New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-10-03
me train' had no headlight been displayed?'
mink not All we saw WAS the light,
DISPUTE ABOUT THE LOOP

DISPUTE ABOUT THE LOOP
oid you see any portion of the loop made by the
Brooklyn?
When / first the Brooklyn think she was
headed about south and swinging very rsnidy
under her port helm"
did you at any time have any conversation with
any person in the presence of Commodore Schley
with respect to the direction in which the Brook
lyn turned on that OCCASION
Yes, sir
State the circumstances of that conversation
Il took on board the Brooklyn a copy of the
notes taken by Lieutenant Harlow, the executive
oitcer OF the Vixen, during the engagement and
showed them to the Commodore. The Commodore
was seated at his desk as 1 now remember It, and
at various times different officers came into the
Commodores cabin. Captain Cook there
think, at one time. The navigator OF the Brook
Ign, Lieutenant Hodgson. also came in I think
Commander Eaton in time, and If 1
am not mistaken Captain Barker was in. 1 was
talking to the Commodore about those notes. and
at one part of the conversation about the way that
the helm of the Brooklyn had been put to form
the so-called loop 1 stated that the helm was put
to port. Lieutenant Hodgson spoke up and said
No. you mistaken. The helm was put to
starboard.' I said, No. no; you put your helm to
port He said. prove 1t to you Look at
this chart 1 said. 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
81 am not positive" was the reply but 1T is my
impression that it was
by whom the concession made?"
'I do remember
Were there any instructions at that time to the
navigator in regard entries in the Logo
Not that remember.
Did you the Texas during the battle Off San
uago?" asked Mr.. Hanna.
Il saw the Texas about the first time I the
Brooklyn" responded the witness She was
southwark to westward of the Brooklyn. The
Texas was then apparently lying dead In the water.
remarked to some officer standing The ship
will never start and those fellows will get away
The Brooklyn was then swinging around toward
the Spanish fleet"
"how near she to the Texas?'
II could not give estimate OF the distance"
CHANGES IN THE NOTES.
Captain Parker then questioned Commander
Sharp concerning the notes made Of the battle Of
July by Lieutenant Harlow, board the Vixen.
This report has occasioned little controversy. 1t
being asserted by of Rear Admiral Schley S
friends that after copy of the notes de-
lvered TO the Rear Admiral Chen COMMODORE by
Commander Sharp. they were changed somewhat.
The witness SAID that he had taken carbon copy
to the Commodore after the battle
do these notes state the truth OF the battle as
you it?" asked Captain Parker. and the wit
replied: These Lieutenant Harlow's
He took them. and I not prepared to
rect in every particular or not"
Haven't you read them over several times?'
81 have"
Now. you not prepared TO say. TO the best
of your knowledge and belief. they contain true
statement OF what Lieutenant Harlow saw?'
81 cannot tell what Lieutenant Harlow saw"
You do not know whether they (the notes. are
true or not from having read them over several
times and from your own knowledge Of the battle?'
In the main essentials / should say that they
true. but there may be mistakes and probably
mistakes in them
did you furnish copy of these particular notes
TO any one else. any other officer IN that squad
ron?'
Not that remember There were several copies
printed, but what became Of all OF them I do
know
Did you take a copy or send copy to any other
commanding staff officer Of that feet, except
Commodore Schley?'
mot that remember
VIII you say that you did not7''
mo. sir; will not say that did not To the
best of my knowledge and belief 1 did not so
send copy OF these Identical notes"
THE CHART IMPUGNED.
In response to a question from Mr.. Rayner. Com
mander Sharp said that the position of the Vixen
during the blockade not correctly given by the
official chart. He nearer the shore than there
shown.
On redirect examination Captain Lemly brought
out the fact to the change In the Harlow notes
Judge Advocate-Did you attach to your official
report Of July copy OF the notes OF said action7
Yes, SIR
Where did you obtain this copy?"
From the executive officer. Lieutenant Harlow -
did you at the time know whether there were
any differences between this COPY. as attached to
your official report, and the copy It appears IN
your logbook?"
YES sir knew there were some slight dif-
ferences."
From whom did you learn that there were these
differences and was any explanation made Of this
fact your"
when / writing my report of the action OF
July 3, I said to Lieutenant Harlow: I desire a
COPY Of your notes taken during the action to &C
company my report to the Admiral His reply as
near as ! remember 1t, was: Those notes
were taken for the representative Of newspaper
on board the Brooklyn. and l will have to make
some changes in them / said: Very we'll wish
the notes to go with my report He afterward sub
nitted to MI the notes written In script. which l
read over and inclosed In my report to the Ad-
niral
Mention has been made Of the copy Of the notes
sent to the Brooklyn which were printed on board
that vessel Do you recognize that paper?" hand
ing him printed pamphlet
81 have copy of this before If am not
mistaken several were sent through the vixen =
What does 1t purport to oe2''
IAN account of the engagement with the Span
ish squadron as from the U. S. s. Vixen July
g. 1898, U. 8. s. Brooklyn flagship
At this point Judge Advocate Lemly had the
witness compare the original copy OF the Harlow
notes with the copy printed on board the Brook
lyn with the result of showing that the notes had
been changed before being printed, so as to make
the account say that at 1905 the two leading ships
of the enemy bore well on the Brooklyn's star
hoard quarter" instead of on her "starboard bow.
and that at LAS the Brooklyn was lone point on
port bow" instead of "one point on starboard bow.
PORT OR sTARBoARD BOWL
Judge Advocate-In tho entry made in your log.