The San Francisco call., 1901-10-03

! who commanded the converted yacht Vixen dur
/ ing the Spanish war, was the first new wit
| ness of the day. He testified that he had first
! fallen in with the flying squadron on the morn
/ ing of May. p off Cienfuegos He said that the
weather the cruise from Cienfuegos to San
| tiago had been ''squaly' but not sufficiently
| bad to interfere with the speed of the Vixen.
The vessel had not. he said, been in urgent
| said, ''and received orders to coal, 1 should
| have tried to do SO, though 1t would have been
an uncomfortable job, because the Vixen was
very small Ship
Commander Sharp said that notwithstanding
| he had been on board the Brooklyn several
| with him the retrograde movement toward
Key West begun on May 26. Describing the
service Of the Vixen during the siege & OF San n-
Sharp said that he had been placed on picket
Of May 29 and had continued this duty after
ward. He was about two miles from the
shore. he said, and probably three miles from
the mouth of the harbor He said that the
tire fleet could not be discerned at night and
that the shore line could only be discerned
a black mass in the distance.
Mr.. Hanna-Could you have seen vessel
undertaking to pass out near the shore under
noise, do not believe we could
did you at any time suppose yourself to
have discovered torpedo boat attempting to
escape?"
'.one night we sighted light. running ap.
speed, and signaled that 1t was a torpedo boat
escaping. 1t turned out to be a locomotive
headlight on the railroad
Under those circumstances could you have
played?''
II think not. All we saw was the light"
Commander Sharp said that the Vixen had
carried Commodore Schley from the Brooklyn
to the MASSACHUSETTS, on May 81 before the be-
Colon, and that when he had asked what course
he should pursue In the approaching action,
'e dore that the E latter had e Directed @ til that COM
mander Sharp keep his craft clear. as she was
He thought the commodore had afterward
spoken to him to the same effect
Mr.. Hanna-Passing on to the battle of July
9. did you see any portion of the loop made
When first saw the Brooklyn think she
was headed about SOUTH and swinging very
'Did you at any time have any conversation
with any person in the presence Of Commodore
the Brooklyn turned on that occasion"'
Yes SIR"
state the circumstances of that conversa-
Il took on board the Brooklyn a copy of
the notes taken by Lieutenant Harlow, the
executive officer Of the Vixen, during the en-
gagement. and showed them to the commodore.
The commodore was seated at his desk.
remember it, and at various times different Of
fcers into the commodores cabin. Cap
tain Cook was there, l think at one time The
navigator of the Brooklyn, Lieutenant Hodgson,
came in also. 1 think Commander Eaton was
in at one time and. If am not mistaken. Cap
tain Barker was in. I wa was talking to the
of the conversation, on the way the helm of
the Brooklyn had been put to form the So
called loop, 1 stated that the helm put
to port Lieutenant Hodgson spoke up and
said: No, you mistaken. Helm was put
to starboard.' 1 said No, no; you put your
helm to port He said: can prove it to
you Look at this chart I said: L don't
want to 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 turn?'
IT am not positive" was the reply s'but II
is my impression that 1t was"
by whom was the concession nader
'I do not remember
Were there any instructions at that time
to the navigator in regard to entries in the
log?"
mot that remember
Did you see the Texas during the battle off
Santiago?" asked Mr.. Hanna.
! i saw the Texas about the first time