The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-03

of coal on May 26, but that if ordered
to coal he would have tried to do so,
though 1t would have been an uncom-
Portable job because of the small size
of the Vixen.
Commander Sharp said that al
though he had been on board the
Brooklyn several times, Commodore
Schley had never discussed with him
the retrograde movement toward Key
West begun on May rs.
Describing the service of the Vixen
during the siege of Santiago under
Commodore Schley, Commander Sharp
said he had been placed on picket du-
ty at the eastern end of the line on the
night of May 20, and had continued
this duty afterward He was about
two miles from the shore. he said, and
probably three miles from the mouth
of the harbor. The entire fleet could
not be distinguished at night and the
shore line could only be seen as a
black mass in the distance.
Mr.. Hanna-"Could you have seen a
vessel undertaking to pass out near
the shore under those conditions?"
Commander Sharp-"If she had
shown no lights and made no noise, l
do not believe we could"
Mr.. Misunderstanding to battle of Ju-
" 9, did you see any portion of the loop
made byi the BROOKLYN"
'When I first saw the Brooklyn l
think she was headed about south, and
swinging very rapidly under her port
helm"
Ibid you at any time have any con-
versation with any person In the pres
ence of Commodore Schley with respect
to the direction in which the Brooklyn
turned on that occasions?
estate the circumstances of that con-
versation.'
''I took on board the Brooklyn a copy
of the notes taken by Lieutenant Har-
low, the executive officer of the Vixen
during the engagement, and showed
them. to the commodore. The commo-
dore was seated at his desk as l now
remember it, and at various times diff
ferent officers came into the commo-
dore's cabin. Captain Cook was there
I think, at one time. The navigator
of the Brooklyn, Lieutenant Hogdson
also came in. 1 think Commander Ea.
ton was in at one time, and if 1 am
not mistaken Captain Barker was IN
I was talking to the commodore about
those notes, and at one part of the con-
versation of the way the helm of the
Brooklyn had been put to form the so
called loop. I stated that the helm
was put to port. Lieutenant Hodgsor
spoke up and said, mo. you are mis-
taken, helm was put to starboard."
said, mo, no; you put your helm tc
port" He said: II can prove it to you
Look at this chart" 1 said: 'I don't
want to see the chart. You swung to
port helm"
was it conceded finally asked Cap
tain Lamly THAT the helm was put
port tack?"
" 1 am not positively sure was the
reply" but it is my impression that it
was"
by whom was the concession made? p
Il do not remember"
Were there any instructions at that
time to the navigator in regard to en-
tries in the Logo"
mot that I remember"
ibid you see the Texas during the
battle off Santiago?" asked Mr.. Han
ma.
II saw the Texas about the first time
I saw the Brooklyn" responded the wit
ness "She was southwark to west
ward of the Brooklyn. The Texas was
then apparently in the lead. 1 remark
ed to some officer standing near: THE
ship will never start and these fellows
will get away" The Brooklyn was
then swinging around toward the Span
ish fleet
How near was she to the Texas2"
81 could not give an estimate of the
distance"
On cross examination Commander
Sharp was questioned in great detail
by Captain Parker in regard to entries
in the log OF the Brooklyn for the pc
Rod covering the Cuban campaign. He
referred to the entries concerning the
Vixen's firing upon locomotive engine
on shore near Santiago, taking it for
a gunboat He elected from the wit
ness the statement that at that time
the Vixen must have been very near
the shore. captain Parker then ques-
toned Commander Sharp concerning
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