The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-06-24
HITS AT SCHLEY.
Official Report Touching the Col
loquy on the Brooklyn-Hodg-
son Tells His Story.

Washington, u. c.. June oo.-The oc-
currences on the bridge of the Brooklyn
during the battle of July . having been
the subject of controversy in the news
papers, the navy department recently I'M
dertook an investigation of the various
allegations.
Lieut. Commander Hodgson and Lieut.
Commander Helner, who have figured
IN the controversy, were both called on
for explanations of the utteranccS attrib-
utcd to them, and the former was direct
cd to report for examination on tins
point to Capt. Chadwick at Boston. The
department has now given out for pub
lication Capt. Chadwick 5 report on the
matter.
The report quotes Lieut.. Hodgson as
saying in part:
As we were approaching the Spanish ships
| heard Admiral Schey say port or star
board several times to Capt. Cook In the
coming tower. the admiral being on the
platform surrounding the coming tower. |
had been on the bridge above and was just
coming down 10 report the position Of the
ships, when ] heard the admiral say. Hard
a a-port The Maria Teresa was then haul
| ing abaft our port beam. The brooklyn was
heading about northeast.
| told the admiral. or at least suggest ed
to him, that the Texas was very close on
| our starboard hand and that turning to
starboard would bring US too close 10 her.
don I know that | used the word col
| lSion., did not say, You mean star
board. intended him to understand there
was danger Of running into the Texas; lie
for that" or words to that effect cannot
repeat them verbatim.
When | knew ne was going to turn to
starboard | suggested backing the starboarl
engine In order to make a smaller circle
and give the Texas Il wider berth, but he
decided against that as decreasing the speed
of the turn. He did not say that | know
of. We are near enough to them ,thc
Spaniards already" The only thing |
gathered from what he said was that if
Ithat should expose ourselves to a tor
pcdo attack. | supposed he meant torpedo
boats, and replied to him that | had not
seen them.
Lieut.. Commander Hodgson states that
he did not intend TO convey in his note
of denial sent at the request of Amiral
SChley and published in the Washington
Post the idea that no such colloquy took
place.
This was the New York Suns version
of the ''colloquy' said to have taken
place just before the Brooklyn made its
famous outward turn at the battle of
Santiago.
Schley-Hard aport.
HodcSon-Iou mean starboard.
Schley-No, don't. We are near enough
HodsSon- But we shall cut down the Tex
Schley Damn the Texas, Let her look
out for herself.
Said "Daun the Texas"
Following the statement of Lieutenant
Commander IIodgSon the navy depart
ment today made public the report from
Capt, Chadwick of his examination Of
Lieutenant Commander IIcilner, who
said:
At one Of the early sessions of the hoard
on ships positions during the action of
July Sd, | strongly expressed my doubt as
10 the Brooklyn's position before making
Several other navigators, Mr.. Comfy and
Mr.. Schuetz; know, sided with mo. Mr..
Hodgson and !. on this particular occasion
walked up and down the port side of tho
cabin Of the Brooklyn in which the board
was sitting. 1t is my Impression that Mr..
IIodgson claimed that the Brooklyn was
when the turn was made. The board. |
think, put it later at 400 yards. Mr.. Hodg-
son told me that he felt certain they were
closer than 400 yards, and that their
stadimcter gave 500 yards. He said: we
We're close that Schley gave the order
Hard aport-' l said to him You mean
enough to them now" Mr.. Hodgson then
said he called attention to the position of
the Texas and told the commodore he
thought there was danger of running hcr
down. The commodore replied: Damn
the Texas: let her lookout for herself. &"
This conversation was repeated to me on
several occasions.
Everything | say now was contained in
Mr.. 1odgSon> : statement. TIL" words may
have been little different. He may have
said: Don't you mean starhoard, commo-
dore| instead of the first phraS"ology.
He certainly said We are near enough to
them now" and also Damn the Texas; let
her lookout for herself
The report as published was practically
the conversation as repc Ited to me.