Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-08
AS Large a Crowd as Usual
Attends, the Session
Today.
HODGsON ON THE STAND
Correspondence Between Him and Ad-
mira schley Is Placed in Evidence
After Which the Examination of the
Witness Is Proceeded With.

Washington, Oct. THE Schiey
. court of inquiry today entered its third
week with the crowd in attendance as
large as usual, indicating that the in
terest in the case is unabated. The
days proceedings We're begun with
recall of Lieutenant Doyle and Com
mander Rodgers for the purpose of
correcting previous testimony. When
they were accused Lieutenant Com
mander Hodgson, navigator of the
Brooklyn, resumed the stand. A few
letters, constituting the correspond
ence between the witness and Schley
were read first, and then Hodgson's
examination was proceeded with.
Supposed Lights Were Signals.
Regarding the events about Cienfue-
Cos Hodgson said in reply to questions,
that he had seen lights on the shore al
Cienfuegos which he afterwards de-
Aermined to be signals, but he suppos-
ed they were signals between different
branches of the Spanish forces on
shore. He added when M'Calla ar
rived with information as to the mean
ing of the signals he was Immediately
dispatched to the shore to communi-
cate with the insurgents. He said the
progress of the squadron was impeded
between Cienfuegos and Santiago by
the heavy weather and the smaller yes
sells. 5t
Loop Was Proper.
Hcdgson said Schley's bearing
throughout the battle was that OF
misunderstanding. he occupied
nlace on the platform around the con-
ming tower during the. engagement.
This position is a dangerous one as the
commodore was always in full view OF
the enemy's ships. Hodgson stated
any witness who made the statement
that the Brooklyn ran 1000 yards
away from the enemy's ships IN
making the loop was absolutely mis-
taken. The Brooklyn had gone but
500 Yards to southwark and that is
about the tactical diameter of the
BROOKLYN at the speed she was going
He said the turn didn't interfere with
her ability to keep UP her fire. Cap
tain Cook might have given an order
to the man at the wheel to port the
helm but Schley gave the original or
der.
He Damned the Texas.
The witness was questioned at
length concerning the. reported col
loouov with Schley during the battle
in which Schley is reported to have
said. 'Damn the Texas" When
the witness was asked if he thought
there was any suggestion of such an
EXPRESSION he replied: When | sug-
gested to Schley that there was dan
ger of colliding with the Texas ne
said "Damn the Texas" He used the
expression, as not in any way condemn
q ing. the Texas for being there, but as
if he was irritated as one might be
about anything.
Asked about the expression attrlbut-
ed to the witness "She will cut down
! the Texas" Hodgson replied there was
no such expression in the letter. He
never said the Brooklyn would cut
down the Texas There is good
deal in that reported colloquoy did
not say" said Hodgson.
Interview Fictitious.
Continuing he said the dialogue as
reported was fictitious that he had
denied it's verbal accuracy, while not
denying the truth of a part of it. He
said he had told Schley he could not
repudiate the entire statement and
had not understood him to request
that he should do more than deny its
verbal accuracy. He had already be
fore writing his explicit denial told the
admiral he could not deny the whole
story.