Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-03
CHANGED THE LOG.
Continued from page ~

to interfere with the speed of the
Vixen. The vessel he said, had mo-
been in urgent need of coal on May 70
but that if ordered to coal he would
have tried to do SO. although it would
have been an uncomfortable job be-
cause Of the small size of the Vixen.
Commander sharp said that not
withstanuing he had been on board the
Brooklyn several times, Commodore
Schley had never discussed with hin
the retrograde movement toward Key
West begun on May 26. Describing
the service of the Viven during the
siege of Santiago under Commodore
Schley. Commander Sharp said that he
had been placed on picket duty at the
eastern end of the line May 20 and had
continued this duty afterward. He was
about TWO miles from the shore, he
said, and probably three miles from the
harbOr.
The entire fleet could not be discern
ed at night and the shore line could on
~ be discerned as a black mass in the
distance.
Mr.. Hanna. Gould you have seen a
vessel undertaking to pass out near
the shore under those conditions"
shall II. Al Siic ii''t
shown 10 lights and made no noise, |
do not believe We could
Did you at any time suppose your
self to have discovered a torpedo boat
about to escape
"One night we sighted a light run
ming apparently along shore with 4
good deal of speed and signaled that it
was torpedo boat escaping. 1t turn
ed out to be 4 locomotive headlight on
the road
Under these circumstances could
you have seen the train had not head
light been displayed?'
Il think not. All we saw was the
light"
Commander sharp said that the
Vixen had carried Commodore Schley
from the Brooklyn to the Massachu-
sets on May 81 before the beginning
of the bombardment of the Cristobal
Cclcn and that when he had asked
what course he should pursue in the
approa ching action, Lieut.. Sears had
replied for the commodore that the
latter had directed that Commander
Sharp keep his craft clear. as she was
vulnerable and should not assume any
risks He thought the commodore had
afterwards spoken to him to the same
effect.
Mi. Hanna-''Passing to the battle
of July 3. did you see any portion of
the loop made by the Brooklyn"
when | first saw the Brooklyn |
think she was headed about south and
swinging very rapidly under her port
helm
Did you at any time have any con-
versation with any person in the pres
ence of Commodore Schley with re-
spect to the direction in which the
brooklyn turned on that OCCASION
Yes. SIR
State the circumstances of tna;
converse ton
Il took on board the Brooklyn a copy
of the notes taken by Lieut. Harlow
the executive officer of the Vixen, dur
ing the engagement. and showed them
to the commodore. The commodore was
seq ted at his desk as l now remember
it. and at various times different Off
GERS came into the Commodore's cabin.
Captain Cook was there. I think. at
one time. The navigator OF the Brook
lyn, Lieut.. Hodgson, also came in
think Commander Eaton was i'll at one
time. and if l am not mistaken Cap
tain Baker was in. | was talking -
the commodore about those notes ana
at one part of the conversation Of the
way that the helm OF the Brooklyn
had been put to form the so-cailed
loop. | stated that the helm was PIT
to port. Lieut.. Hodgson spoke up ana
said No, you are mistaken. helm was
put to starboard.' | said. No. no, yo2
pat your helm to port He said. l ca:
rrpve it to you. Look at this chart.
| said. i don't want to see the CHART.
You swung with the port helm.
WAS it conceded finally" asked
Captain Lemly. that the helm had
been put to port to make the tam?
II am not positive" was the reply
but it is my impression that il was.
Were there any instructions at that
time to the navigator in regard 70 thu
entries on the log
Not that | remember"
Did YOU see the Texas during tn
battle off Santiago" asked Mr.. Hanna.
Il saw the Texas about the first
time | saw the Brooklyn" rcspondc-.
the witness. she was southwark t.
westward of the Brooklyn. The Texas
was then apparently lying dead in the
water. | remarked to some officer
standing near. The ship will never
start and those fellows will get away.
The Brooklyn was then swinging
around toward the Spanish fleet
On cross examination Commands
Sharp was questioned in detail b.
Capt. Parker in regard to the entries
in the log of the Brooklyn for the
period covering the Cuban campaign.
He referred to the entries concerning
the Nixen's firing upon a locomotive
engine on shore near Santiago taking
1t for gunboat. He elected from tn
witness the statement that at the TIM
the Vixen must have been very nea,
the shore. Captain Parker then queS
toned witness concerning the note
made of the battle of July by Lieut..
Harlow on board the Vixen. This re-
port has occasioned no little contro-
Versy. it being claimed by some of Adj
miral Schleys friends that afte. y
copy of the notes was delivered to the
admiral (then commodore by Com
mander Sharp they We're changed
somewhat. The witness said that he
had taken carbon copy to the com
modore after the battle.
DO these notes state the truth q,
the battle as you saw it," asked Cant
Parker, and the witness replied