the
co,riro tower with cleaning materla''
u.losn only duty was TO try to Keep the
'1,'..,os clean. With the utmost care tn's
5',l1 not ne done. ! tried Keeping lhe
),,d,r,eter under my coat, but II was OF
~ ,sn mention this as "a reason loi
tho do,bts which brought up the uiscus-
sion. ,,,-,1 nos r,racti-
oarv the conversation as repeated 10
me- 11ot,ar nm
81 iautenant- Commander Hellher ap
ends his signature as an atesla'ion o'
tbo correctness of the foregoing as mere
with given.
..Very respectfully, .r,,,,
Captain, United States NaVy'
"T. c. Heilner, Lieutenant o'''
United states Navy. ,
"To The Commander-in-Chlel'